One of two key side projects for Sacramentum guitarist/vocalist Niklas "Terror" Rudolfsson (the other being death/doomsters Runemagick), Sweden's Deathwitch play deliberately coarse and unrefined thrash metal with deathly overtones and a shocking, intentionally moronic mix of Satanic and scatological lyrics recalling older Scandinavian and Brazilian acts from the mid to late 1980's. Initially formed in 1996 with the help of vocalist Reaper (also Bewitched), guitarist Alf Necrohell (a.k.a. Runemagick partner Fredrik Johnsson), and bassist Lady Death (a.k.a. Emma Karlsson, also of Runemagick), Deathwitch uncorked a quick and bludgeoning succession of albums through to the end of the ‘90s, including 1996's Triumphant Devastation, 1997's Dawn of Armageddon, 1998's The Ultimate Death and 1999's Monumental Mutilations (the last two featuring guitarist Doomentor, bassist Peter "Carnivore" Palmdahl and drummer Corpse). All the while, the band rarely performed live, and took a longer break before once again revamping their line-up with Slade Doom (guitar) and Morbid Juttu (drums), and unleashing 2002's Deathfuck Rituals and 2003's Violence, Blasphemy, Sodomy. Needless to say, Deathwitch aren't likely to go anywhere -- up or down -- but will probably remain an on-going concern for years to come. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia