Witchery

Witchery is a seminal Swedish supergroup of sorts, formed in 1997 from the ashes of Satanic Slaughter. Led by Patrik Jensen (The Haunted) and featuring a rotating cast of extreme metal royalty including Sharlee D'Angelo (Arch Enemy) and Martin Axenrot (Opeth), the band carved out a niche by revitalizing the speed metal genre with a blackened aesthetic.

Their sound identity is defined by 'blackened thrash,' characterized by the rhythmic precision of Slayer-esque thrash metal combined with the vocal rasp and occult themes of black metal. Throughout their career, they have maintained a reputation for high-level musicianship and a 'no-frills' approach to songwriting that prioritizes riffs and momentum over progressive experimentation. They occupy a unique cultural position as a 'musician's band,' respected for their technical execution and their ability to bridge the gap between different extreme metal sub-factions. Critical consensus often highlights their debut, 'Restless & Dead,' as a landmark release that helped define the Swedish thrash revival of the late 90s.