Occult rock

Dig into the throwback sounds of Vexing Hex‘s Solve Et Coagula.

Check out a full stream of Russian retro/throwback-doom rockers Scarecrow‘s new album, Scarecrow II, which drops tomorrow.

“Chaos is the blood stream of the universe, darkness spreads in a single breath of mother serpent ushered in through the devils door.”

Re-examining Black Widow’s 1970 debut, Sacrifice, in a seasonally appropriate Primitive Origins.

Ferrol, Spain-based hard rock quintet Ocean Gates invokes Black Sabbath, Hawkwind and the Stooges on new track “Snake Circle.” Streaming in full only at Decibel!

Praise Satan with occult rockers Ancient VVisdom now.

Jinx Dawson gave us an exclusive Q&A on the return of Coven, scheduled for Roadburn later this week.

Occult rockers Albez Duz take us through their album, Wings of Tzinacan, track by track.

Albez Duz is back and serving up ten minutes of occult doom on “Sacred Flame.”

Canadian road warriors Castle are too busy touring and recording awesome doom rock to watch that shitty TV show you’re thinking of.

Since the release of Aluk Todolo’s 2012 album (Occult Rock, natch), the band have been burrowing further into their sound, and now, on the eve of the release of fourth full-length Voix, they treat us to a preview of their rhythmic, dissonant approach.

Lucifer I
New partner, same dance, better result
dB Rating: 9/10

Any astute follower of metal in the past five years has likely noticed a huge uptick in the number of bands with a proto-70s sound and occult themes: The Devil’s Blood, Sabbath Assembly, Blood Ceremony and The Oath. A few of these bands have been on Decibel’s cover: In Solitude and Ghost B.C. (twice). While…

It looks like “occult rock” (i.e. heavier music with discernible song structures and radio potential) isn’t going away in 2013. We’re not sure if we were swayed by necromancy or the fact that there’s a naked lady on the cover (likely the latter) but we’re streaming an exclusive premiere of the track “Black Magic” by…