Bewitched is a Swedish black/thrash metal band from Umeå, formed in 1995. The outfit is recognized as one of the pioneers of the retro metal movement, reviving the raw first-wave extreme metal sound. The band's sonic signature is a high-energy blend of black metal aggression, speed/thrash metal, and classic heavy metal heavily inspired by Venom, Motörhead, and Mercyful Fate. Conceptually and lyrically, the band is strictly dedicated to themes of occultism, witchcraft, Satanism, classic horror cinema homage, and pure heavy metal attitude. Their debut album «Diabolical Desecration» (1996) established their style, followed by «Pentagram Prayer» (1997), «Hell Comes to Essen» (1998), «At the Gates of Hell» (1999), and «Rise of the Antichrist» (2002), cementing their reputation as one of the darkest and most radical acts in the Swedish scene.