In a way, it seems like the perfect match: Witchcraft, the longstanding stoner/doom/folk (at times) project from Magnus Pelander coming back to his electric roots after almost a decade away with Heavy Psych Sounds as his label. And Idag certainly delivers on that front: rough and scrappy, the polished (and frankly dull) shine afforded by Nuclear Blast gone for the better, as the tunes recapture that occult-driven rock that catapulted Witchcraft’s earlier recordings into the metal community’s ever-hungry ears. It’s a welcome return: I haven’t really dug the band’s output since 2007, so to hear the grit and more progressive arrangements return feels like a warm welcome back.

And to be clear, I’m certain the Nuclear Blast era has its advocates and champions. An increasing line of visibility since their self titled debut in 2004 that sounded like a dusty reel-to-reel of a forgotten 1971 recording, both 2005’s Firewood and especially 2007’s The Alchemist put the group firmly in my most anticipated list of bands. Labels must have felt the same, because after The Alchemist Witchcraft jumped ship from Rise Above Records to the larger profile Nuclear Blast for 2012’s Legend and 2016’s Nucleus before abandoning the distortion altogether for 2020’s solo acoustic Black Metal. But this entire period for me felt empty, losing some of the unique presence the earlier albums brought for a more straightforward folk/doom vibe that was already being perfected by any number of other bands – a lot of them on Heavy Psych Sounds.

Right from the opening notes Idag looks to right the ship. The opening title track enters in style, a great little riff that modulates and gets to the stoner heart of the matter before Pelander’s signature voice pours out…in Swedish. Yeah, it’s important to note here that the first half of Idag is entirely in Swedish, with the second half in English. It’s not really a problem, except that the first half’s anthemic choruses are going to be a lot harder to sing along to if you’re not fluent. But “Idag” the track is still stellar, over eight minutes of churning riffs and a fuzzed lead tone that’s impossible to deny.

It’s followed up by the brief retro doom boogie of “Drömmar Av Is” before the jazzy, gnarled “Drömmen Om Död Och Förruttnelse” shows the roots of the band’s killer debut still very much intact. The English side continues that trend with the sinister tolling of “Burning Cross” paying homage to Black Sabbath more than they ever had in the past. Handling all the writing, vocals, and guitars this is clearly Pelander’s project, but I’d be remiss not to call out Par Hjulstrom on drums and Philip Pilossian on bass – they contribute a massive bottom end and Hjulstrom in particular shows a dozen different swings and feels behind the kit.

Maybe it’s the fact I can decipher it, but I really lean into Idag’s second half. Tracks like “Irreligious Flamboyant Flame” and the prehistoric push of “Spirit” evoke more of the sounds I want from Witchcraft. But any way you slice it, Idag is a return to form. Three great albums, three I ignored. Will this start the next string of essential releases?

Pelander’s off to a great start.

— Chris

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Idag will be available May 23 from Heavy Psych Sounds Records. For more information on Witchcraft, check out their Facebook page.