VA - The Devil Rides In - Spellbinding Satanic Magick & The Rockult 1966-1974 (2024)

• 3CD SET EXPLORING ROCK’S DARK UNDERBELLY AND EXPLORATIONS IN THE OCCULT, WITCHCRAFT, BAD MAJICK AND SATANISM FROM 1966 ONWARDS.

• FROM MONSTROUS HEAVYWEIGHTS GENESIS, JETHRO TULL, FREE, BLACK WIDOW, COZY POWELL AND VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR TO UNEXPECTED DABBLERS SUCH AS SANDIE SHAW, STRAWBS AND DAVE DEE AND CO.

• CURATED AND OVERSEEN BY MARTIN ‘CALLY’ CALLOMON OF ANTAR, BAM-CARUSO AND PENKILN BURN STOCK.

• HARD ROCK, FOLK DEVILS, EVIL JAZZ, BEELZEFUNK AND INCANTATIONS ABOUND!

As the Fab dream of the first half of the 1960s began to fade and the acid took its unpredictable hold, spirituality in its many forms provided some outlet for many of pop and rock’s weariest souls and most enthusiastic experimenters. As the rock became harder and more progressive, the drugs grew dirtier and peace and love began to falter, the individualistic indulgence promised by the occult and its many sisters drew its cloak around already established acts and birthed countless other bastard and hybrid offspring.

Divided into several offshoots and outlets - Buried Underground, Phantom Sabbaths, Popular Satanism, She Devils, Folk Devils, Evil Jazz, Beelzefunk and Incantation Chants – ‘The Devil Rides In’ captures a snapshot of that time and place, when rock, jazz, funk and folk took a step into the darkness, returning with tales of possession, witchcraft, covens, occult ceremonies, black masses, sabbats and encounters with He Who Walks Backwards himself. Enthusiastic and celebratory in places, damaged and cautionary in others, these artists offered a counter balance to the thread of Christian and Eastern spirituality also working its way into rock at that time. Sometimes overtly, sometimes veiled, but always with something to say.

Curated by the inimitable Cally, and accompanied by an insightful essay and accompanying imagery, this set promises release for freaks, hard rockers, greasers, dark folkies, avant jazzers and all in between.