Coven

 

Coven is an American rock band formed in Chicago the late 1960s. In addition to pioneering occult rock with lyrics and aesthetics that explicitly dealt in themes of Satanism and witchcraft, they are recognized by metal fans and metal historians as being the band that introduced the "Sign of the horns" to rock, metal and pop culture.

 Their debut album Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls (also known as simply Witchcraft) was removed from the market soon after its release in 1969 due to controversy, as it coincided with the hysteria surrounding the Manson family and rampant media speculation about occult influences on the American counterculture. Despite its brief initial release, it remains a classic of its genre, and in some ways set groundbreaking trends for later rock bands. This album marked the first appearance in music of the sign of the horns, inverted crosses, and the phrase "Hail Satan". Today, these are characteristics of the heavy metal genres. Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls concluded with a 13-minute track of chanting and Satanic prayers called "Satanic Mass" (written by their producer, Bill Traut, of Dunwich Productions, and described as "the first Black Mass to be recorded, either in written words or in audio"). This Satanic Mass was also the first time Latin phrases such as "Ave Satanas" were used in occult rock music, and later Satanic and black metal bands continued this innovation. Also included inside the album was Coven's infamous Black Mass poster, showing members of the group displaying the sign of the horns as they prepared for a Satanic ritual over a nude Dawson lying on an altar.

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