Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia 1988:
Dejan Katalenić ignites the Speed Metal band WITCHCRAFT. They quickly finish ten songs and record them, releasing seven of them early 1989 as a demo in ten copies. Nine of these tapes were according to legend send to western labels. The market for the music itself was there, but no Yugoslav record companies were allowed to release music with these kinds of lyrics at the time. One tape ended up in King Diamond’s possession providing influence for his 1990´s album The Eye. Another copy ended up influencing Sepultura’s intro for their 1989 album classic Beneath the Remains. Not a bad result for 10 copies of Croatian Speed Metal. Unfortunately, the band never heard back from any of the recipients of the demos. Fast forward a couple of years, the iron curtain drops and Witchcraft lives on in various line ups over the years, but always led by Dejan Katalenić.
(LP)