Magick And Musick, The influence of Ritual Magick in Popular Music Options

wow, lots of talk about so many great bands (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

i feel it necessary to mention one more band that i;m sure a lot of you will appreciate if not already - Secret Chiefs 3

probably my favorite band if i had to choose. some of you may be familiar with the members from Mr Bungle; Trey Spruance being the main brain, member of the Golden Dawn and musical genius. they toured here earlier this year, the shows are a ritual themselves - black robes, incense, chants and the rest. musically they span almost every genre, really has to be heard! here's there reviews from their myspace. so this is my recommendation for the day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/13.gif)

"...Secret Chiefs 3 have existed in various incarnations over the course of the past eight years, and have served as the funnel for Spruance's remarkably far-flung studies of the hermetic mysteries and musical traditions of unknown and underappreciated subgenres. Album titles like Grand Constitution and Bylaws and Book M hint at the music's vaguely metaphysical bent. Over three years in the making, Book of Horizons is Secret Chiefs' most expansive and coherent statement, an alchemical fusion of Morricone-esque cinematic grandeur, midnight surf guitar, traditional Middle Eastern rhythms and time signatures, demonic death metal, and electronic deviance that yields a work of undeniable force."
-Jonathan Zwickel, Pitchfork

"Cast the clear light of alchemical truth through the graphically enhanced occult fog, and you'll find an album fluffed full of magick, mystery, and densely orchestrated mosque-rocking beats."
Richard Gehr, Village Voice

http://www.myspace.com/secretchiefs3

CosmicInferno

You've probably all cringed at the sight of some fundamentalist preacher or politician ranting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blablabla.gif) about hidden satanic messages in albums by Judas Priest or Led Zeppelin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/diablo.gif) . No doubt cursing them for ruining perfectly good needles as they divine subliminal commands from the dark lord hidden in a cloud of distorted backwards speech. Despite the tedious accusations of those with far too much time on their hands, there has been a long occult connection with rock music stretching back to Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads. During the hey-day of classic rock both Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page were involved with some of Kenneth Anger's explicitly esoteric (oxymoron noted) film projects. Page also was a huge Crowley buff and purchased the house in which he attempted the Abramelin working. This trend has persisted into the present. Progressive metal super-group Tool have noted numerous occult influences on their website including Crowley, Kenneth Grant, and Austin Osman Spare. Likewise, their music is often littered with arcane references to alchemy, Enochiana, or some other such study. But the influence of magick exists in lesser known music like Gong, The Incredible String Band, and minimalist composer John Zorn. I'm personally fascinated by the unique ways each incorporate magick into their songs, be it the spacy-psychedelia of Gong, the folky nature-invocations of the String Band, or Zorn's Qabalistic compositions. I'd love to discuss these or any other music with some occult influence. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wandwizard.gif)

In the booklet that came with the Joy Division box set the bassist Peter Hook made a comment that Ian Curtis the lead singer who hanged himself was into the occult but this was a rumour

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Matisyahu, specially his Live album. This of course leads to reggae. While not the traditional Magick music, reggae is spiritual on many levels, very humanistic. It has a very human rythem to it, beats are all about where the heart beats as far as speed.

Matisyahu has a mostly jewish inspired lyrics, but I found his music to be perfect to get me where I need to be for ceremonies that deal with the lighter happier emotions of life.

I mention it because it is relatively current and pretty damn effective.

I am not a fan for the most part, but no one has mentioned the Beatles. It is my understanding they studied Crowley and even have him on the cover of the Sargent Pepper album, he is in the upper left corner I believe. Oh and though I have no proof of it, I would have to say Pink Floyd has a strongly spiritual aspect to their music.

well, did anybody mentioned the doors, jim morrison was a huge lover of the occult,how about the truly classics like beethoven and vivaldi.......just to end this, let me just say that music and magick have been sister crafts since the dawn of man........ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/banana.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/kicking.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilB.gif) so lets just enjoy the rythms of magick and dance to this tune!!!!