It wouldn’t be a stretch to consider COVEN to be the progenitor of what we now know as occult rock; years before every other heavy band proclaimed to be performing rituals on stage and draped themselves in powerful symbolism – Jinx and co were living it. The furore that surrounded the 1969 release of Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls persisted for many years afterwards, the band dogged by controversy everywhere they went. The forward-thinking themes and powerful imagery explored by COVEN paved a pathway for those open-minded enough to follow. Their influence has been far reaching – from those who shy away from acknowledging this right through to those who worship unreservedly at the altar of COVEN. Jinx Dawson is also recognised as being the instigator of using the “sign the horns” with her hands – a call to arms and a symbol that is used frequently in heavy music across the globe.

Brooklyn power trio Sanhedrin do metal the old school way, channeling the greats that preceded them to create something that is instantly familiar yet with a new, modern energy to it. With 2019’s The Poisoner they branched out, exploring new avenues and hitting home with every effort, all the while staying true to themselves. Now they return with Lights On, their most accomplished effort to date. “We want to satisfy ourselves with music that we are proud to present to the world. That’s the overall plan with every record we have made,” states vocalist/bassist Erica Stoltz. Adds drummer Nathan Honor, “hoping it would likely reach the widest audience of any of our work thus far, it was important that we further refined our sound and pulled out all the stops. These songs are a collection of feelings of loss, uncertainty, hope, fear, anger and a deep examination of the human condition. The music draws from our deep and varied influences and is presented in a fashion that is unabashedly Sanhedrin.”

​When asked why anyone should give a damn about Sanhedrin in 2022 Honor answers the question most succinctly: “In a time where the world around you feels like it’s aflame, when our heavy metal heroes are beginning to disappear to failing health or changing social norms, we, Sanhedrin, stand here as a shining light through the dark. We are prepared to fly the flag of heavy metal in these trying and uncertain times, and have only begun to show the world what we are capable of.”