Rock music has always gone hand in claw with The Devil, witchcraft and all manner of occult shenanigans. From Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to The Rolling Stones, many have dabbled, but some musicians choose to immerse themselves more fully in the darkness.
This fascination with the occult spans genres. Extreme metal has been particularly steeped in the arcane and the diabolical, but here we’re only considering the bands that hark back to occult rock’s roots. We're talking '60s psychedelia, '70s retro fuzz and Sabbath-style riffage – as well the influence of classic horror movies, witchcraft, real-life occult practitioners and the books of Dennis Wheatley. As a result there’s no Behemoth, King Dude or Twin Temple on this list. You should definitely check them out, but these are 13 essential occult rock albums to quench your esoteric thirst…