13. STANDARTE - The Sun

(2000 Black Widow Records BWRCD 039-2)

"This is Clive Jones from the original Black Widow I just wanted to thank you for your work on the tribute album I was absolutely thrilled when I heard it.
I was familiar with your work having having got a copy of the Standarte (blue) album.
This was always an album track for us it never seemed to work to well on the stage, but you have done a brilliant job with it, the nearest song on the album to the original, great vocals, keyboards and guitars, and lazy drums to give it the right feel, plus a nice touch of flute.
I've heard so much about you I hope to meet you when I come to Italy and see your live show.
Brilliant work"

Clive Jones

A tribute to the great occult progressive UK band from Leicester with a
special dedication to the High Priest Alex Sanders described as "the most
powerful man in Europe" in the early 70's.

Side A

CLIVE JONES: Intro (UK) 2:00 Original Black Widow member

DEATH SS: Ancient Days (ITA) 6:16

PRESENCE: Attack of the Demon (ITA) 7:36

MALOMBRA: Tears and Wine (ITA) 4:05

Side B

NORTHWINDS: Way to Power (FRA) 4:54

ARS NOVA: Legend of Creation (JAP) 5:45

DEATH SS: Come to the Sabbat (ITA) 5:27

TEMPTER: Conjuration (SPA) 4:41

Side C

THE BLACK: Sacrifice (ITA) 5:33

CHURCH OF MISERY: Accident (JAP) 3:57

ETERNAL ELYSIUM: Seduction (JAP) 6:00

WHUTERING: Floating (JAP) 4:00

Side D

STANDARTE: The Sun (ITA) 4:23

FANTASYY FACTORYY: Kings of Heart (D) 6:00

ABIOGENESI: Mary Clark (ITA) 4:04

WIDOW: Come to the Sabbat (UK) 5:30 with Kip Trevor the Black Widow singer

Mater Tenebrarum of the Rock Hell

Spellbinding creativity in the obscure realm of the so-called "ghastly macabre" does not just belong in recent times, as the most evocative examples are indissolubly tied to its amazing origins. In 1970, a magical year that many witnesses of the very first dawning of heavy rock and progressive consider both extraordinary and unrepeatable to this day, English underground was enlivened by a growing interest in the occult and mediumism: that was the birth of the so-called ‘Dark Sound’, devoted to the powers of darkness as well as Ossianism. Its fame was established on the dualism between two bands, Black Sabbath and Black Widow; if the former relied upon terrifying, oppressive riff, Black Widow resorted to subtler tricks and to an elaborate completeness in order to display their supremacy in creating a ghastly, ear-catching atmosphere...Thus the Leicester-based sextet conceived a brilliant and absolutely unique masterpiece, "Sacrifice", whose incomparable richness comes from the fertile inventions of each instrument (Clive Jones’ winds, Zoot Taylor’s smutty organ , Jim Gannon’s powerful lead guitar -with an ear on acoustic interludes - and more, such as echoes of tribal percussions...), which all amalgamate superbly, to the point of supporting each other, with perfectly homogeneous results. Yet, despite the authors’ indisputable talent, "Sacrifice" ( the most important antagonist of Black Sabbath’s debut album) didn’t meet with the audience’s approval. Drawing inspirations from its themes, the band created a hypnotic live show, centred on the female demon Astaroth, which was both musical and theatrical at the same time. The absolute protagonist was singer Kip Trevor, thanks to his imposing stage presence. Furthermore, the band had to face the press’ hostility: their music was referred to as "influenced by black masses" and "destined to unsound masses"; they eventually detached from witchcraft in Sacrifice’s two follow-ups, "Black Widow" and "Black Widow III", both valuable but inevitably overshadowed if compared to their predecessor, a truly unforgettable milestone of the original "occult wave". After years of incomprehensible obscurantism, we can finally celebrate the rediscovery of this legendary band, thanks to previously unreleased recordings which were unearthed from its secret archives and published as "Black Widow IV" and "Return to the Sabbat": these albums are far superior to many hyped products from the progressive era. In Italy, Black Widow have always had a loyal and fervent cult following, and there is even a label carrying the very same name: Black Widow Records has released an ambitious Tribute Album which carries the seal of approval of Clive Jones himself: the warden of the flame agreed to have a part in the project with "Intro" , purposely written for the occasion. Other significative underground bands venture upon such classics as "In Ancient Days", "Sacrifice", "Way to Power" and "Come to the Sabbat" - the latter also available in a rare version recorded by Kip Trevor with Pendragon, under the name Widow. The aim pursued by "King of the Witches" is to offer a massive sacrifice to a desolately unappreciated band: Black Widow are one of the great hidden treasures of rock music.

Beppe Riva