8. Angel Witch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5o-8FVXom8 Classic Album You Should Own: Angel Witch (1980). One of the greatest NWOBHM records and as indispensable a record as Iron Maiden's debut, Saxon's Wheels of Steel and Venom's Black Metal. Recommended Modern Album: As Above, So Below (2011). This is exactly what you would want from a modern day Angel Witch record; eerie yet accessible, melodic yet heavy, the band as adept at writing their own unique brand of Metal as ever. Angel Witch should be spoken about with the same reverential tones as Iron Maiden, Saxon, Judas Priest and their ilk, such was their contribution to the NWOBHM in it's early days. Arriving fully formed in 1980, the band were razor sharp yet intensely brooding, invoking riffs with real weight and gravitas yet never losing an ear for melody. Their occult-gothic style was revolutionary in 1980 and would influence a thousand imitators, many of whom would go onto greater success. A pattern which is entirely unjust as Angel Witch had everything; the tunes, the attitude and the imagery, their debut's artwork invoked shivers to rival Black Sabbath's debut artwork, with a vision of Hell so powerful it compelled you to discover what lurked within. They were the complete package but after being at the forefront of the NWOBHM movement, Angel Witch eventually succumbed to declining returns and called time on their journey in 1986, Thrash Metal's dominance claiming yet another victim. It would be 25 years before they would return and the result was 2011's As Above, so Below. A record which picked up exactly where they left off, sound, style and attitude still very much in place. Stand-out tracks include "Witching Hour" and "Guillotine", as perfect a rendition of NWOBHM melody and aggression as you could desire in 2014 and one of many tracks on As Above, So Below which wouldn't sound out of place on their crushing debut. If you need further evidence that Angel Witch are still relevant, Bill Steer from Death Metal legends Carcass has been a member of the band since their return. A fearless innovator in his own right, Bill Steer joining forces with Kevin Heybourne whilst his own band, Carcass, initiates a comeback of their own, speaks volumes for the respect Angel Witch still command.
Christopher Jennings
Contributor
I love Heavy Metal, and generally anything that involves a guitar and loud noises, so I figured it was about time I put all the useless information in my head to good use and start writing a few things. Most of the time I'll be writing nonsense but occasionally I may surprise myself and appear half-way knowledgable.....but you can be the judge of that. Thanks for your fleeting attention!
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Christopher