ANGEL WITCH

NWoBHM / Heavy Metal • United Kingdom

MetalMusicArchives.com — the ultimate metal music online community, from the creators of progarchives.com

Angel Witch is a British heavy metal band which formed in London, England in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.

History

The band was formed, originally under the name of Lucifer, and was initially composed of guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne, guitarist Rob Downing, drummer Steve Jones, and bassist Barry Clements. Lucifer split and Steve Jones joined up with Bruce Dickinson to form Speed. The remnants of Lucifer became Angel Witch, with the exceptions of Barry, who was replaced by Kevin Riddles, and Steve Jones, who was replaced by Dave Hogg. The following year Rob Downing left the band. Angel Witch's first song to achieve mainstream popularity was "Baphomet", which was included on a compilation titled Metal for Muthas. This song drew a fair amount of attention to the band, and they eventually signed a recording deal with EMI. However, the deal was soon canceled, due read more...

Thanks to m@x, Lynx33 for the updates

Angel Witch...Gorgon online metal music video by ANGEL WITCH

Angel Witch...Gorgon
Colt

Angel Witch - White Witch online metal music video by ANGEL WITCH

Angel Witch - White Witch
Colt

AngelWitch - Baphomet online metal music video by ANGEL WITCH

AngelWitch - Baphomet
Colt

Angel Witch "Angel Of Death"
Colt

Angel Witch - Angel Witch online metal music video by ANGEL WITCH

Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Colt

See all ANGEL WITCH videos

Buy ANGEL WITCH music

More places to buy metal & ANGEL WITCH music

Amazon.com — Metal music new releases, best sellers on CD, vinyl, and MP3

ANGEL WITCH Discography

ANGEL WITCH albums / top albums

4.35 | 46 ratings

Angel Witch
NWoBHM 1980

ANGEL WITCH Screamin' 'N' Bleedin' album cover

3.30 | 10 ratings

Screamin' 'N' Bleedin'
NWoBHM 1985

3.44 | 8 ratings

Frontal Assault
Heavy Metal 1986

ANGEL WITCH As Above So Below album cover

3.91 | 11 ratings

As Above So Below
Heavy Metal 2012

4.00 | 4 ratings

Angel of Light
Heavy Metal 2019

ANGEL WITCH EPs & splits

2.50 | 1 ratings

Sweet Danger
NWoBHM 1980

3.50 | 3 ratings

Loser
NWoBHM 1981

ANGEL WITCH They Wouldn't Dare album cover

2.00 | 1 ratings

They Wouldn't Dare
NWoBHM 2004

ANGEL WITCH live albums

ANGEL WITCH Angel Witch Live album cover

2.25 | 2 ratings

Angel Witch Live
NWoBHM 1990

2.75 | 2 ratings

'82 Revisited
NWoBHM 1996

ANGEL WITCH 2000: Live At The LA2 album cover

2.00 | 1 ratings

2000: Live At The LA2
Heavy Metal 2000

ANGEL WITCH Burn The White Witch: Live In London album cover

2.00 | 1 ratings

Burn The White Witch: Live In London
Heavy Metal 2009

ANGEL WITCH demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

2.50 | 1 ratings

1978 Demo
NWoBHM 1978

2.50 | 1 ratings

Demo 1979
NWoBHM 1979

ANGEL WITCH Give It Some Tickle album cover

2.00 | 1 ratings

Give It Some Tickle
NWoBHM 1981

2.00 | 1 ratings

Psychopathic
Heavy Metal 1987

ANGEL WITCH Twist Of The Knife album cover

2.00 | 1 ratings

Twist Of The Knife
Heavy Metal 1990

2.00 | 1 ratings

Resurrection
Heavy Metal 1998

ANGEL WITCH re-issues & compilations

0.00 | 0 ratings

Doctor Phibes
NWoBHM 1986

ANGEL WITCH Screamin' Assault album cover

0.00 | 0 ratings

Screamin' Assault
NWoBHM 1988

2.25 | 2 ratings

Resurrection
Heavy Metal 1998

ANGEL WITCH Sinister History album cover

0.00 | 0 ratings

Sinister History
NWoBHM 1999

ANGEL WITCH singles (3)

3.00 | 2 ratings

Sweet Danger
NWoBHM 1980

3.50 | 2 ratings

Angel Witch
NWoBHM 1980

2.00 | 1 ratings

Goodbye
NWoBHM 1985

ANGEL WITCH movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

ANGEL WITCH Reviews

ANGEL WITCH Angel Witch

Album · 1980 · NWoBHM

siLLy puPPy

I hear lots of Iron Maiden in here. Especially on their first album. Wait a minute! This came out a whole year BEFORE Iron Maiden's eponymously titled debut album. Just goes to show that even though a band can present the world with something incredible and unique that it doesn't mean that they will be the ones to reap what they sow. ANGEL WITCH is the perfect example of that and despite really never doing anything better after this debut album, they still have it on their resume that this DID come out before anything Maiden released, therefore deserving a spot in music history which according to the ratings it certainly hasn't gone unnoticed. Not saying that MAIDEN totally ripped them off or anything but they come to mind first as the closest heirs to this particular sound of NWOBHM. In fact there is more than the sound that is a connection here.

The band was originally formed under the name of Lucifer but split up leaving original drummer Steve Jones to join up with Bruce Dickinson to start the new band Speed. Small world or wall smirled? The remnants of Lucifer are what became ANGEL WITCH on this debut album.I have the 25th Anniversary Expanded Version (oh so far behind am I!) and it has countless bonus tracks. Overall the original album is mandatory for any metal collection and the bonus tracks are quite pleasant and worth having in their own right. ANGEL WITCH will forever deservingly be known for their contribution to the metal scene for this one album but also serve as a history lesson for the reality of the musical world at the time when before the internet it was quite easy to borrow a band's entire sound without anyone knowing and basically stealing the legacy leaving the original creators only a footnote in history.

more than 2 years ago
5 comments
Permalink
Share
Report #293034

ANGEL WITCH Angel Witch

Album · 1980 · NWoBHM

Warthur

Kevin Heybourne's Angel Witch have gone through a range of different lineups - they broke up not just once but twice between this debut album and the followup - but it's really this debut for which they'd be remembered, a strange and unique mixture of old, new, populist and experimental.

Combining punk rock-tinged vocals with updated Sabbath-inspired riffs and lyrical subject matter, and mashing up occult allusions on the one hand with cheesy singalong bits on the other (just try and get the refrain from the first song out of your head once you've heard it!), the band played a key role in plotting out how the NWOBHM would contribute to expanding the parameters of traditional heavy metal.

more than 2 years ago
0 comments
Permalink
Share
Report #281945

ANGEL WITCH Angel Witch

Album · 1980 · NWoBHM

Daysbetween

Debut and best album from Kevin Heybourne & co. At the time of release this was one of the heaviest of the NWoBHM albums and should have been the start of a long and prolific career amongst the top ranked bands such as Iron Maiden & Saxon but sadly it was not to be.

Includes the singles 'Angel Witch' and 'Sweet Danger' as well as heavier tracks such as 'Angel Of Death' and my personal fave 'White Witch' which is a subtle mix. All the songs are driven by Kev's riffs and memorable vocals and lyrical themes of the occult and the mysterious. The album cover painting matches and enhances the lyrics and music and hangs in London's famous Tate Gallery.

As with most NWoBHM albums this is nearer to Black Sabbath than what we now call Heavy Metal but in 1980 this was as heavy and evil as it got. If you pick this one up make sure to get the 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition which includes an extra CD of demo's & singles plus the BBC Friday Rock Show Session all of which are worth hearing.

So this album is five stars all the way and a must have in any NWoBHM collection. Lets be hearing you ... 'You're an angel witch, you're an angel witch'.