Witchfynde Give Em Hell LP Vinyl NWOBHM Saxon Raven Judas Priest Venom satan

$

35

Witchfynde - GIVE EM HELL vinyl record
Black vinyl.
Imported from Germany's HIGH ROLLER RECORDS. 
---
High Roller Records, 180g black vinyl, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover with silver ink, booklet, poster, special envelope with 5 x A5 photo cards, 3 bonus tracks, Audio restored and mastered by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in September 2020. 2024 DMM cutting
Up until a few years ago (and the release of »The Lost Tapes«) Witchfynde were considered more or less as a classic NWOBHM band but the band actually pre-dated the movement a good four or five years. Bassist Andro Coulton explains: “Witchfynde actually started in 1974, with a line up of Montalo on guitars, Gra Scoresby on drums, Richard (Butch Blower) on bass and Neil Harvey on vocals. It was basically a band of school mates plus Montalo. I joined as a roadie/lighting engineer in 1974 and later when Butch had a car crash I took over on bass in early 1975. Steve Bridges then joined on vocals around early summer of 1975.” In 1979, when the glorious NWOBHM hit the United Kingdom, the members of Witchfynde were between 23 and 27 years of age. “We as a lot of bands at the time were just swept along on the wave of new interest for heavy metal,” reflects Andro Coulton today.” For the band's debut album »Give ‘Em Hell«, one of the classic albums of the NWOBHM period, there was a certain pool of material: “If you count 'Why Dontcha' and 'Twilight Lady', which we played live up to recording of the album, we had eleven songs to choose from. Those two songs mentioned, 'Why Dontcha' and 'Twilight Lady', were later on the »Live Sacrifice« album recorded at Ipswich in 1979 and at the moment the only way to hear these tracks.” »Give ‘Em Hell« was originally issued on local Mansfield-based label Rondelet Records in 1979, as Andro Coulton knows: “Rondelet was the first after Montalo and Gra took a demo tape of half of what became »Give ‘Em Hell« to them and they loved it. Half of the album was self-financed. Rondelet was a fledging label from Mansfield and Witchfynde were their first signing.” The lengthy “Unto The Ages Of the Ages” probably is the most unusual composition on the album, as Coulton explains: “That song was written in very early 1976 and is in the lengthy three to four part style that we first did with 'Grimoire'. This was written with all of us making our own contribution to the writing of the song and we also used the same style with 'Tetelestai' and many others, some of which have been lost in the mists of time. This was because we were influenced by such bands as Rush in their early years and their long opuses such as 'By-Thor And The Snow Dog' and of course their album »2112«. It became a firm favourite of our fans as it was used as a ritual with incensed burning and Steve ringing out a bell like tone in the middle part on a piece of metal tube, whilst Montalo did his solo using the violin bow.” “My bass playing on the album and in general was influenced by quite a few people,” continues Coulton. “The first time bass really got to me was Mel Schacher’s playing on the Grand Funk live album, quickly followed by Lemmy’s playing on Hawkwind’s 'Brainstorm'. Witchfynde being musically a three piece means that the bass cannot just sit playing root notes, but needs to have its own melody within the rhythm.” Matthias Mader
Steve Bridges - Vocals Montalo - Guitars Andro Coulton - Bass Gra Scoresby - Drums
01 Ready to Roll 02 The Divine Victim 03 Leaving Nadir 04 Gettin' Heavy 05 Give 'em Hell 06 Unto the Ages of the Ages 07 Pay Now - Love Later 08 The Devil's Gallop 09 Tetelestai 10 Wake Up Screaming
---

Witchfynde is a British heavy metal band formed in 1973, and they are one of the early pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. They are recognized for their occult-inspired lyrics, dark atmosphere, and their fusion of traditional heavy metal with a mystical and sometimes progressive edge. Witchfynde's music stood out in the NWOBHM scene due to its slower tempos, eerie atmospheres, and occult themes, which later earned them a cult following, especially among fans of proto-doom metal and dark rock.
Band Overview Formation and Early Years: Witchfynde was formed in Derbyshire, England, by guitarist Montalo (Trevor Taylor) and bassist Andro Coulton. The band went through several lineup changes in the early years, with vocalist Steve Bridges being the most notable frontman during their classic era. Musical Style: Witchfynde's sound is a blend of traditional heavy metal with a touch of progressive rock and a strong focus on dark, mystical themes. They frequently incorporated slow, brooding riffs and eerie melodies that gave their music a distinctive atmospheric quality compared to the faster, more aggressive NWOBHM bands. The occult themes in their lyrics set them apart, making them forerunners of what would later influence bands in the doom metal and black metal scenes. Occult and Mystical Themes: Much of their lyrical content revolves around occultism, magic, and dark supernatural forces, which gave their image an aura of mystery. This focus on dark themes was somewhat unique in the NWOBHM scene at the time. Key Albums Give 'Em Hell (1980) – Witchfynde’s debut album is widely regarded as a classic in the NWOBHM genre. It features tracks like "Give 'Em Hell" and "Leaving Nadir," which showcase their heavy riffing and dark, brooding atmosphere. Stagefright (1980) – Released later in the same year as their debut, Stagefright continues the band’s occult themes but introduces more melody and a slightly more polished production. Standout tracks include "Moon Magic" and "In the Stars." Cloak and Dagger (1983) – This album marked a shift towards a more straightforward heavy metal sound, with less focus on occult themes and more traditional metal anthems like "I’d Rather Go Wild" and "The Divine Victim." The Witching Hour (2001) – After a long hiatus, Witchfynde returned with The Witching Hour, which revisited their early sound and themes, proving their staying power in the metal world. Sound and Influence Proto-Doom Metal: Witchfynde’s slower, darker sound and mystical themes are often considered precursors to the doom metal genre. Occult Rock: Their focus on occult and magical themes aligns them with other early "occult rock" bands, such as Black Sabbath. NWOBHM Legacy: Despite never achieving the commercial success of bands like Iron Maiden or Saxon, Witchfynde's cult status within the NWOBHM movement has remained strong due to their unique lyrical themes and atmospheric approach to heavy metal. Legacy While Witchfynde did not attain the mainstream popularity of some of their NWOBHM peers, their influence on later metal genres, particularly doom and black metal, cannot be understated. Their dark, occult-themed music, combined with heavy, brooding riffs, was ahead of its time and helped pave the way for the darker aspects of metal that would emerge in the late 1980s and beyond.
50 Similar Artists: Angel Witch Satan Cloven Hoof Venom Quartz Diamond Head Raven Blitzkrieg Jaguar Holocaust Grim Reaper Tygers of Pan Tang Praying Mantis Demon Tokyo Blade Savage Witchfinder General Tank Samson Fist Warfare Saxon White Spirit Chateaux Witch Cross Manilla Road Legend Avenger Virtue Rogue Male Exciter Heavy Load Battleaxe Riot Grave Digger Omen Brocas Helm Cirith Ungol Armored Saint Dark Star Tyrant Stormwitch Hell Savage Grace Hellion Destructor Saracen Jag Panzer Hallow’s Eve Running Wild Witchfynde’s legacy continues to be celebrated among fans of classic heavy metal, especially those drawn to the darker, occult side of the genre. Their sound, steeped in mysticism and atmosphere, helped pave the way for more extreme metal genres in the years that followed