Witchfynde were one of the "go to" bands I would play, to set me up for a night of headbanging. Got the Give em Hell album, back in 1980, Still sounds good today. Stage fright was a total curveball in comparison. Going to get the others now. Still rocking out at 67. I also painted the Give em Hell cover on my bedroom wall, 2 feet high.
Popoff and Pardo are at it again and have returned a Ranking The Albums. Very interesting discussion , gents, and more so when your rankings differ from one another and the reasons are discussed. Now that Martin has used "More on that later", will be waiting for the day that Pete says "There ya go!" SoT has such a great cast of co-hosts, guest hosts, co-captains or whatever you want to call them, but you two have a really great chemistry and it helps set the tone for a good weekend. Thanks again, gents, for your time and the show.
I just listened to “Give ‘Em Hell” for the first time last Friday! I really liked it so I’ll have to check out some more of their stuff soon. Really interesting to see your guys’ rankings. Thanks Pete and Martin 🤘🤘
I agree! Brilliant band! Apart from the classic first 2 albums, Taking the World By Storm , Hold On to the Dream and Blow-out are great. The albums they released in the 2000s are also cool.
I first started listening to Witchfynde, Angelwitch, Demon, etc in around ‘81/82. We had a radio show here in the U.K. hosted by the late Tommy Vance called The Friday Rock Show every week that ran from late 70s to late 80s at 10pm. He pushed a lot of the NWOBHM bands throughout those years and I discovered many obscure and lesser known groups. I always wanted to love Witchfynde, maybe just because of the name, who knows, but never really clicked with them. Some of the tracks are great as you say though. I think the box set is definitely worth having. I often think that if you stripped away the vocals of many of these NWOBHM bands you’re left with pretty heavy material. For me, the vocalists are just not great in many of them.
I have the cool vintage patch of Give 'Em Hell with the purple border, hope you guys do more NWOBHM album rankings. Raven next please, and looking forward to the Venom episode feat. Chris Alo.
Nice! The world needs more Raven lunatics. I need to grab that boxset, even though I have separate releases of the albums, I heard it comes with a nice poster.
Love the fact that you two on the other side of the Atlantic are discussing this low rent rock band from our shores . The work that these bands would have put into their long careers is just lost to us.Thankyou for sharing your wonderful insight into these rare lesser known bands given a chance to be put into the spotlight. Can you do the strange Career of Demon
You guys should really try to interview someone from the band, as a new fan of the band there so much mystery and history I love to hear there side of the story on what happened to them in the 80s
"Paint it Black" was also covered by Deep Purple (although mainly as a vehicule for Ian Paice's drum solo), Glenn Tipton on his "Baptizm of Fire" album. Marduk also did a cover and so did W.A.S.P., Ministry, Thunder, and many others...definitely over-covered, but as you guys said it's a very charateristic track, kind of groundbreaking Stones tune. Cool show!
I have been listening to Give ‘EM Hell on my car ride to work this week, so interesting timing for this video. Really enjoy it but don’t know the rest of the catalog.
I’m listening to STAGEFRIGHT now and am really enjoying. “Wouldn’t Be Seen Dead in Heaven” is a very catchy song, but listen to that rhythm, the way the song gets softer at the end and the guitar harmonies. Obviously inspired by “The Boys Are Back in Town.”
My favourites are the lonly two I have - Give em Hell and Stagefright - I got them when they first came out though at the time Stagefright was a bit of a disappointment after Give Em Hell, however over time I've grown to really like it. Never followed them up after those two though as all their albums are on Deezer - presumably on Spotify also - will be checking them out.
As a UK resident the NWOBHM was full off pub bands given the chance to record albums to a new genre poor quality recordings sub Status Quo, Sabbath,Purple,Heep and energy of the Damned.But hey just gotta love it.
Great show guys. I saw Witchfynde after the release of Give em hell, were good live in North Wales. 1. Give em hell 2. Stagefright Lost interest after, big climb down from debut, Stagefright felt rushed 2 album releases in 1980. Love to see a Tank ranking, sure Martin would be up to it. Never get effort credit.
I saw Witchfynde on a bill with Saxon/ Angelwitch in London during the nwbhm , they all had v.longhair especially the guitarist.,was expecting doom rock instead v light, still liked them they had an atmosphere about them Remember Gectting Heavy
Great ranking of an interesting band. When you had Witchfinder General as well that were part of the same NWOBHM scene, I don’t think Witchfynde had the best name choice either. I’ve had both bands confused in the past. There’s that in addition to any impact the name choice and image has commercially.
I think the album art differentiate them. Give Em Hell, Cloak and Dagger and Lords of Sin are bona fide NWBHOM classic covers, the first two Witchfinder General albums are memorable for a very different reason. I still have the picture discs I bought at the time 😁
Re: The end of NWOBHM. I consider LIVE AFTER DEATH the last proper NWOBHM album. A lot of double lives signal the end era of an era. To me, that album not only signaled the end of a particular Maiden era, but the whole original NWOBHM scene in general.
Loved watching this! Yeah really interesting band. I don't completely understand why they were lumped into the nwobhm category. I can maybe say only 2 of their albums count as heavy metal. The music is not completely representative of the imagery but the songs are good. The production on all their albums is not great either but it's pretty listenable. The vocals on the first 4 albums are terrific but I can't really get into the last 2 albums cause of the new vocalist. I think he is better when he sings during the choruses but during the verses it's as if like he is mocking someone. Anyway my picks Cloak and dagger (their heaviest album and maybe the album that is heavy metal) Lords of sin Give em hell Stage fright Play it to death The witching hour
I picked up a boxset clamshell of this band a few weeks ago when Pete mentioned it on another show.Thanks Pete the three albums are really good.They were from 1980-83
I have the first 3 albums. I like the debut best and would call it a minor classic with the title track and The Divine Victim. The second one is a bit too much AOR and the third one hasn‘t the greatest production. If someone is interested definitely start with the debut. 👍 Great show as always!
Fun show. I had Lords of Sin on LP back in the day, but I don’t remember any songs. I only remember being so disappointed by the music which did really not live up to the expectations from the cover 😝
Clint Eastwood already said it: "Opinions are like assholes; everybody's got one !". Pete and Martin too, so rating albums is pretty much a personal thing. But I was curious. After listening to the comments I had to disagree with a lot of information that's given here. Maybe it's because I'm a musician who figured out Montalo's sound and style and because I play some Witchfynde songs ? Just one example: I Would Not Be Seen Dead In Heaven is not based on Southern Rock like is said here. This is Thin Lizzy they're copying ! The drummer Gra Scoresby was a very big Brian Downey fan. And I could go on ...
I must have seen Witchfynde a dozen times back in the early 80s as they were always on the NWOBHM gig circuit along with Samson, Angel Witch, Sledgehammer, Girlschool, Vardis & the like. Always thought they were part of the B list but enjoyable live & I have the Give Em Hell album somewhere. Great nostalgia episode for me, thanks.
I think you briefly mentioned Anvil. I realize that "The Story of Anvil" made these guys seem like a novelty band, or sort of pathetic. That being said, I had "Metal on Metal" as a kid in Canada and thought it was fabulously heavy. It would be interesting to know from you experts what you really think of this band's catalogue. Are they great or terrible? I cant decide without some help, lol.
Stagefright, Unto the Ages of the Ages , Crystal Gazing, and Conspiracy are my favorite Witchfynde songs. As for their reunion albums don't like them. Some bands like Iron Maiden, and Uriah Heep have put out strong material over 30 + years, but Witchfynde just hasn't succeeded in the same way. Maybe the Luther Beltz material will be better, it couldn't be much worse than the Harry Harrison? albums. The first 4 were all great in their own way. Give Em Hell has the Black Sabbath meets ELP ( Karn Evil type Vocals in the second half of the song ) Psyche Rock of Unto the Ages of the Ages , the Lynnerd Skynnerd feel of Devine Victim , and the Deep Purple sound of Getting Heavy. Stagefright has the only song that actually sounds like what someone would expect from a band with Evil imagery in the title track, In the Stars is incredibly well put together in a Bad Company meets the Eagles style. Cloak and Dagger has a much more 1980s feel. The album is arguably a low budget Motley Crue - Shout At the Devil . I agree with Luther Beltz sounding like King Diamond, but I think his normal singing Voice sounds a lot like Rob Halford. Lords of Sin overall has a slicker more mainstream feel. Blue Devils reminds me of Point of Entry Era Judas Priest. The Guitar fills on Hall of Mirrors are downright creepy , at least the echoed pinch harmonic towards the end of the song creates some discomfort. I think Lords of Sin would have been a big seller if not for the over the top Evil presentation . I know when I first saw it and read the list of sins on the back I was expecting some insane Death Thrash in the vein of early Sodom , or some creepy Doom Metal, but what it turned out to be shocked me even more. I am sure that a lot of Venom, Slayer, and Mercyful Fate fans were disappointed by the commercial sound , which probably hindered the bands success as much as mainstream fans put off by the imagery. I especially vein Lords of Sin 1984 as the main culprit of the bands failure because it hit the shelves in the US in 1985 , and at that time it competed against Exodus - Bonded by Blood , Destruction - Infernal Overkill etc. It was the only Witchfynde album anyone could find in most Stores. What copies did sell were purchased by Bathory and Mercyful Fate fans at least in the US .Helix ,and 1980s Scorpions fans weren't looking for bands with scary album covers and Satanic sounding songs , it's ironic that they would have been much more pleased with Lords of Sin than the Hardcore Metal Heads were
Spot on I never thought this band lived up to their name or imagery. I like them and the first 2 are my faves only because the shitty production and raw playing is nostalgic to me. Reminds me of when I was a teenager and didn't care about production I just wanted something raw and heavy.
Didn't know this one so just started listening to the first album Give 'em Hell. If I'm gonna be honest a lot of this sounds to me like it was recorded in a closet, especially the first two tracks & "Wake Up Screaming". So I guess I agree with Martin here. The vocals are a total non-starter for me. Well at least my wallet's happy...😎
I can't imagine being overly concerned about production. Is it a musician thing? If so, kinda glad I don't know how to play. Anyway, for me, it's either a good song or it's not. To each his own I guess.
Hoping for a Demon, Tank, and Raven ranking.
Witchfynde were one of the "go to" bands I would play, to set me up for a night of headbanging. Got the Give em Hell album, back in 1980, Still sounds good today. Stage fright was a total curveball in comparison. Going to get the others now. Still rocking out at 67. I also painted the Give em Hell cover on my bedroom wall, 2 feet high.
I saw Witchfynde supporting Def Leppard at the Marquee club in London in 1980, an odd mix, but it was a great gig
Wow. All I can say.
Saw them on the same tour (Cheltenham Town Hall). I remember it as a great night packed full of top headbanging fun.
Popoff and Pardo are at it again and have returned a Ranking The Albums. Very interesting discussion , gents, and more so when your rankings differ from one another and the reasons are discussed. Now that Martin has used "More on that later", will be waiting for the day that Pete says "There ya go!" SoT has such a great cast of co-hosts, guest hosts, co-captains or whatever you want to call them, but you two have a really great chemistry and it helps set the tone for a good weekend. Thanks again, gents, for your time and the show.
Great episode. Looking forward to more shows on Nwobhm.
Excellent show.
I mostly likely will "thumbs up" any video you two do together :)
Do some more of these NWOBHM bands, Heavy Load, Warlord and more!!
I just listened to “Give ‘Em Hell” for the first time last Friday! I really liked it so I’ll have to check out some more of their stuff soon. Really interesting to see your guys’ rankings. Thanks Pete and Martin 🤘🤘
Ive only ever heard the first 2 albums, so this will be cool.
You really should do a ranking the albums with DEMON, a criminally underrated band!!!
I agree! Brilliant band! Apart from the classic first 2 albums, Taking the World By Storm ,
Hold On to the Dream and Blow-out are great. The albums they released in the 2000s are also cool.
Yes I’m definitely hoping for a Demon ranking soon. Such a cool band. Been collecting their catalog since Pete mentioned them on video last year.
I played their first all the time back in 1980! And they had a beautiful ballad ( titled Belfast) on the Metal Explosion compilation
I first started listening to Witchfynde, Angelwitch, Demon, etc in around ‘81/82. We had a radio show here in the U.K. hosted by the late Tommy Vance called The Friday Rock Show every week that ran from late 70s to late 80s at 10pm. He pushed a lot of the NWOBHM bands throughout those years and I discovered many obscure and lesser known groups. I always wanted to love Witchfynde, maybe just because of the name, who knows, but never really clicked with them. Some of the tracks are great as you say though. I think the box set is definitely worth having. I often think that if you stripped away the vocals of many of these NWOBHM bands you’re left with pretty heavy material. For me, the vocalists are just not great in many of them.
Wow never thought a show like this would ever happen. Definitely an interesting band . Totally out of print throughout the 1990s.
I have the cool vintage patch of Give 'Em Hell with the purple border, hope you guys do more NWOBHM album rankings. Raven next please, and looking forward to the Venom episode feat. Chris Alo.
I just got the Raven boxset. Those albums turned me into a lunatic. Haha.
Nice! The world needs more Raven lunatics. I need to grab that boxset, even though I have separate releases of the albums, I heard it comes with a nice poster.
@@hellojimmypage I found an Original Rock until you drop and live at the inferno on vinyl. Warfare metal anarchy too.
Hey Pete, how about your ranking the studio albums by Melvins?
Love the fact that you two on the other side of the Atlantic are discussing this low rent rock band from our shores . The work that these bands would have put into their long careers is just lost to us.Thankyou for sharing your wonderful insight into these rare lesser known bands given a chance to be put into the spotlight. Can you do the strange Career of Demon
The riff in Crystal Gazing (which I love) sounds like something off of an early Danzig album, or even a late 80's The Cult album.
Happy birthday to your wife Pete 💓
You guys should really try to interview someone from the band, as a new fan of the band there so much mystery and history I love to hear there side of the story on what happened to them in the 80s
Montalo definitely. Luther Beltz and Gra Scoresby.
With Witchfynde since '81.
Nice video ...
1) Stagefright
2) Give 'Em Hell
3) Cloak and Dagger
4) Lords of Sin
5) Play It to Death
6) The Witching Hour
7) The Awakening (Wytchfynde album)
"Paint it Black" was also covered by Deep Purple (although mainly as a vehicule for Ian Paice's drum solo), Glenn Tipton on his "Baptizm of Fire" album. Marduk also did a cover and so did W.A.S.P., Ministry, Thunder, and many others...definitely over-covered, but as you guys said it's a very charateristic track, kind of groundbreaking Stones tune. Cool show!
I have been listening to Give ‘EM Hell on my car ride to work this week, so interesting timing for this video. Really enjoy it but don’t know the rest of the catalog.
I’m listening to STAGEFRIGHT now and am really enjoying. “Wouldn’t Be Seen Dead in Heaven” is a very catchy song, but listen to that rhythm, the way the song gets softer at the end and the guitar harmonies. Obviously inspired by “The Boys Are Back in Town.”
Saw them Feb 80 In Sheffield supporting Leppard
Great band. You should do a ranking of the Demon albums also..
Yes.
Excellent band.
The band is from my home town Chesterfield and I can guarantee you ask anyone in a band now around here would not even know of them.
Favourite of the less heralded nwobhm bands for me are Saracen, Demon and Tokyo Blade.
I'd go Tokyo Blade out of these four.
They were formed a short distance from my town, love their latest two albums.
I really like the first Saracen album - Heroes, Saints and Fools
@@jimhawkes Me too, it's a classic.
How about Saga or New England!
I just discovered them, and I love the Stagefright album (though all the stuff is great).
Lords of sin is quite good and grows on you
I like the narratives in "Big Deal".
My favourites are the lonly two I have - Give em Hell and Stagefright - I got them when they first came out though at the time Stagefright was a bit of a disappointment after Give Em Hell, however over time I've grown to really like it. Never followed them up after those two though as all their albums are on Deezer - presumably on Spotify also - will be checking them out.
As a UK resident the NWOBHM was full off pub bands given the chance to record albums to a new genre poor quality recordings sub Status Quo, Sabbath,Purple,Heep and energy of the Damned.But hey just gotta love it.
Great show guys. I saw Witchfynde after the release of Give em hell, were good live in North Wales.
1. Give em hell
2. Stagefright
Lost interest after, big climb down from debut, Stagefright felt rushed 2 album releases in 1980. Love to see a Tank ranking, sure Martin would be up to it. Never get effort credit.
I saw Witchfynde on a bill with Saxon/ Angelwitch in London during the nwbhm , they all had v.longhair especially the guitarist.,was expecting doom rock instead v light, still liked them they had an atmosphere about them Remember Gectting Heavy
"Covering things that are so old that your actual fans don't want to hear it at all" LOL! So true. That song has been covered way too many times.
I would go with -
5. The Witching Hour
4. Stage Fright
3. Cloak & Dagger
2. Lords of Sin
1. Give 'Em Hell
I have the cool issue of lord's of sin double vinyl
"Leaving Nadir" is one of the greatest songs of the NWOBHM era. A decent discography, but not great. I'm hoping to see a Venom ranking one day.
Couldn't get into them. I did try.
Divine victims is a 3cd boxset which you can get for reasonable money. Still around they tour now and again.
nice! I really like Witchfynde
...but only really the first two
I think I prefer Stagefright, I feel like they sound somewhat like evil Thin Lizzy
Great ranking of an interesting band. When you had Witchfinder General as well that were part of the same NWOBHM scene, I don’t think Witchfynde had the best name choice either. I’ve had both bands confused in the past. There’s that in addition to any impact the name choice and image has commercially.
Definitely get the confusion, and the bad match of the name with their music, but... great name!
I think the album art differentiate them. Give Em Hell, Cloak and Dagger and Lords of Sin are bona fide NWBHOM classic covers, the first two Witchfinder General albums are memorable for a very different reason. I still have the picture discs I bought at the time 😁
Re: The end of NWOBHM. I consider LIVE AFTER DEATH the last proper NWOBHM album. A lot of double lives signal the end era of an era. To me, that album not only signaled the end of a particular Maiden era, but the whole original NWOBHM scene in general.
Loved watching this! Yeah really interesting band. I don't completely understand why they were lumped into the nwobhm category. I can maybe say only 2 of their albums count as heavy metal. The music is not completely representative of the imagery but the songs are good. The production on all their albums is not great either but it's pretty listenable. The vocals on the first 4 albums are terrific but I can't really get into the last 2 albums cause of the new vocalist. I think he is better when he sings during the choruses but during the verses it's as if like he is mocking someone.
Anyway my picks
Cloak and dagger (their heaviest album and maybe the album that is heavy metal)
Lords of sin
Give em hell
Stage fright
Play it to death
The witching hour
I picked up a boxset clamshell of this band a few weeks ago when Pete mentioned it on another show.Thanks Pete the three albums are really good.They were from 1980-83
I have the first 3 albums. I like the debut best and would call it a minor classic with the title track and The Divine Victim. The second one is a bit too much AOR and the third one hasn‘t the greatest production. If someone is interested definitely start with the debut. 👍
Great show as always!
Fun show. I had Lords of Sin on LP back in the day, but I don’t remember any songs. I only remember being so disappointed by the music which did really not live up to the expectations from the cover 😝
Lords of Sin is a GEM.
I was even a member of their fan club back in the day.
Best album of their's is Cloak & Dagger
Sorry Martin Axel Rudi Pell has Paint It Black on his new covers album
I love this band got em all oops give em hell do demon guys
Ah Luther Beltz a.k.a Chalky White a semi legend in his own lunchtime
Clint Eastwood already said it: "Opinions are like assholes; everybody's got one !". Pete and Martin too, so rating albums is pretty much a personal thing. But I was curious. After listening to the comments I had to disagree with a lot of information that's given here. Maybe it's because I'm a musician who figured out Montalo's sound and style and because I play some Witchfynde songs ? Just one example: I Would Not Be Seen Dead In Heaven is not based on Southern Rock like is said here. This is Thin Lizzy they're copying ! The drummer Gra Scoresby was a very big Brian Downey fan. And I could go on ...
Witchfinder General, were a similar band, though a bit more sludge and doom.
Great band, and I can't decide my favorite album, I love all four first ones equally!
I must have seen Witchfynde a dozen times back in the early 80s as they were always on the NWOBHM gig circuit along with Samson, Angel Witch, Sledgehammer, Girlschool, Vardis & the like. Always thought they were part of the B list but enjoyable live & I have the Give Em Hell album somewhere. Great nostalgia episode for me, thanks.
I think you briefly mentioned Anvil. I realize that "The Story of Anvil" made these guys seem like a novelty band, or sort of pathetic. That being said, I had "Metal on Metal" as a kid in Canada and thought it was fabulously heavy. It would be interesting to know from you experts what you really think of this band's catalogue. Are they great or terrible? I cant decide without some help, lol.
Stagefright, Unto the Ages of the Ages , Crystal Gazing, and Conspiracy are my favorite Witchfynde songs. As for their reunion albums don't like them. Some bands like Iron Maiden, and Uriah Heep have put out strong material over 30 + years, but Witchfynde just hasn't succeeded in the same way. Maybe the Luther Beltz material will be better, it couldn't be much worse than the Harry Harrison? albums. The first 4 were all great in their own way. Give Em Hell has the Black Sabbath meets ELP ( Karn Evil type Vocals in the second half of the song ) Psyche Rock of Unto the Ages of the Ages , the Lynnerd Skynnerd feel of Devine Victim , and the Deep Purple sound of Getting Heavy. Stagefright has the only song that actually sounds like what someone would expect from a band with Evil imagery in the title track, In the Stars is incredibly well put together in a Bad Company meets the Eagles style. Cloak and Dagger has a much more 1980s feel. The album is arguably a low budget Motley Crue - Shout At the Devil . I agree with Luther Beltz sounding like King Diamond, but I think his normal singing Voice sounds a lot like Rob Halford. Lords of Sin overall has a slicker more mainstream feel. Blue Devils reminds me of Point of Entry Era Judas Priest. The Guitar fills on Hall of Mirrors are downright creepy , at least the echoed pinch harmonic towards the end of the song creates some discomfort. I think Lords of Sin would have been a big seller if not for the over the top Evil presentation . I know when I first saw it and read the list of sins on the back I was expecting some insane Death Thrash in the vein of early Sodom , or some creepy Doom Metal, but what it turned out to be shocked me even more. I am sure that a lot of Venom, Slayer, and Mercyful Fate fans were disappointed by the commercial sound , which probably hindered the bands success as much as mainstream fans put off by the imagery. I especially vein Lords of Sin 1984 as the main culprit of the bands failure because it hit the shelves in the US in 1985 , and at that time it competed against Exodus - Bonded by Blood , Destruction - Infernal Overkill etc. It was the only Witchfynde album anyone could find in most Stores. What copies did sell were purchased by Bathory and Mercyful Fate fans at least in the US .Helix ,and 1980s Scorpions fans weren't looking for bands with scary album covers and Satanic sounding songs , it's ironic that they would have been much more pleased with Lords of Sin than the Hardcore Metal Heads were
There goes your next topic: "Albums ranked very high because of a couple of tracks". :-)
Well, there must be a reason why they covered 'Paint it black' another time on the album 'Play it to death'...right?? Don't you get the irony ,-)
Spot on I never thought this band lived up to their name or imagery. I like them and the first 2 are my faves only because the shitty production and raw playing is nostalgic to me. Reminds me of when I was a teenager and didn't care about production I just wanted something raw and heavy.
Album covers shocked in the day but we're a tad MOR in metal terms
Tracy Abbott a Grantham Lincolnshire England man like myself in band since 2014.
1. Give em' Hell
2. Cloak & Dagger
3. Stagefright
Meh to the rest
Didn't know this one so just started listening to the first album Give 'em Hell. If I'm gonna be honest a lot of this sounds to me like it was recorded in a closet, especially the first two tracks & "Wake Up Screaming". So I guess I agree with Martin here. The vocals are a total non-starter for me. Well at least my wallet's happy...😎
I can't imagine being overly concerned about production. Is it a musician thing? If so, kinda glad I don't know how to play. Anyway, for me, it's either a good song or it's not. To each his own I guess.