650. Angel Witch / Angel Witch. 1980. 4/5

Given my advancing age, the lack of a steady supply of new material from my favourite artists, and the inconsistent flow of listenable material from new artists, I have made a point of trying to go back in time, and discover some of the albums that were either an influence or a part of the very beginnings of the heavy metal genre, especially those who were a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Some of these are very difficult to locate, but occasionally my digging in record stores and online stores brings forth some gold, and that is what has happened with this gem from the past.
Given the history of this band, it's a wonder that they managed to get this out at all. Over the years there has been almost thirty people in and out of the band, and having initially disbanded after this release, the whole revolving door of band members must have contributed to the disarray of their situation.

This album, though, has all of the right components that should surely have driven further success. It is as raw sounding as other great debut albums of the age, and full of great drum fills, guitar riffs and soaring vocals. Listening to a 1980 album for the first time with 2013 ears means that I can't possibly have the same reaction to it as I would have as a teenager in the 1980's. More's the pity, as I would love to have done so. But even with that being the case, you can't help but enjoy this album. The energy through every song is contagious. While it was probably seen as much darker on its release than it would now, you can hear the roots of thrash and metal in these songs.
I tried to put together a list of my favourite songs on the album, and pretty much discovered that I couldn't split them. They all complement each other so well.

Given the recent documentary about the band Anvil, which not only showed that they somehow missed the boat in the fame stakes when their contemporary bands made it "big", but that they have managed to reinvigorate their career since that documentary aired, one wonders if Angel Witch could possibly ride a similar wave. This album should have been the start of a solid recording and touring career. Instead, like many bands of the NWoBHM revolution, they were unable to turn a great debut album into a career. 33 years on, and having just found this album myself, I can only imagine what might have followed had they been able to stick together.

"You're an Angel Witch... you're an Angel Witch!"