Stormwitch
Encyclopedia
Stormwitch is a heavy metal
band from Heidenheim, Baden Württemberg, Germany
, formed in 1979 under the name Lemon Sylvan. The name was changed into Stormwitch in 1981. They have been called "The
Masters of Black Romantic" by their fans. The band's song lyrics often focused on fantasy, occult or historical themes, along with their contemporaries and countrymen Helloween
. They performed at Wacken Open Air
festival in 2002. Over time they have changed their sound from a Judas Priest-esque style of heavy metal to a more keyboard based form of power metal.
They then split up in 1994 but reformed in 2002 and have so far released 2 new albums, with another being announced recently and expected to be released sometime in 2011:
Their first album, Walpurgis Night
, in 1984, was recorded using as little post-production as possible to remain true to the sound they were trying to achieve. They did not use multi-track recording, instead recording the album straight through. Approximately a year later they recorded the album Tales of Terror
, of which the master tapes were supposed to be destroyed, only recently being re-recorded using original LP album
s.
Their third album Stronger Than Heaven
was released in 1986, followed by The Beauty and the Beast
in 1987. In 1989 they released Eye of the Storm and Live in Budapest
.
They toured much of Europe during the Cold War
, including Eastern European countries such as Hungary, where they were waylaid by officials and nearly missed the first gig of that particular tour.
Shortly after, Harald Spengler left the band to concentrate on managing. In 1992, Stefan Kauffmann and Wolfgang Schludi (who replaced Harald Spengler) also left the band before the recordings for War of the Wizards
could start.
The recording line-up for War of the Wizards consisted of Andy Mück (Vocals), Damir Uzunovic (Guitar), Joe Gassmann (Guitar), Martin Albrecht (Bass) and Peter Langer (Drums). After the release, Joe Gassmann had to leave the band. As a four-piece they recorded "Shogun" in 1994.
After some changes in line up once again and an eventual break up in 1996, Andy Mück, the only member from the original line-up, and Martin Winkler wrote the song Dance with the Witches
in 2002, and with a new line up and the help of Nuclear Blast Records, Stormwitch regrouped once more and took to the stage.
This new line-up also released the album Witchcraft
in 2004 but split up shortly after. Again Andy Mück was the original member. He regrouped with first bass-player Jürgen Wannenwetsch in 2005. In 2010 the line-up was completed once again with Ralf Spitznagel (Guitar), Marc Scheunert (Guitar) and Harry Reischmann (Drums). Reischmann's departure was announced in January 2011, with Stefan Köllner being brought in to replace him on drums. The band have commented on their website that a new album is in progress and should be released in 2011. It will be titled Season of the Witch.
Current members
Vocalist
Guitarist
Bass guitarist
Drums
Keyboards
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Heidenheim, Baden Württemberg, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, formed in 1979 under the name Lemon Sylvan. The name was changed into Stormwitch in 1981. They have been called "The
Masters of Black Romantic" by their fans. The band's song lyrics often focused on fantasy, occult or historical themes, along with their contemporaries and countrymen Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
. They performed at Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
festival in 2002. Over time they have changed their sound from a Judas Priest-esque style of heavy metal to a more keyboard based form of power metal.
Discography
Stormwitch formed in the 1980s and released 7 albums in their original spell:- Walpurgis NightWalpurgis Night (Stormwitch album)Walpurgis Night is the debut album by German heavy metal band Stormwitch. This album is often considered one of the best of Stormwitch's discography and the title track "Walpurgis Night" is usually a favourite at the band's concerts...
(1984) - Tales of TerrorTales Of Terror (Stormwitch album)Tales of Terror was the second album released by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1985. The album is often considered one of their best, along with its successor and predecessor, and some of the songs from this album were featured on the later released compilation "Priest of...
(1985) - Stronger Than HeavenStronger Than HeavenStronger Than Heaven was the third album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1986. The album is the third album to have tracks from it used in the later released compilation Priest of Evil. The track "Ravenlord" was later covered by HammerFall as a bonus track on their debut...
(1986) - The Beauty and the BeastThe Beauty and the Beast (Stormwitch album)The Beauty and the Beast is the fourth album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1987. The album is the first to feature additional female vocals in a number of songs...
(1988) - Live in BudapestLive in BudapestLive In Budapest is a live album by German heavy metal band, Stormwitch. It is currently Stormwitch's only official live release. It was recorded in 1989, slightly after fifth album Eye of the Storm.-Track listing:# "Intro"# "Call of the Wicked"...
(1989) - Eye of the Storm (1989)
- War of the WizardsWar of the Wizards (Stormwitch album)War of the Wizards was the sixth album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1992. The album is a concept album with strong references to The Lord of the Rings, however, due to copyright reasons, character's names have been changed...
(1992) - ShogunShogun (Stormwitch album)Shogun was the seventh album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1994. It is probably the most controversial of Stormwitch's albums and poorly received by fans due to its almost entirely different sound, with progressive elements and very little of their classic heavy metal...
(1994)
They then split up in 1994 but reformed in 2002 and have so far released 2 new albums, with another being announced recently and expected to be released sometime in 2011:
- Dance with the WitchesDance With The WitchesDance with the Witches was the 8th album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 2002, it was their first since the band split up after the unsuccessful Shogun in 1994....
(2002) - WitchcraftWitchcraft (Stormwitch album)Witchcraft was the ninth album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 2004. The album sees a further expansion on the new style, first shown in "Dance With The Witches", with a prominent use of keyboards that gave a much more symphonic sound...
(2004) - Season of the Witch (TBA)
History of the band
Stormwitch was founded in the early eighties by childhood friends Harald Spengler (Lee Tarot), Stefan Kauffmann (Steve Merchant)and Andy Mück, writing their first songs while they searched for the final pieces of the band to play live shows, including clubs and youth centers. The first line-up was completed by Peter Langer (Pete Lancer) and Jürgen Wannenwetsch.Their first album, Walpurgis Night
Walpurgis Night (Stormwitch album)
Walpurgis Night is the debut album by German heavy metal band Stormwitch. This album is often considered one of the best of Stormwitch's discography and the title track "Walpurgis Night" is usually a favourite at the band's concerts...
, in 1984, was recorded using as little post-production as possible to remain true to the sound they were trying to achieve. They did not use multi-track recording, instead recording the album straight through. Approximately a year later they recorded the album Tales of Terror
Tales Of Terror (Stormwitch album)
Tales of Terror was the second album released by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1985. The album is often considered one of their best, along with its successor and predecessor, and some of the songs from this album were featured on the later released compilation "Priest of...
, of which the master tapes were supposed to be destroyed, only recently being re-recorded using original LP album
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s.
Their third album Stronger Than Heaven
Stronger Than Heaven
Stronger Than Heaven was the third album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1986. The album is the third album to have tracks from it used in the later released compilation Priest of Evil. The track "Ravenlord" was later covered by HammerFall as a bonus track on their debut...
was released in 1986, followed by The Beauty and the Beast
The Beauty and the Beast (Stormwitch album)
The Beauty and the Beast is the fourth album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1987. The album is the first to feature additional female vocals in a number of songs...
in 1987. In 1989 they released Eye of the Storm and Live in Budapest
Live in Budapest
Live In Budapest is a live album by German heavy metal band, Stormwitch. It is currently Stormwitch's only official live release. It was recorded in 1989, slightly after fifth album Eye of the Storm.-Track listing:# "Intro"# "Call of the Wicked"...
.
They toured much of Europe during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, including Eastern European countries such as Hungary, where they were waylaid by officials and nearly missed the first gig of that particular tour.
Shortly after, Harald Spengler left the band to concentrate on managing. In 1992, Stefan Kauffmann and Wolfgang Schludi (who replaced Harald Spengler) also left the band before the recordings for War of the Wizards
War of the Wizards (Stormwitch album)
War of the Wizards was the sixth album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 1992. The album is a concept album with strong references to The Lord of the Rings, however, due to copyright reasons, character's names have been changed...
could start.
The recording line-up for War of the Wizards consisted of Andy Mück (Vocals), Damir Uzunovic (Guitar), Joe Gassmann (Guitar), Martin Albrecht (Bass) and Peter Langer (Drums). After the release, Joe Gassmann had to leave the band. As a four-piece they recorded "Shogun" in 1994.
After some changes in line up once again and an eventual break up in 1996, Andy Mück, the only member from the original line-up, and Martin Winkler wrote the song Dance with the Witches
Dance With The Witches
Dance with the Witches was the 8th album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 2002, it was their first since the band split up after the unsuccessful Shogun in 1994....
in 2002, and with a new line up and the help of Nuclear Blast Records, Stormwitch regrouped once more and took to the stage.
This new line-up also released the album Witchcraft
Witchcraft (Stormwitch album)
Witchcraft was the ninth album by the German heavy metal band Stormwitch, released in 2004. The album sees a further expansion on the new style, first shown in "Dance With The Witches", with a prominent use of keyboards that gave a much more symphonic sound...
in 2004 but split up shortly after. Again Andy Mück was the original member. He regrouped with first bass-player Jürgen Wannenwetsch in 2005. In 2010 the line-up was completed once again with Ralf Spitznagel (Guitar), Marc Scheunert (Guitar) and Harry Reischmann (Drums). Reischmann's departure was announced in January 2011, with Stefan Köllner being brought in to replace him on drums. The band have commented on their website that a new album is in progress and should be released in 2011. It will be titled Season of the Witch.
Members and past members
The vocalist Andy Mück has been the only constant member in the band with numerous line up changes since the formation.Current members
- Andy Mück - Vocals (1979–1994, 2002–present)
- Jürgen Wannenwetsch - Bass (1981–1983, 2005–present)
- Stoney - Guitar (2010–present)
- Marc Scheunert - Guitar (2010–present)
- Stefan Köllner - Drums (2011–present)
Vocalist
- Andy Mück (1979–1994, 2002–Present)
Guitarist
- Steve Merchant (Stefan Kauffman) (1979–1989)
- Lee Tarot (Harald Spengler) (Tarot's Myst) (1979–1989)
- Wolf Schludi (1989)
- Damir Uzunovic (The Armada) (1991–1994)
- Joe Gassmann (Sanvoisen, ex-Letter X) (1991–1992)
- Robert ``Robby`` Balci (Defending the Faith, ex-Death In Action) (1992-1994, live only)
- Martin Winkler (2002–2004)
- Fabian Schwarz (Runamok, ex-Paradox (Ger), Ritual Spirit, Tyran' Pace) (2002–2004)
- Oliver Weislogel (2004-2005)
Bass guitarist
- Jürgen Wannenwetsch (1981-1983, 2005-Present)
- Ronny "Pearson" Gleisberg (1983–1986)
- Andy "Hunter" Jäger (1987–1989)
- Martin Albrecht (Valley's Eve, Mystic Prophecy, Rough) (1990–1994)
- Dominik Schwarz (Runamok) (2002–2004)
Drums
- Peter "Lancer" Langer (The Armada, Infinity's Call) (1983–1994)
- Marc Oppold (ex-Tyrant (Ger), ex-Death in Action) (2002–2004)
- Michael Blechinger (2004–2005)
- Harry Reischmann (2010–2011)
Keyboards
- Alex Schmidt (ex-Tyran' Pace) (2002–2004)
- Andrew Roussak (2004–2005)