Witchfinder General (band)
Encyclopedia
Witchfinder General is a doom metal
band from Stourbridge
, England
. They were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
scene and have been cited as a major influence on the doom metal
genre.
, England
, as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
movement during the early 1980s. They are strongly influenced by Black Sabbath
, and are widely recognised today as one of the pioneers of the doom metal
style. The band's importance became acknowledged mostly after they disbanded.
The band (minus vocalist & writer Zeeb Parkes) reformed in November 2006, with new vocalist Gary Martin. In 2007 the band released Buried Amongst the Ruins, a compilation CD featuring the "Burning a Sinner" single, the Soviet Invasion
EP, and four live tracks including a live version of the unreleased track "Phantasmagorical". Whilst stating they will not perform live again, the band recently finished recording their third full length album, entitled Resurrected
.
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band from Stourbridge
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
scene and have been cited as a major influence on the doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
genre.
Biography
Witchfinder General formed in 1979 by Zeeb Parkes & Phil Cope in StourbridgeStourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
movement during the early 1980s. They are strongly influenced by Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, and are widely recognised today as one of the pioneers of the doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
style. The band's importance became acknowledged mostly after they disbanded.
The band (minus vocalist & writer Zeeb Parkes) reformed in November 2006, with new vocalist Gary Martin. In 2007 the band released Buried Amongst the Ruins, a compilation CD featuring the "Burning a Sinner" single, the Soviet Invasion
Soviet Invasion (album)
Soviet Invasion is the second release from British doom metal band Witchfinder General. It was released in 1982 on Heavy Metal Records. The EP was released on 12" vinyl. In 2004 it was reissued on 12" vinyl with "Soviet Invasion" and "Rabies" on the A-side and the "Burning a Sinner" single on the...
EP, and four live tracks including a live version of the unreleased track "Phantasmagorical". Whilst stating they will not perform live again, the band recently finished recording their third full length album, entitled Resurrected
Resurrected (album)
Resurrected is the third full length album by doom metal band Witchfinder General. It was released on 30 August 2008, and on 2 September 2008 in the UK.-Track listing:# "The Living Hell" - 7:50 # "The Gift Of Life" - 5:47...
.
Current line-up
- Phil Cope - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
(1979-1984, 2006-present) (all recordings, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on Death Penalty (as Wolfy Trope)) - Rod Hawkes - bass (1982-1984, 2006-present) (on Live '83)
- Dermot Redmond - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1983-1984, 2006-present) (on Live '83) - Gary Martin - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(2007 - present)
Former members
- Zeeb Parkes - vocals, writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
(1979-1984) (Single - Burning a Sinner, Single - Soviet InvasionSoviet invasionSoviet Invasion can refer to:*Soviet invasion of Poland , a military operation during the early stages of World War II*Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, a 1968 invasion of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic...
, Album - Death Penalty, Album - Friends of HellFriends of HellFriends of Hell is the second album by doom metal band Witchfinder General. It was released in 1983 on Heavy Metal Records.-Track listing:# "Love on Smack" - 4:10 # "Last Chance" - 3:50 # "Music" - 3:05...
, Single - MusicSongIn music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
and all off-shoot compilations and live releases). - Johnny Fisher - bass (1979-1980)
- Steve Kinsell - drums (1979-1982) (on "Burning a Sinner" and "Soviet Invasion" singles,Buried Amongst the Ruins)
- Kevin McCready - bass (1981-1982) (on "Burning a Sinner" and "Soviet Invasion" singles,Buried Amongst the Ruins)
- Graham Ditchfield - drums (1982-1983) (on Death Penalty, Friends of Hell and "Music" single)
Studio albums
- Death PenaltyDeath Penalty (album)Death Penalty is the debut album by British heavy metal band Witchfinder General. It was released in 1982 on Heavy Metal Records. The album received some criticism for the cover photograph, which featured topless model Joanne Latham. The photograph had been taken in the yard of St Mary the Blessed...
CD/LP (Heavy Metal Records 1982) - Friends of HellFriends of HellFriends of Hell is the second album by doom metal band Witchfinder General. It was released in 1983 on Heavy Metal Records.-Track listing:# "Love on Smack" - 4:10 # "Last Chance" - 3:50 # "Music" - 3:05...
CD/LP (Heavy Metal Records 1983) - ResurrectedResurrected (album)Resurrected is the third full length album by doom metal band Witchfinder General. It was released on 30 August 2008, and on 2 September 2008 in the UK.-Track listing:# "The Living Hell" - 7:50 # "The Gift Of Life" - 5:47...
CD (Buried By Time & Dust Records 2008)
Live albums
- Live '83 CD (Nuclear War Now! 2006)
- Live '83 CD (Nuclear War Now! 2007 - Corrected speed on CD)
Singles/EPs
- "Burning a Sinner" 7" (Heavy Metal Records 1981)
- Soviet InvasionSoviet Invasion (album)Soviet Invasion is the second release from British doom metal band Witchfinder General. It was released in 1982 on Heavy Metal Records. The EP was released on 12" vinyl. In 2004 it was reissued on 12" vinyl with "Soviet Invasion" and "Rabies" on the A-side and the "Burning a Sinner" single on the...
12" EP (Heavy Metal Records 1982) - "Music" 7" (Heavy Metal Records 1983)
Other releases
- Buried Amongst the Ruins CD (NWN! Productions / Buried By Time & Dust Records 2007)