Angel Witch

The British heavy metal rebirth of the late '70s and early '80s provided more than its share of impressive headbangers. A product of the scene that also gave the world Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon, Girlschool, and Diamond Head, Angel Witch wasn't a huge commercial success in the U.S., but enjoyed a loyal underground following in England and Europe. This superb debut album was the band's finest hour. Melodic yet forceful and intense, classics like "Sorceress," "White Witch," and "Angel of Death" illustrate Angel Witch's artistic debt to fellow Britons Judas Priest, Rainbow, and Black Sabbath. The Londoners' lyrics are consistently gothic and underscore their interest in the occult, a subject that has caught the interest of more than a few metalheads. American headbangers who haven't experienced the pleasures of Angel Witch owe it to themselves to hear this metal classic. [Castle's 2000 reissue appended six bonus tracks taken from early singles and compilation appearances, making it close to the definitive portrait of the band.] ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi