All this nostalgia in metal is at least a good opportunity to join some of the dots and re-live the old days when metal hair was universally permed and speed metal riffs still sounded fresh. It’s also an opportunity to breathe new life into some of those should-have-been classic albums that became lost in the midst of time. This re-release, originally on Roadrunner records and now reissued through Hells Headbangers, of Witch Cross’s Fit For Fight (Sabaton fans take note) is a sharp reminder that there are plenty more of those still out there and worth revisiting.
In 1984, when it was released, this was most likely referred to simply as ‘heavy metal (shock!) but more helpfully described as a strain of the New Wave of British (or in this case Danish) Heavy Metal. The early 1980s was an inventive period musically and that is well demonstrated here by a band that should have shone but seem to have languished like so many other of the time with one full release (this one) several demos and EPs and at some point a massive 32 track compilation last year. It has further decent heritage in that it was recorded by King Diamond engineer Henrik Lund but I’m guessing that bands fromCopenhagenjust didn’t often get the breaks back then like their British and American counterparts.
With more reverb on the vocals than there is distortion on the guitars this one is steeped in the habits of the day. But it’s difficult to move for cheeky hooks and any NWOBHM addict or early speed metal fans not already familiar with Witch Cross will find it entertaining. There are a few shades of Priest and Saxon in there, definitely bands like Angel Witch and American speed metal legends Riot. Tracks like Fight the Fire, Axe Dance and the full speed ahead Alien Savage are excellent dealing with familiar themes of the time (particularly the latter which I currently have on repeat play…) and leave me wondering that the world has not missed out on this adrenaline-fuelled phenomenon which became quickly obscured in history between the glam rock ‘hair metal’ wave and the thrash attack that was to come.
The early 1980s was a grim time in a lot of ways (Margaret Thatcher, recession and the bomb) but decent music like this opened up a hedonistic light-filled world of increasingly heavy music. Witch Cross could be a happy starting point for anyone thinking of dipping into the early 80s past. The production values may seem very dated to a lot of ears but it is a prime example of the decent stuff that has, for most people, been undeservedly forgotten.
(7/10 Reverend Darkstanley)
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