Free Metal Monday: Hells Headbangers-Compilation vol. 7

Home to such acts as High Spirits, Witch Cross, Tiger Junkies and Midnight (all of which, besides being  fave moments of mine/bands we've covered here at HMTM, are included on this wicked awesome digital compilation!) Hells Headbangers is a label that covers a lot of ground (genre-wise) not only with it's roster of artists, but on track-wise on "Compilation vol. 7". This freebie is simply the latest cool compilation from this very cool label and besides the already mentioned four acts this 21-track release features the likes of October 31, Children Of Technology, Nunslaughter, Cemetery Lust, Evilnight, Nocturnal Graves and Zemial! You can find it here: http://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/album/free-compilation-vol-7  and, if that's not enough excitement for you, you can preview/download the previously released compilations here: http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/freeoffers.asp

Witch Cross-Axe to Grind

Hells Headbangers
2013

"The cult is alive...WITCH CROSS have returned". So opens the promo material that came with "Axe To Grind" and, without coming across as too much of a fanboy here, truer words have seldom been spoken! Who could have imagined that all these years Witch Cross would return with a sophomore recording that was every bit a comeback album as well? With 1984's "Fit for Fight" being such a killer LP, albeit a cult LP, fans of Witch Cross would be justified in feeling leery about this new release. When "Demon in the Mirror" kicks in though all of those fears are thrown out the window! "Axe to Grind" picks up where "Fit to Fight" left off and showcases a band that still has plenty of fire in their gut. This is track after track of straight-up heavy metal all with that very distinct Witch Cross vibe. "Axe to Grind", which was mastered by Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica, Morbid Angel, Blind Guardian) and mixed by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Anvil), is one of those albums where you can't help but think of metal's heyday. Had this been released right after "Fit for Fight" there's no doubt that it would have made Witch Cross more of a household name. Vocalist Kevin Moore, who for all the world just seems to have just fallen out of the sky as there is no mention of him playing in other bands, is the perfect front-man for this Danish band as he's got the heavy metal 101 singing down pat! With founding members Mike "Wlad" Kock ( guitars) and Jan "Little John Field" (bass) serving as a link to the past (but still playing with the same fury they did back on "Fit for Fight") the new version of Witch Cross sounds both retro and modern. All that means is that Witch Cross' new album should find wide appeal. "Axe to Grind" has already found itself in heavy rotation in my office space and I look forward to holding a physical copy of it in my hands when it's released in July (just a FYI for anyone looking for birthday ideas for me this LP comes out 2 days before my 40th B-day!). I close with this little nugget of information-it sure looks as if my best of 2013 list has found another addition!



http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Witch+Cross-Fit+for+fight+%28re-issue%29+ 

Witch Cross-Fit for fight (re-issue)

Hell's Headbangers
2012

This is a classic for sure and that's certainly enough of a reason for me to listen to it and I do regularly. Now it has been re-issued so I get another chance to give it a listen and I sure can't complain about that. Formed in 1979 in Denmark this band knocked out a number of demos both before and after this 1984 LP. What an album this is. It often gets some Mercyful Fate comparisons due to the high vocals and the rambling musical style and the frequent pace changes.  That's a fair enough idea and there is a definite NWOBHM sound too, but Witch Cross had enough of their own style to set themselves apart as well. For 1984 this actually may have sounded a couple of years behind the time likely due to five years of playing before getting a record deal. No matter because what matters is Witch Cross stepped up and positively killed on eight tracks are pure metal on this album. They never stop moving on tracks like "Face of a clown" and "Fight the fire". Songs like "Light of a torch" and "Alien savage" just have the band throwing open the gates and going at it with everything they can bring. It's just constant notes and beats and they change it up whenever they want to, but it also sounds like it's fits perfectly. They really had a knack for getting the most out everything they put into their songs. There is certainly no wasted space. That's a large part of why it's such a great album. For this re-issue the cover is slightly different, really it's the same cover only without the border. Some of the running times are different that on the version I heard before I can't hear much difference in the songs themselves. Still any chance to hear this album again is very welcome. This version will be out on CD, LP, Picture LP and tape.