Angel Witch

During 1979, Angel Witch ranked among the standout acts in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, boasting a devoted core audience and a modestly charting single. Yet misfortune, poor guidance, and record labels that failed to grasp their sound drove the group into premature inactivity. Echoing contemporaries from the same movement, the band merged Black Sabbath’s foundational approach with Motörhead’s raw velocity and pace, though frontman Kevin Heybourne’s exceptional songwriting skill quickly propelled them past early rivals such as Iron Maiden.

Heybourne assembled the outfit in 1977 as its vocalist and guitarist, navigating repeated lineup shifts until bassist Kevin “Skids” Riddles and drummer Dave Hogg joined the ranks. While punk’s influence waned, the musicians honed their craft through relentless club and pub performances alongside fellow up-and-comers including Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Saxon. Their initial opportunity came via an invitation to place “Baphomet” on the Metal for Muthas compilation, which broadened their reach and secured a deal with EMI. The label lost interest, however, once the follow-up single “Sweet Danger” slipped from the charts after a solitary week at number 75.

Bronze Records then signed the band, which tracked its self-titled debut album in 1980. Although the record later earned acclaim as a cornerstone of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, internal fractures soon surfaced. Riddles and Hogg departed, and after short-lived attempts with substitutes, Heybourne also stepped away. A mid-’80s revival produced the albums Screamin’ ’n’ Bleedin’ (1985) and Frontal Assault (1986). In 1989 Heybourne revived the name once more for shows at L.A.’s Troubadour, enlisting rhythm guitarist Grant Dennison, bassist Peter Gordelier, and drummer Spencer Holman; that configuration captured a live album before dissolving.

Throughout the 2000s, Heybourne sustained Angel Witch via changing personnel and occasional festival slots. By 2011 the lineup featured Heybourne alongside bassist Will Palmer, rhythm guitarist Bill Steer, and drummer Andrew Prestidge, who entered the studio to cut fresh material. Jaime Gomez Arellano of Ghost produced the sessions, yielding As Above, So Below, which Metal Blade issued in 2012. The band’s fifth studio album, Angel of Light, appeared in 2019 and coincided with Steer’s and Prestidge’s exits; guitarist Jimmy Martin and drummer Fredrik Jansson Punkka took their places.