Granbretan Invasion!

Graham Oliver and Me playing some Saxon classics

Not long ago, Witch Cross were approached by our Metal buddy Bart Gabriel over at Skol records to see if we’d be interested in contributing a song to a new tribute album to the glories of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Needless to say the answer was a resounding “Hell yeah!”

The choice of song was a no-brainer for us. In our live show, one of our encores is the SAXON classic “Strong Arm of the Law”. Luckily I was over from Spain at the right time and we got the track recorded, but there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity to have my long time friend Graham Oliver, Saxon axe-wielder extraordinaire on the track!

I drove up to Graham’s place in Yorkshire while I was in the UK and we headed up to Beat Street Studios in Leeds to record his parts. He’s the genuine article, the real deal, and his playing brought the song alive.

Graham working his Metal Magic

We’re really proud of our contribution to this fantastic project and can’t wait to hear what the other bands have done. Besides Witch Cross featuring Graham Oliver, it contains NWOBHM covers from Cauldron, Crystal Viper, Enforcer, Gatekeeper, Helvetets Port, Hitten, Ironflame, Martyr, Savage Master, Substratum, Twisted Tower and Dire. The album will be out later this year – stay tuned! Big thanks to my mate Jase Brooks at Beat Street for fitting in with our tight recording deadline!

L-R Kev Moore, Graham Oliver, Jase Brooks, Oliver Sekunda

Kev Moore

Out in the Islands

As some of you may know, I’ve just returned from a couple of months touring around Cyprus and Crete, and as the former is now home to my dear friend and one-time bandmate and producer Clyde Ward, Miki and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity of dropping in for a visit. Sadly, his wife Jane was in the UK, so we didn’t get to see her, but at least she phoned up to ensure he was looking after us! 🙂

We go back a long way – here’s the two of us (yes, I’m blonde!) at The Pipeline club in New Jersey, on The Gonads 1998 U.S.Tour

I see Clyde too infrequently, he’s a good mate and we did some good work and had some great times together. But who knows what’s around the corner? We may do something together again one day.

When I recorded with him many years ago, he had a wonderful German shepherd called Indy. Indy’s long since passed on – but the two beauties he’s got now are fabulous!

Tomorrow, I’m off traveling again, flying via London to Copenhagen for final rehearsals with Witchcross before  our appearance at the Keep it true festival in Germany on Friday. Get ready to rock!

Kev Moore

Witch Cross – A new beginning

In 1984 , Danish metal band released their one and only album: ‘Fit for Fight’.  – A Raucous clarion call of Scandinavian rock, laden with sorcery, sci-fi and scintillating guitars in equal measure, the songs all delivered with the heavy metal roar of vocalist Alex Savage.

Fast forward a mind-numbing 28 years later , and that album has become a cult metal classic.  Alex has become a Danish TV presenter and original guitarist Mike ‘Vlad’ Koch is working with yours truly, Kev Moore.

Following American record company Hell’s Headbangers decision to remix, re-release and repackage the entire Witch Cross catalogue, including the original album, first single, demos and unreleased works in a beautifully rendered  4 LP multicoloured vinyl box set, Mike decided to resurrect the band, including two original members, Anders ‘AC’ Hjort on Drums, and Jan ‘Little John’ Fields on bass. Also drafted in on axe duties is Torben Aalykke, a reknowned Danish guitarist who has been working for many years with the original singer, and finally myself on lead vocals.

L-R: Anders, Torben, Mike, Jan, Kev

On April 27th, at the Keep it True festival in Germany, Witch Cross will take to the stage again, and far from trading on past glories, myself and Mike have begun work on new Witch Cross material, one of which will serve as a taster of things to come in the live set.

The new Witchcross website is now up and running. Expect additions and expansions on it in the coming months.

I’m really pumped about this project and can’t wait to crank it up!

Kev Moore