The Very ‘Eavy Festival 2014

I’ve been so busy since I got back from Holland, that I’ve only now got around to writing about our appearance there. Witch Cross have always had a loyal fan base in The Netherlands, and once again, they didn’t disappoint. I flew in from Alicante to Amsterdam Schiphol and waited there for Mike. We then made our way North to the town of Stadtkanaal, where our promoter and friend Hugo Koch was staging the Very ‘Eavy Festival.

Pre-gig Breakfast with The Boys

There was a fantastic array of Metal on display over the two days, including UK newcomers TOLEDO STEEL, who delivered a confident, vibrant set, and my mates PICTURE, legendary Dutch band who I’d caught at Leyendas del Rock here in Alicante last summer. this was their last show before embarking on a South American tour.

Closing the show were NWOBHM legends TYGERS OF PAN TANG. I spent some time chatting to guitarist Rob Weir who confided in me that this is perhaps the best line-up of the band he’s ever had, and I have to say, they really delivered. they’re doing a number of festivals throughout Europe this summer – catch them if you can.

Our Merch stand

For our part, I never fail to be moved by the reception the fans give us. they know every word of every song, even the ones from the new album, and that is very heartening for us as we move forward as a band. Of course, the classic cuts from the ‘Fit for Fight’ album always go down a storm.

Thank you and Goodnight!

This year marks the 30th. anniversary of its release, and we’ll be looking at commemorating that in some form.

Take a look at these Videos filmed on the night, and get a flavour of Very ‘Eavy! Thanks to Hugo, the team and our fellow bands for making it so memorable!

Kev Moore

Witch Cross on the Road – Very ‘Eavy Festival – Holland 2014

2014 Has been fairly quiet for Witch Cross so far, but there’s been a lot going on behind the scenes. As you may have read HERE, we are honoured to have our version of Angel Witch’s eponymous song on the newly released KEEP IT TRUE album, and we also have another tribute track in the works. our studio is currently undergoing a big refurbishment, and later this year we’ll resume work and the large number of demos guitarist Mike Koch and I already have written as a basis for the third album.

But more immediately, in just under three weeks, we’ll be hitting the road again and convening in Stadtskanaal, Holland  to play once again for our amazing Dutch fans at the Very ‘Eavy Festival, which features a host of great bands such as NWOBHM legends Tygers of Pan Tang and Dutch metal band Picture, who I met up with last year at Leyendas del Rock near Alicante.

Tygers of Pan Tang

Picture

Here’s a fun video promo for the festival:

Come along and bang your heads with us as we play songs from the classic ‘Fit for Fight’ and its follow-up ‘Axe to Grind’!

Kev Moore

Keep it True – The Album!

Witch Cross were recently invited to participate in a new Metal compilation album project, and in this instance, we had no hesitation in accepting, and were honoured to have been asked. Entitled Harder than Steel, the new album celebrates the bands that have appeared at the legendary KEEP IT TRUE festival at the Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen,  Germany, and indeed, the festival itself. This is where Witch Cross performed the first comeback show in 2012 – and was the springboard for relaunching the band, our new album Axe to Grind, and a string of appearances across Europe, so the festival, and its organisers are very dear to our hearts.

Bart Gabriel

Masterminded by our friends Bart Gabriel and Oliver Weinsheimer, the album aims to showcase bands who have appeared at the festival covering other well-known metal bands’ songs who have also appeared, and grew out of an original idea of Bart’s. We chose ‘Angel Witch’ by NWOBHM Stalwarts Angel Witch and are very happy with the result, and feel we are in good company with the other bands that have contributed to this fantastic project. Of course, the cover art is by Dimitar Nikolov, long associated with the festival, whose artwork we admired so much we commissioned him to create the cover painting for our own ‘Axe to Grind’. A festival in its eleventh year, KEEP IT TRUE maintains a special relationship with both the fans and the bands, and it is entirely appropriate that the ethos of the festival be commemorated in this way. This is a VERY LIMITED EDITION. There is a run of  only 500 copies, which can be purchased by attending this years KEEP IT TRUE festival, which runs from April 25th to the 26th….so what are you waiting for? Get yourself over to Germany, bang your head and buy the album!

Me with Robb Reiner from Anvil at KIT XV

TRACKLISTING:

01. ATTACKER – “Fire Down Under” (RIOT)
02. PARADOX – “March Of The Saint” (ARMORED SAINT)
03. CRYSTAL VIPER – “Night Of The Demon” (DEMON)
04. WITCH CROSS – “Angel Witch” (ANGEL WITCH)
05. OSTROGOTH – “Plan Of Peace” (LETHAL)
06. JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR – “Children Of The Storm” (VIRGIN STEELE)
07. SACRED STEEL – “All For One” (RAVEN)
08. NIGHT DEMON – “Axe Crazy” (JAGUAR)
09. WIZARD – “Mind Body Spirit” (VIRGIN STEELE)
10. BORROWED TIME – “Bound To Be Free” (SAVAGE GRACE)
11. SATAN’S HOST – “See You In Hell” (GRIM REAPER)
12. DEADLY BLESSING – “Notorious” (LIZZY BORDEN)

Kev Moore

01. ATTACKER – “Fire Down Under” (RIOT)
02. PARADOX – “March Of The Saint” (ARMORED SAINT)
03. CRYSTAL VIPER – “Night Of The Demon” (DEMON)
04. WITCH CROSS – “Angel Witch” (ANGEL WITCH)
05. OSTROGOTH – “Plan Of Peace” (LETHAL)
06. JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR – “Children Of The Storm” (VIRGIN STEELE)
07. SACRED STEEL – “All For One” (RAVEN)
08. NIGHT DEMON – “Axe Crazy” (JAGUAR)
09. WIZARD – “Mind Body Spirit” (VIRGIN STEELE)
10. BORROWED TIME – “Bound To Be Free” (SAVAGE GRACE)
11. SATAN’S HOST – “See You In Hell” (GRIM REAPER)
12. DEADLY BLESSING – “Notorious” (LIZZY BORDEN)
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/keep-it-true-festivals-official-tribute-album-artwork-and-track-listing-revealed/#avvaUpEm10z1UpyF.99

01. ATTACKER – “Fire Down Under” (RIOT)
02. PARADOX – “March Of The Saint” (ARMORED SAINT)
03. CRYSTAL VIPER – “Night Of The Demon” (DEMON)
04. WITCH CROSS – “Angel Witch” (ANGEL WITCH)
05. OSTROGOTH – “Plan Of Peace” (LETHAL)
06. JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR – “Children Of The Storm” (VIRGIN STEELE)
07. SACRED STEEL – “All For One” (RAVEN)
08. NIGHT DEMON – “Axe Crazy” (JAGUAR)
09. WIZARD – “Mind Body Spirit” (VIRGIN STEELE)
10. BORROWED TIME – “Bound To Be Free” (SAVAGE GRACE)
11. SATAN’S HOST – “See You In Hell” (GRIM REAPER)
12. DEADLY BLESSING – “Notorious” (LIZZY BORDEN)
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/keep-it-true-festivals-official-tribute-album-artwork-and-track-listing-revealed/#avvaUpEm10z1UpyF.99

01. ATTACKER – “Fire Down Under” (RIOT)
02. PARADOX – “March Of The Saint” (ARMORED SAINT)
03. CRYSTAL VIPER – “Night Of The Demon” (DEMON)
04. WITCH CROSS – “Angel Witch” (ANGEL WITCH)
05. OSTROGOTH – “Plan Of Peace” (LETHAL)
06. JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR – “Children Of The Storm” (VIRGIN STEELE)
07. SACRED STEEL – “All For One” (RAVEN)
08. NIGHT DEMON – “Axe Crazy” (JAGUAR)
09. WIZARD – “Mind Body Spirit” (VIRGIN STEELE)
10. BORROWED TIME – “Bound To Be Free” (SAVAGE GRACE)
11. SATAN’S HOST – “See You In Hell” (GRIM REAPER)
12. DEADLY BLESSING – “Notorious” (LIZZY BORDEN)
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/keep-it-true-festivals-official-tribute-album-artwork-and-track-listing-revealed/#avvaUpEm10z1UpyF.99

Scandimania! – Witch Cross set to rock Copenhagen and Oslo

This week is a busy week for Witch Cross. I fly out to Denmark early Wednesday morning to meet up with Viking Metal buddies. An evening rehearsing and then we have shows in both Denmark and Norway’s capital cities. I’m absolutely buzzing at the prospect of delivering songs from ‘Fit for Fight’ and ‘Axe to Grind’ live again! Since the band re-formed, we still have relatively few live appearances under our belt, so it’s always good to crank up the guitars and get into the metal groove – we grow stronger with every show. If you’re anywhere near Stengade in Copenhagen on Thursday, or Revolver in Oslo on Friday, get yourselves down and rock the night away with us!

Photo by Sandro Chiozzi

2014 promises to be an even busier year for Witch Cross, we have a few cool things in the pipeline, so check out our website to be kept up to date with what we’re up to.

WITCH CROSS OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Kev Moore

Witch Cross in Conversation

Myself and Guitarist Mike Koch talk about the band reforming, touring, and the new album ‘Axe to Grind’ – out now on Hells Headbangers Records as  a CD, on itunes or as a 12″ LP in a choice of blue or black vinyl. Just click on the album image below the video to visit Hell’s Headbangers’ shop.

Kev Moore

Axe to Grind from Witch Cross – now streaming live for a limited time!!

Today, reunited Danish heavy metal cult WITCH CROSS stream the entirety of their comeback album, Axe to Grind, at tastemaking web-portal InvisibleOranges.com. Released this week by HELLS HEADBANGERS on both CD and LP formats, WITCH CROSS’ Axe to Grind is the band’s first full-length of all-new material since 1984’s heavy metal classic Fit for Fight, reissued to widespread acclaim last year by HELLS HEADBANGERS. Picking up where they left off in the glorious ’80s, WITCH CROSS nevertheless inject their trademark power & glory with a newfound urgency and grit that never betrays their roots in the ancient ways of heavy metal mayhem. Neither “old school” nor “new school,” WITCH CROSS prove that the masters are back – and school’s in session! Hear the proof for yourself, as the entire album is streamed for a limited time courtesy of InvisibleOranges.com: http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2013/07/album-stream-witch-cross-axe-to-grind/     Tracklisting for WITCH CROSS’ Axe to Grind 1. March of the Vikings 2. Demon in the Mirror 3. Ride With the Wind 4. Metal Nation 5. Awakening-Pandoras Box 6. Axe to Grind 7. Bird of Prey 8. Lost Without Warning 9. Parl of the Machine 10. Chelsea 100 11. Beyond the Veil   Says guitarist Mike Kock, “WITCH CROSS are thrilled to be working with HELLS HEADBANGERS on the new album Axe to Grind. We were blown away with the work that HELLS HEADBANGERS did with the re-release of Fit for Fight and the boxsets etc. We couldn’t ask for a better and more supportive label!“   In preparation for this monumental comeback album, WITCH CROSS unleashed a flurry of teasers for Axe to Grind. The first video from the album, “Demon in the Mirror,” can be viewed in its entirety here: http://youtu.be/66eycbDlm-Y. Additionally, a teaser link for the album can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu_MX6z7wtI, and the full track for “Demon in the Mirror” be heard here: http://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/album/axe-to-grind.   WITCH CROSS will be playing shows all across Europe this summer in promotion of Axe to Grind. For more info, consult the official WITCH CROSS website at www.witchcross.dk.   *** www.hellsheadbangers.com “When you need metal, go to hell!”

WITCH CROSS – AXE TO GRIND RELEASED WORLDWIDE TODAY!

It’s been a long time coming….but the day has finally arrived! “Axe to Grind”, only the second full-length album by WITCH CROSS is on the streets today via Hells Headbangers on CD and a choice of blue or black vinyl LP or digital download.  Click on the links below to order and get your Metal fix!

AXE TO GRIND LP

AXE TO GRIND CD

AXE TO GRIND iTunes

Kev Moore

Italy bound with Witch Cross

Just a couple of weeks to catch our breath this month, and then its all systems go for WITCH CROSS again as we converge from Spain, England, Denmark and Sweden on Gallio in Northern Italy to appear at the Sun Valley Metal Fest! We’re really looking forward to this one. We’ll have exclusive copies of the new album ‘Axe to Grind’ on sale, a full ten days ahead of its worldwide official release date, and we’re going to be performing tracks from both that and the classic ‘Fit for Fight’ album for our Italian fans.

We’re really pumped with the reviews we’ve been getting for the new album. We put a lot of hard work into it, and it’s nice to see it being received so well, but the acid test is not what it means to the critics – it’s what it means to the fans…we hope you like it, and that it rocks your world!

Kev Moore

Witch Cross in Scandinavia – Part One: Witch Cross come home

“All dressed up, we’re gonna steal the show…..”

Our first gig to promote the impending release of the new album ‘Axe to Grind’ was a special one for the guys. Witch Cross were formed in the Danish town of Hillerød, in the North of the island of Sjaelland  back at the outset of the 80’s. Now, the band was returning to its hometown for a show at the Stoberihallen concert hall. I felt a weight of responsibility on my shoulders – the only non-Dane, the ‘new boy’, re-interpreting songs laid down so impressively decades before original singer Alex Savage for an audience of friends, long-time supporters and family, not to mention original guitarist Ole ‘Cole’ Hamilton.  But….. I like a bit of pressure. It sharpens the mind, focuses the senses, and if harnessed correctly, feeds the fire on stage.

The day before we’d ran the set exhaustively and felt ready. The hard work paid off, and the guys delivered a blistering, celebratory set on that Friday night, featuring songs old and new. We were also fortunate to have a guest appearance from A.C., the drummer from the ‘Fit for Fight’ album,  and we stormed through classics such as ‘Fight the fire’, and ‘Nightflight to Tokyo’, side by side with our new compositions, including ‘Bird of Prey’, ‘Metal Nation’, and ‘Ride with the Wind’. They slotted in seamlessly, they belonged in the set. We left the stage, the applause ringing in our ears, soaked with the sweat of our labours. Spent, exhausted, but sated. We’d come here to revisit an era when metal mattered, and we’d served the reminder. I felt elated and proud to be fronting this rebirth, for make no mistake, that’s what it is. Witch Cross is rising again.

Photos: Jesper Callesen, john-son

Kev Moore

Triple Whammy – On the road with B.C.Sweet, Witch Cross & Christie

It’s that time of year…and I’m about to embark on a whirlwind of gigs for three of the bands I play with, all in the space of a few weeks!  Firstly, I’ll be driving along the southern coast of Spain next Thursday to Torremolinos to perform with B.C. Sweet as part of a 70’s week there.

Witch Cross @Heavy Metal Maniacs, Holland

Then, some days later, via the UK, it’s the turn of Witch Cross, as Mike and I fly to Copenhagen for rehearsals and a show in the band’s spiritual home of Hillerød to launch the new album Axe to Grind. The day after, we perform in Sweden. I fly home for a few days, then its back to the UK to appear with Christie at the JFest in Leeds on June 6th!

Christie in Germany

Never let it be said that the life of a musician is dull!  See you all out there on the road somewhere!

Kev Moore