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

More from Keep it True – On the Road with Witch Cross!

Here’s our little promo from the Keep it True Festival – if it looks like we were having a good time, it’s highly likely that we were!

For more Witch Cross, go HERE

Kev Moore

Keep it True 2012

As a band, we were overwhelmed by the response from the fans as we took the classic Witch Cross songs back into the live arena for the first time in decades.  I felt hugely privileged to be a part of the moment. To hear the crowd singing not only the lyrics to Fight the fire, but also Mike’s guitar line, was incredibly moving!

Here’s some amateur video footage of some of the numbers from the gig:

 

 

 

Meeting die-hard fans with faithful recreations of the Fit for fight album cover on their jacket, or in one case as a spectacular tattoo on his back, really strengthened our belief that the time is right to return and bring these songs back to life.

Keep it True has always been renowned for its great vibe, and KIT XV was no exception. Oliver and his team triumphed once again with an eclectic line-up that brought fans from all over the world together in a metallic party!

Post-signing session L-R: Jan, Poul, Mike, AC, Kev. In front: Ole- Roadie, T-shirt model and Lord high executioner!

Our signing session had been a bit delayed because of the previous band, and we were held back, so we weren’t in place at the advertised time and I understand some fans missed out on getting their boxsets signed. The band would like to apologize to anyone who missed out.

Ole also edits an excellent fanzine dedicated to obscure metal. Check it out at http://www.deadbangers.com

We were blown away with our reception at the weekend, and we hope to catch some of you at Metal Magic in Fredericia, Jylland, Denmark on July 15th!

Kev Moore

WITCH CROSS ON THE WEB

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