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{{Infobox musical artist
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'''Angel Witch''' are <!-- Per WP:ENGVAR, bands that originate from Great Britain are treated plural. Do not change "are" to "is". --> a British [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band which formed in London in 1976.
==Biography==
===Formation===
The band formed, originally under the name of Lucifer,
===Limited chart success, brief record deal===
Angel Witch's first song to achieve mainstream popularity was "Baphomet", which was included on a compilation titled ''[[Metal for Muthas]]''. This song drew a fair amount of attention to the band, and they
===Debut album===
In 1980, [[Bronze Records]] picked up the band and they recorded and released their debut album, self-titled ''[[Angel Witch (album)|Angel Witch]]''.<ref name="LarkinHR"/>
===Break-ups and reunions===
Angel Witch returned to activity on 1982, when Heybourne and two musicians from Deep Machine - namely vocalist Roger Marsden and drummer Ricky Bruce - left to assemble a new Angel Witch line-up together with bassist Jerry Cunningham. This line-up lasted a very short time, as Marsden's voice did not fit the style of the band very well. He was fired from the band and Heybourne assumed the vocals once more.▼
Subsequent to the album's release, the band fell apart. Dave Hogg was fired, and Kevin Riddles left the band to form [[Tytan (band)|Tytan]]. Despite Heybourne's attempts to continue Angel Witch with other musicians, the end of the band was declared and he joined [[Deep Machine]].
▲Angel Witch returned to activity
By 1983, the band had ceased its activities, and Heybourne moved to Blind Fury. In 1984, Angel Witch was once more brought to life, this time with the help of bassist Peter Gordelier (ex-Marquis De Sade), singer Dave Tattum and with Dave Hogg returning to the drums.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> This line-up recorded the album ''Screamin' N' Bleedin{{'}}''.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Dave Hogg was sacked yet again. He was replaced by Spencer Hollman.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> With the new drummer they recorded ''Frontal Assault'',<ref name="LarkinHR"/> which deviated heavily from Angel Witch's previous albums, having many [[melodic]] elements.▼
▲By 1983, the band had ceased its activities, and Heybourne moved to Blind Fury. In 1984, Angel Witch was once more brought to life, this time with the help of bassist Peter Gordelier (ex-Marquis De Sade), singer Dave Tattum and with Dave Hogg returning to the drums.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> This line-up recorded the album ''Screamin' N' Bleedin{{'}}''.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Dave Hogg was sacked
Dave Tattum was released the same year and for a few years Angel Witch played as a trio on sporadic live performances. In 1989, they recorded a new live album, entitled simply ''Live''.<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=29}}</ref>▼
▲Dave Tattum was released the same year and for a few years Angel Witch played as a trio on sporadic live performances. In 1989, they recorded a
Heybourne decided that it was in the band's best interest to move to the United States, but the other members had no way of accomplishing that, having stable lives on their home country. Thus, an American incarnation of Angel Witch was born. It was composed of Heybourne, bassist Jon Torres ([[Lȧȧz Rockit]], Ulysses Siren), drummer [[Tom Hunting]] ([[Exodus (band)|Exodus]]) and guitarist Doug Piercy ([[Heathen (band)|Heathen]], Anvil Chorus). This line-up functioned quite well, and soon the band had booked a fair number of shows throughout the US. However, it was found that Heybourne had some pending issues regarding immigration, and he was arrested one day before the first concert of the band. Without Heybourne, Angel Witch was soon dissolved.▼
===Creation of American group===
After the release of the ''Resurrection'' compilation in 2000, the band intended to play together once more, but after a series of internal conflicts, Heybourne assembled yet another line-up, with new members.▼
▲Heybourne decided that it was in the band's best interest to move to the United States, but the other members had no way of accomplishing that, having stable lives
===New lineup in the 2000s and 2010s===
▲After the release of the ''Resurrection'' compilation album in 2000, the band intended to play together once more, but after a series of internal conflicts, Heybourne assembled
In 2011, Angel Witch entered
One-time Angel Witch bassist Jon Torres died on 3 September 2013 of a reported heart failure.
▲In 2011, Angel Witch entered in the studio to record their fourth studio album, entitled ''As Above, So Below''. It was recorded with Kevin Heybourne on guitar and vocals, Will Palmer on the bass guitar, [[Bill Steer]] on the guitar, and Andrew Prestidge on the drums. They also returned to playing live, with a second stage headline slot at [[Bloodstock Open Air]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/news/index.php?%2Farchives%2F317-FIRST-SOPHIE-LANCASTER-STAGE-BANDS-REVEALED.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015185829/http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/news/index.php?%2Farchives%2F317-FIRST-SOPHIE-LANCASTER-STAGE-BANDS-REVEALED.html |archive-date=15 October 2013 |title=First Sophie Lancaster Stage Bands Revealed |author=Jennifer Coleman |website=Bloodstock.uk.com |date=16 November 2010 |access-date=13 October 2013 }}</ref>
The band
▲One-time Angel Witch bassist Jon Torres died on 3 September 2013 of a reported heart failure. He was 51 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/veteran-san-francisco-bay-area-metal-musician-jon-torres-dies/ |title=Veteran San Francisco Bay Area Metal Musician JON TORRES Dies|website=Blabbermouth.net | date=4 September 2013 | access-date=13 October 2013}}</ref>
On 30 August 2019, the band released a new single,
▲The band continues to tour and play festivals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Headliners and new stages: the DESERTFEST LONDON 2015 bill is almost complete! – The Heavy Chronicles |url=http://theheavychronicles.com/2015/01/desertfest-london-2015-2/?lang=en |website=theheavychronicles.com | date=9 January 2015 |access-date=2 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lineup 2018 Summer Dying Loud |url=http://summerdyingloud.pl/lineup-2013/ |website=summerdyingloud.pl |access-date=2 July 2018 |language=pl-PL}}</ref>
▲On 30 August 2019, the band released a new single, 'Don't Turn Your Back', which subsequently debuted at number 17 on the [[Kerrang!#The Official Kerrang! Rock Chart|Kerrang! Rock Chart]] before rising to 14 in its second and final week.<ref>Kerrang! Rock Chart, ''[[Kerrang!]]'', 4 September 2019, page 15.</ref>
==Legacy==
Angel Witch have been
▲Angel Witch have been claimed as an influence by many notable metal musicians, including [[Dave Mustaine]] ([[Megadeth]]) who graced the February 2010 cover of [[Decibel (magazine)|Decibel]] magazine wearing an Angel Witch shirt,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.decibelmagazine.com/magazine/american-carnage-64-%E2%80%93-feb-2010/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718180125/http://www.decibelmagazine.com/magazine/american-carnage-64-%E2%80%93-feb-2010/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 July 2013|title=American Carnage [#64] – Feb 2010 {{!}} Decibel Magazine|date=18 July 2013|access-date=30 May 2018}}</ref> [[Thomas Gabriel Fischer|Tom G. Warrior]] ([[Celtic Frost]]), and [[Chuck Schuldiner]] ([[Death (metal band)|Death]]). Bands that have covered Angel Witch songs in concert or on record include [[Trouble (band)|Trouble]] ("Confused" live), [[Six Feet Under (band)|Six Feet Under]] ("Confused" on ''[[Graveyard Classics]]''), Blood Curse ("Angel Witch" on their debut album "Sorceress"), [[Onslaught (band)|Onslaught]] ("Confused" on ''[[In Search of Sanity]]''), [[Skull Fist]] ("Angel Witch" live), Battle Ram ("Angel Witch" on the ''Smash the Gates'' EP), [[S.A.Slayer]] ("Dr. Phibes" & "Angel Witch" live) and [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]] ("Angel of Death" on ''[[Blood In, Blood Out (Exodus album)|Blood In, Blood Out]]'' as bonus track), Amazing Maze, which is a one off album by Italian Power Metal band [[Labyrinth (band)|Labyrinth]] under a different name ("Angel Witch").
In 2007, German label Unbroken Records issued a ''Tribute to Angel Witch'' compilation album featuring 15 underground metal acts covering songs from the band's early singles and first three full-length releases.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/67881 | title=Emerald Working On Song For Upcoming ANGEL WITCH Tribute Album | website=Bravewords.com | date=11 June 2007 | access-date=13 October 2013 }}</ref>
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*''[[Frontal Assault]]'' (1986)
*''[[As Above, So Below (Angel Witch album)|As Above, So Below]]'' (2012)
*''[[Angel of Light (album)|Angel of Light]]'' (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/id/album/angel-of-light/1475309041|title=Angel of Light by Angel Witch on Apple Music|website=[[iTunes]]|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>
===Live albums===
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===Compilations===
*''[[Metal for Muthas]]'' (1980)
*''Doctor Phibes'' (1986)
*''Screamin' Assault'' (1988)
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[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2005]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Heavy metal musical groups from London]]
[[Category:
[[Category:New Wave of British Heavy Metal musical groups]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Bronze Records artists]]
[[Category:Metal Blade Records artists]]
[[Category:EMI Records artists]]
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