first album
Yeah this CD is a bit underproduced but I love the music on this. Warlock's "Burning The Witches" was the 2nd I got after "Triumph and Agony" which is still my favorite Warlock CD. Hearing young Doro on this album is interesting - later her vocals would become more throaty and raspy which is the kind of vocals that i love. But this is very good stuff. get this!.
The first faltering steps
In Doro Pesch they had an awesome vocalist of the female persuasion who didn't rely just on some push up bra gimmick to sell discs (yes I'm talking to you Lisa Dominique). Warlock were before their time in so many ways.
First the good points;
This is a committed metal release, presumably the guitarists of Peter Szigeti and Rudy Graf seem to have been influenced by the Judas Priest duo of Downing and Tipton and also the various guitarists who'd passed through the Scorpions. The sound they create isn't quite as crisp and clear as either of those bands though. That's not a criticism as I think it's just their style.
Another good point is that on this album they try to go up and down the gears. There are tunes here that are somewhat atmospheric such as After the Bomb as well as the out and out rockers such as the title track.
The down side is that as much as I think this band are way cool and own just about everything they released that I can get my hands on, this is still a very formative release. It would be until the late 80's when even a bands debut would be a fully realised musical entity. The production is a little dull, but only just, and the fact that Doros' vocals improved after this album make it a little jarring to listen to this disc as opposed to their later works.
There are also only a few great tunes here, really only the title track and perhaps one or two others that you'd really put on a 'best of' complilation, an observation born out by the fact that when compilations of this bands work were done, virtually nothing from this disc were on them.
As a little aside - when Metal Hammer put on a festival at Loreley back in 1985 Warlock performed there. A video was released of this gig with one track from most of the bands (but not the headliners whose name starts with M) and of the Warlock tunes they played, it was the tune Hateful Guy, from this album, that was selected to make the grade.
Definitely a band that progressed to new heights with every album, but this debut is perhaps not the best disc to start with. Try their later stuff first and work your way back through their cataloge.
Awesome 80's metal
If you like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and heavy metal of that style, check out Warlock. This fist Warlock/Doro album from 1984 is rockin'. Blazing guitars, speed-thrash drums, and scorching vocals. Flat-out awesome album, pretty hardcore for 1984.
A masterpiece!
I had never heard Warlock before, but it was on sale for about 5 bucks at the place I bought it from. I just bought this wonderful CD a few hours ago, and it's playing in my stereo right now. If I had known how great it would be, I would have gladly paid a lot more for it. Lyrically, it deals with Dungeons & Dragons themes, somewhat similar to Dio or Iron Maiden. However, the band has it's own unique sound. Doro Pesch is a great singer - she sounds almost like a female Klaus Meine (or maybe it's just the accent). This is the kind of music that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go until the CD stops playing. I'm definitely going to check out Warlock's other albums.
TIP-TOP QUALITY!!!!!
They simply do not have an album without 5 stars!!! I just cannot get enough of Warlock. One of the best bands from the 80s. Longing for Warlock.
You can see a complete list of all Warlock discography, or go back to the Warlock tabs
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