Stormwitch - Walpurgis Night (1984)

What a creepy, atmospheric cover - reminds me of one of the mid '90s black metal sleeves, with the fire and indistinct grotesque figure. Stormwitch are aeons old, a real piledriver of a band who seemed to influence a lot of bands - Maiden anyone on the title track ? - and no wonder when you hear this battering ram of a record and killer cuts such as the anthemic 'Thunderland' and searing hot 'Excalibur.' Vocally warrior-esque, this is a record that marches into war and fire and comes out the other side bloodied but proud, but don't think this is some cheesy, corny leatehr clad metal cheese, far from it, the riffs alone, so dense and steaming, deserve your ear and by the time you've reached the final note you'll be begging for more. Stormwitch were clearly an obscure force and I'm doubting whether copies of this record, especially on vinyl, still exist, sadly, but it's one not to be missed if you're a big fan of the old fire and ice style of rampant metal. 7.5/10