Witchfinder General- Friends of Hell

I don't think I have to mention the importance of Witchfinder General to an any Doom Metal and NWOBHM fan. Along with Pagan Altar, they were the only band in NWOBHM doom scene who released a full length album. This is their second album and their last with their singer Zeeb Parkers. Afterwards they have split in year I don’t know. They have reformed in 2006.

At the beginning looks at the cover art. The band is standing in front of the church and attacking/torturing some women (probably they are prostitutes). It is really a cool cover art. A special thing about Witchcraft General is that the band had similar motives on the first cover art Woman and a religious symbol (on the first album there was a grave). A cover art show us some of the lyrical themes WG use on their records: Sex, woman, witches, occultist/ religious themes and drugs.

The riffs are strong, heavy in doomy songs such as Love on Smack, Last Chance, Friends of Hell and Quiteus. The guitarist Phil Cope is also strong is ballad types of songs, he plays very sentimental in song I lost you. He has even improved and I think even Tony Iommi would be proud on him for displaying such a skill on guitar work. Sadly, the others guys are not Bill, Ozzy and Geezer. Zeep Parker speaks at the same register as Ozzy does, but he often sounds cheesy ( Music and I lost you). His lyrical work is good at some song but again his lyrical and vocal work ruined the song I lost you. Bassist has some moments and it is better than on the first effort, but it is still weak on some songs. Drums are very average.

So why are WFG so classic, cult band within the doom metal scene? Their music is quite unoriginal (they are usually considered as Sabbath clones). This album tried to capture the music, the style of Black Sabbath and thus they have influenced many newer bands including Hour of 13. They were one of the first bands who played true Doom metal and that are why this albums earns a classic standard. It has many mistakes and it is absolutely not perfect, but some songs are classic masterpieces. The strength of those songs were important for that time, for future and for now.