The band was founded under the name of Lucifer and initially comprised guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne, guitarist Rob Downing, bassist Kevin Riddles and drummer Steve Jones. Lucifer split and Steve Jones joined up with Bruce Dickinson to form Speed. The remnants of Lucifer became Angel Witch in the following year,when Dave Hogg joined on drums. Eventually Rob Downing left the band.
Angel Witch's first song to achieve mainstream popularity was "Baphomet", which was included on a compilation entitled Metal for Muthas. This song drew a fair amount of attention to the band and they eventually signed a recording deal with EMI. However, the deal was soon cancelled, due to the bad performance of their first single released under the EMI label which was entitled Sweet Danger and lasted a single week in the British charts.
In 1980 Bronze Records picked up the band and they soon proceeded to record and release their debut album, self-titled Angel Witch. This album is considered one of the most notable from the NWOBHM, but subsequent to the album's release, the band's structure began to fall apart. Kevin Riddles and Dave Hogg left the band to join Tytan, and 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 was brought back to activity in 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 didn't fit the style of the band very well. He was fired from the band and Heybourne assumed the vocals once more.
By 1983 the band had ceased its activity 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, singer Dave Tattum and with Dave Hogg returning to the drums. This line-up recorded the album Screamin' N' Bleedin'. Dave Hogg left the band one more time, but not without many snide remarks from the band's fans. He was replaced by Spencer Hollman. With the new drummer they recorded Frontal Assault, which deviated heavily from Angel Witch's previous albums in having many melodic elements.
Dave Tattum left the band in the same year and for a few years Angel Witch played as a trio in sporadic live performances. In 1989, they recorded a new live album, entitled simply Live - not to be mistaken with the band Live.
Heybourne decided that it would be in the band's best interest to move to the USA, 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 (from Laaz Rockit), drummer Tom Hunting and guitarist Doug Piercy. This line-up functioned quite well and soon the band had booked a fair amount of shows throughout the USA. 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.
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. As of 2001 the band is still active even though they do not perform concerts frequently.
Discography
* Angel Witch (1980)
* Loser (EP, 1981)
* '82 Revisited (Live, 1982)
* Screamin' and Bleedin' (1985)
* Frontal Assault (1986)
* Live (Live, 1990)
* Resurrection (2000)
* 2000: Live At The LA2 (Live, 2000)
Angel Of Death
Angel Witch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A faceless evil spirit that haunts
Searching for the soul that he must take
Steed of white he rides through the realms of unknown
He is just a messenger from hell
Scanning the oceans searching for victims to taunt
Looking for those who dare rise him from the grave
Angel of death
Angel of death
Angel of death
Riding along he cannot find those that he seeks
Yet he knows he is on the right trail
Breaking the circle, not knowing of the danger she's in
He takes her with him through Stygian to hell
To hell
Scanning the oceans searching for victims to taunt
Looking for those who dare rise him from the grave
Angel of death
Angel of death
Angel of death
Angel of death
Suddenly I awake, looking ‘round to see where I am
Realize it's been just a crazy dream
I open the door to find that he is waiting there
The angel of death has come to take my soul
My soul
Scanning the oceans searching for victims to taunt
Looking for those who dare rise him from the grave
Angel of death
Angel of death
Angel of death
Angel of death
The song "Angel of Death" by Angel Witch is a haunting tale of a faceless spirit who rides through the realms of unknown, seeking the souls he must take. He is described as a "messenger from hell" who scans the oceans for victims to taunt and takes those who dare rise him from the grave. The song follows the perspective of someone who has a run-in with the Angel of Death in their dreams, only waking up to find that he is waiting for them in real life to take their soul.
The lyrics of "Angel of Death" suggest that death is an unstoppable force that will come for everyone eventually. The image of a white steed ridden by a faceless spirit lends a chilling sense of foreboding to the song. The Angel of Death in the lyrics seems to be portrayed as an ominous figure, perhaps serving as a metaphor for our own mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
Angel of death
A supernatural being of death that is searching for souls to take.
A faceless evil spirit that haunts
The spirit has no physical form and is constantly in search of souls.
Searching for the soul that he must take
The angel is in pursuit of the souls of the living.
Steed of white he rides through the realms of unknown
The angel rides a white horse through unknown territories.
He is just a messenger from hell
The angel is sent to do the bidding of hell.
Scanning the oceans searching for victims to taunt
The angel looks far and wide, searching for souls to torment.
Looking for those who dare rise him from the grave
The angel looks for those who are brave enough to challenge him.
Riding along he cannot find those that he seeks
The angel goes on a journey but can't find what he is looking for.
Yet he knows he is on the right trail
Despite not finding what he is looking for, the angel is certain that he is on the correct path.
Breaking the circle, not knowing of the danger she's in
The angel takes a victim with him, unaware of the danger that awaits them.
He takes her with him through Stygian to hell
The angel takes the victim with him to the underworld.
Suddenly I awake, looking ‘round to see where I am
The artist wakes up from a bad dream.
Realize it's been just a crazy dream
The singer comes to the realization that the dream was just a figment of their imagination.
I open the door to find that he is waiting there
The singer finds the angel of death waiting for them.
The angel of death has come to take my soul
The angel has come to reap the soul of the singer.
Angel of death
A supernatural being of death that is searching for souls to take.
Angel of death
A supernatural being of death that is searching for souls to take.
Angel of death
A supernatural being of death that is searching for souls to take.
Angel of death
A supernatural being of death that is searching for souls to take.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KEVIN HEYBOURNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rockrabbitt
Nobody else can see you the same way as myself
Fly high and touch the sky, you're the angel I adore
If only you could feel for me that I feel for you
Why do you ignore me, angel, why can't I go with you
You're an angel witch, you're an angel witch
You're an angel witch, you're an angel witch
The more love I feel for you, the more you fade away
Why can't you come and love me, do I have to stay this way
I'm going to go insane if nothing happens soon
I look out at the night to see your shadow by the moon
You're an angel witch, you're angel witch
You're an angel witch, you're angel witch
Walk through the forest I can feel that you're there
Why do you run away?
I'd never hurt you, I'd never hurt you
That's the last thing I'd do
You're an angel witch, you're an angel witch
You're an angel witch, you're an angel witch
@aaronw8781
A friend and I were kicked out of class once in the 9th grade for singing this in class. The teacher actually thought we were singing it about her.
@alessandrogargivolo
Aaron W ahaahahaha
@jisuscrayst6667
hahahaha
@koneserkustosza2481
Imagine what would happen if they were singing White Witch
@rexvalentino8164
Lol
@diansyahrizky
😂😂😂
@MetalJesusRocks
One of the most catchy tunes from the 80s.
@michaelallard5324
MetalJesusRocks I agree. This one and Wall of Sound.
@thomasa8814
MetalJesusRocks their clothes are the shit too!
@astronomerblankman
Indeed. Pretty rockin'.