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)
Dead Sea Scrolls
Angel Witch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know that I'm not of your kind
I see things that you never see
In mankind
Waiting for my time to come
Seeing what might occur
Can my mind's eye really see the truth
Help me as I have to wake up inside
I have to know what there is to hide
Violence, corruption, will start if they see
Don't cast your eyes on what you don't want to see
They look strangely at my face
As though they've seen it in another place
Familiar feelings of being there
Before overwhelms
Help me as I have to wake up inside
I have to know what there is to hide
Violence, corruption, will start if they see
Don't cast your eyes on what you don't want to see
A sign is calling me to go
As thousand eyes
To show me to the scrolls
See the truth of what we are led to believe is the truth
Help me as I have to wake up inside
I have to know what there is to hide
Violence, corruption, will start if they see
Don't cast your eyes on what you don't want to see
The song "Dead Sea Scrolls" by Angel Witch seems to be about someone who has an enlightened perspective on the world and sees things that most people do not. The singer feels different from others and has premonitions of what may happen in the future. He questions whether his visions are mistakes or if they reveal the truth. He asks for help to uncover what is hidden, but warns against looking too deeply into things as it may reveal violence and corruption.
The lyrics could be interpreted as a message to society to open their eyes and pay attention to what is happening around them, but also to be cautious and not let the harsh realities consume them. The reference to the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are ancient Jewish religious manuscripts discovered in the 1940s, could be a metaphor for hidden knowledge or secrets that could change the way people view the world.
Line by Line Meaning
When time stops to pass through my mind
When I am deep in thought, time seems to stand still
I know that I'm not of your kind
I feel like I don't belong with the people around me
I see things that you never see
I have a unique perspective that others don't possess
Waiting for my time to come
I am patient and biding my time until I can take action
Seeing what might occur
I am able to anticipate future events
Can my mind's eye really see the truth
I am questioning whether my intuition is accurate
Are they mistakes?
I am unsure if my perceptions are just illusions or actual mistakes
Help me as I have to wake up inside
I need someone to guide me as I awaken to the truth
I have to know what there is to hide
I am determined to uncover secrets and hidden truths
Violence, corruption, will start if they see
If people become aware of the truth, it may lead to chaos and malevolence
Don't cast your eyes on what you don't want to see
It's better to ignore certain truths to prevent negative consequences
They look strangely at my face
People find my expressions unusual or odd
As though they've seen it in another place
Others perceive me as being familiar but cannot place where they have seen me before
Familiar feelings of being there
I experience strong sensations of deja vu
Before overwhelms
The feeling of having experienced something before becomes too intense
A sign is calling me to go
I am being summoned by a mysterious force
As thousand eyes
I feel as though I am being watched by countless beings
To show me to the scrolls
I am being led to discover ancient secrets and knowledge
See the truth of what we are led to believe is the truth
I am uncovering hidden truths that go against what society has led us to believe
Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniele Meschini
Dead Sea Scrolls
When time stops to pass through my mind
I know that I'm not of your kind
I see things that you never see in mankind
Waiting for my time to come
Seeing what in all occurs
Can my mind's eye really see the truth of the mistakes?
[Chorus:]
Help me as I have to wake up inside
I have to know what there is to hide
Fight this corruption, will start inner fate
See
Don't cast your eyes on what you don't want to see
They look strangely at my face
As though they've seen it in another place
Familiar feelings of being there before, overwhelmed
[Chorus]
A sign is calling me to go
As thousand eyes just show me to the scrolls
See the truth of what we've been let to believe
Is it the truth?
[Chorus]
Lozzy1994
its like they were encased in ice when in their prime, and recently defrosted and thrown into a studio. Pure greatness hear!
adr1ew
So good and sooo underrated.
evilcharliie
Sounds excellent, looking forward to the album. I'm glad it's a return to the style of the great classic s/t album.
candlemasus
This is a masterpiece . Love their first album
WeIsDaTyrantz
THIS IS... AMAZING. Completely different feel to the first album, so much epic.
Kevin o Dubhaigan
Great to see them still going strong I loved the first album classic 80's rock awsum
A C
Heavy metal de alta qualidade! !!
I love this music.
El macho (patriarcado 69)
the best band in this decadent label
The Endungeoned Chronicles
Underrated comment
Hepatospex
Amazing! I'm thoroughly impressed. This comeback is right up there with their first album!