Highly influenced by BLACK SABBATH and cited as a major influence on the doom metal genre, WITCHFINDER GENERAL formed in 1979 in Stourbridge, West Midlands as part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement of the early 1980s. Death Penalty was WITCHFINDER GENERAL's debut album release on the Heavy Metal Records label in 1982. WITCHFINDER's second release on the album came one year later with 1983's Friends Of Hell. The bands career was fairly short-lived, though a third, untitled album was in the works, by 1984 WITCHFINDER GENERAL was no more.
Review
Witchfinder General had such an original sound during an important point in metal's history. Known for their catchy, blues-driven riffing, Zeeb's unmistakable nasal squeal, and ludicrously misogynistic album covers, Witchfinder General were one of the NWOBHM's gems. - Metal Crypt 4/5