Witch Cross
Axe to Grind
Hells Headbangers Records
Street: 07.13
Witch Cross = Tokyo Blade + King Diamond
There’s always something refreshing about a legitimate ’80s metal band getting back together, but it’s rare to see such an enormous gap between their releases. Witch Cross released Fit For Fight, their debut album, in 1984—and to follow it up almost three decades later puts a great deal of pressure on the band to meet, or exceed, expectations. Mike Kock still knows how to write a mean heavy metal riff, and the instrumental title track evidences his enduring skill with an axe. Kevin Moore’s voice has aged quite a bit in the last 30 years, but now it has a very distinct timbre. While it isn’t quite as energetic as Fit For Fight, Axe to Grind sounds like it was recorded in the ’80s and remastered with high-fidelity production values. A strong reunion album that is, hopefully, indicative of more material to come.
–Henry Glasheen