Release:
Lost Realm Records
30.01.2026
Info:
WITCH, the inflammatory ’80s metal outfit that set Southern California’s club circuit ablaze in the 1980s, proudly announces “The Hex Is On... And Then Some”, a definitive compilation album that immortalizes their chaotic brilliance and enduring underground legacy. This exhaustive collection captures every studio recording from their tumultuous 1984–1989 run, alongside previously unreleased 1996 sessions produced by Howard Leese (HEART, BAD COMPANY) under the GOD BOX moniker, offering fans and newcomers alike a front-row seat to the band’s raw power and theatrical excess.
Formed in 1983 in Huntington Beach, WITCH emerged from the remnants of AMPAGE, with drummer Punky Peru (Perry Boyer) and vocalist Peter Wabitt (Peter Allen) recruiting guitarist Ronny Too (Ronn Bennett) and bassist Jim Warmon (James Mannion) to forge a sound that fused the heavy riffs of JUDAS PRIEST with the flamboyant theatrics of MÖTLEY CRÜE and KISS. Their sold-out debut on June 11, 1983, at Anaheim’s Woodstock unleashed a spectacle of blood, fire, and fishnets, with Punky’s self-inflicted wounds and pyro stunts, defining their anarchic reputation. From Troubadour to Radio City, WITCH's performances were a whirlwind of chaos: setting club ceilings ablaze, locking rival bands in dressing rooms, and surviving brawls with Nikki Sixx. Despite drawing crowds of 1500 and sharing stages with SLAYER, LOUDNESS, KEEL, and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, their internal strife kept major label deals – pursued with Atlantic, Polygram, and Gene Simmons’ label – just out of reach.
“The Hex Is On... And Then Some” compiles the complete studio catalog from 1984 to 1989, including the iconic 1984 EP "The Hex Is On", the 1987 12” single "Nobody Sleeps" and also a collection of rare demos from 1988 and 1989. These tracks trace WITCH’s evolution from raw, pyro-fueled aggression to a polished yet defiant sound, underscored by their relentless live energy.
Coming soon in vinyl LP format, a deluxe edition that includes an extensive band biography, song lyrics, and rare photos. It will also be available in a double CD version, where all the recordings made under GOD BOX will be included in a bonus CD.
Tracklist:
CD1 + LP
01. Nervous Wreck
02. Damnation
03. Bewitched
04. Wet N' Wild
05. Cinderella (In Black Leather)
06. Can't Take Our Rock
07. Victory Without Pain
08. Blond Alert
09. Take Me Away
10. Hit The Road
11. 1:45
CD2 (Bonus Disc - GOD BOX Sessions & Demos)
1. Mad For Life
2. Games That People Play
3. Playing In The Rain
4. Black Magic
5. Pay The Due
6. Take Me Away
7. Nothing Lasts Forever
8. Crazy
9. Conviction
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