### Witch Cross: Fit for fight

#### 16/08/10 || sly

Witch Cross seems to be something of a hidden gem in the world of early eighties Euro-metal. Along with Mercyful Fate and Pretty Maids, these guys were out to show the world what the Danish could bring to the table. And you know what? It ain’t bad.

Actually, this album kicks a lot of ass. Funny thing is, I didn’t much care for it the first few listens, but the more I play it, the more I love it. It is definitely a grower.

Alex Savage’s unique and expressive vocals are just right for the job. His laudable range and fairly impressive vibrato only serve to augment the indomitable spirit gushing from “Night Flight to Tokyo” straight on to “Alien Savage”. The songs are so potent and persuasive, you will wish you had the pipes equal enough to sing along. (And if you do, I compliment you)

For the record, I have no idea how Pretty Maids (who’s first LP was released the same year) was bigger than Witch Cross. Luck of the draw, I suppose. Witch Cross dispensed with the cheese that Pretty Maids seems to be full of, and went for pure metal. No stupid ballads, no soft moments for the girls, just good heavy rock.

The name of the album spells out the feeling I have when listening to it. Walking down the street with “Fit For Fight” playing in my headphones makes me hope someone will mess with me and give me an excuse to throw my shit to the ground for a good fight. (In reality, I just wait till no one is around and raise my open fist to the metal gods whenever Savage hits the high notes)

The cover has all the metal cheese you would hope for; a barbarian in a metal thong protecting naked women from a giant vampire bat ‘neath a full moon, or two.

The negative aspects of this album lie mostly in its poor production and lack of originality. As for the former, it doesn’t bother me; it only lends a nostalgic ambience to the thing. And the latter, well, the majority of the fucks who furnished this genre were pulling from the same teats.

While not everyone will appreciate this one, those of you who dig the old school NWOBHM type of shit should definitely check it out, if you don’t already know it. But be generous, “Fit For Fight” is an acquired taste. (Also bear in mind that if you’re listening to it on fucking MySpace, the sound quality sucks rotting gangrenous balls).

If you don’t like classic metal with killer songwriting, cochlea-raping vocals, and hooking riffs, then you probably shouldn’t bother. But if you consider yourself a connoisseur on any level, “Fit For Fight” is certainly a must-have.

- Information
- Released: 1984
- Label: Roadrunner Records
- Website: Witch Cross MySpace
- Band
- Alex “Savage” Nyborg Madsen: vocals
- Mike “Wlad” Kock: guitar, vocals
- Cole Hamilton: guitar
- Jan “Little John Field” Normark: bass
- Anders “A.C.” Hjort: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Night Flight to Tokyo
- 02. Face of a Clown
- 03. Rocking the Night Away
- 04. Killer Dogs
- 05. Fight the Fire
- 06. Axe Dance
- 07. Light of a Torch
- 08. Alien Savage