Witchfynde was one of the more unconventional bands to emerge from
the NWOBHM scene, debuting in 1980 but having been formed way back
in 1973.
Their imagery (notably, the Give 'Em Hell album cover)
gave the perception of them being a Satanic band, but hardly anything
else about them pointed in that direction.
Their style, particularly on their twin 1980 albums,
ranged
from standard 70's hard rock to traditional NWOBHM to the downright
sinister (such as the awesome title track of Stagefright).
By the time of the third album, the band seemed a bit more
focused, but only slightly so -- inevitably, the lack of a real
direction arguably led to their being relegated to cult status.
They were done by 1984, and were dormant for many years, but around
1999 the band recruited a new vocalist and were back in action,
and the old vocalist (Luther Beltz) not coincidentally formed his
own band
Wytchfynde.
The new incarnation released albums in 2001 and 2008, but haven't recorded
since, and the lineup has shifted to the point that in 2025 there
are no members from the old guard still in the band (Beltz himself had
rejoined the band and stayed for many years, but recently left).
The band name apparently is in dispute, with the current formation
possibly going under the title Witchfynde-X due to former bassist
Andro Coulton trademarking the original name.
