A NWoBHM era London band that generated a cult following among the Metalheads of the American West coast based upon the occult overtones and contrasting speed and heaviness of their original 1980 album. Latterly the band has found appreciation amongst the Doom crowd for the acknowledged Sabbathian sounds delivered on their debut album.

ANGEL WITCH was founded in 1977 by guitarist Kevin Heybourne. Originally titled LUCIFER, Heybourne switched to ANGEL WITCH when he heard of another LUCIFER doing the rounds. The band went through numerous line-ups, which would include guitarist Rob Downing and drummer Steve Jones, before the classic power trio comprising Heybourne, bassist Kevin Riddles and drummer Dave Hogg. The band's official debut on record was the cut 'Baphomet' on the now legendary EMI Records 'Metal For Muthas' compilation in February 1980. ANGEL WITCH also submitted a track 'Extermination Day' to the 1980 BBC compilation album 'Metal Explosion'.

EMI released a solitary single, 'Sweet Danger', which scored a minor impact on the national charts, peaking at number 75. The label did not take up an option to release an album though and ANGEL WITCH switched over to the Bronze concern to craft their full-length opus, succinctly self-titled and produced by Martin Smith from the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA. However, at this critical juncture, Hogg was found to be suffering from leukemia necessitating, ex-E.F. BAND drummer Dave Dufort stepping in as replacement after the album release.

Dufort actually has a lengthy history in rock n' roll being an ex-member of 1965's THE VOICE, THE SCENERY and PAPER BLITZ ISSUE. All of these mid 60's acts featured latter day SAVOY BROWN, DOG SOLDIER and CHICKEN SHACK guitarist MILLER ANDERSON. Dufort then moved on to EAST OF EDEN in the late 60's, he appears on the 1968 album 'Mercator Projected', as well as being a member of KEVIN AYERS band.

At the height of their popularity ANGEL WITCH ranked alongside IRON MAIDEN and SAXON at the forefront of the NWoBHM. The band's success was relatively short lived though, as gigs became few and far between. British shows were limited to London Marquee appearances and one off events, whilst the only date abroad was at the East German Erfurt Festival. A band issued rarity, the 'Give It Some Tickle' live cassette, saw limited issue in 1981. This tape, released to fan cub members of the ANGEL WITCH 'coven', was recorded at The Norbeck Castle, Blackpool on January 29th 1981 and closed out with a cover version of BLACK SABBATH's 'Paranoid'.

At one point Polydor were due to release a live album culled from a 1982 show, but this never surfaced. The original band split after the debut with Riddles and Dufort going on to form TYTAN. Riddles was last spotted in a covers band with ex-ONSLAUGHT, TORINO and HIGHWIRE vocalist Tony O'Hora.

The beginning of 1982 saw Heybourne flirting briefly with DEEP MACHINE before persevering by playing the odd club gig as ANGEL WITCH featuring new members, namely REMUS DOWN BOULEVARD bassist Gerry Cunningham and DEEP MACHINE drummer Ricky Bruce. ANGEL WITCH became Heyborne's full time act once more in early 1982 as Cunningham and Bruce were enticed away from DEEP MACHINE along with vocalist Roger Marsden. The line-up was merely a brief tenure, however as in May 1983 Heybourne announced he was fronting BLIND FURY in alliance with singer Lou Taylor, MARQUIS DE SADE bassist Peter Gordelier and drummer Steve Coleman. Marsden joined the Swedish band E.F. BAND then in 1984 forged a union with another ex-ANGEL WITCH and E.F. BAND man drummer Dave Dufort to create NEVADDA FOXX.

ANGEL WITCH surfaced again in 1985 with Heybourne and Gordelier splitting from BLIND FURY and enrolling original drummer Dave Hogg together with vocalist Dave Tattum. With this incarnation of the band they laid down the quite commercial edged 'Screamin And Bleedin" album. Hogg left the band once more after its release and was replaced by former DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS drummer Spencer Hollman. Gigs were still few and far between.

Third album 'Frontal Assault' saw ANGEL WITCH return to their former heaviness but Tattum left upon its completion to join melodic Rock outfit NIGHTWING leaving Heybourne to assume vocal duties. In 1989 the band added a second guitarist Grant Dennison. A short tour of Holland followed with support act SATAN, but Heybourne eventually relocated to California where nostalgia for early ANGEL WITCH reaped the reward of a live set of 'classics'. The band recorded a demo, at Prairie Sun Studios in San Francisco, with EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting, LÄÄZ ROCKIT bassist Jon Torres and guitarist Lee Altus of HEATHEN but failed to secure a new deal. Ex-bassist Peter Gordelier went on to join DRIVESHAFT.

Although ANGEL WITCH failed to live up to the legend that was created around the band early on the band remained an influence with groups that arrived on the scene in later years with both ONSLAUGHT and TROUBLE covering the ANGEL WITCH classic 'Confused'.

Interest was renewed in 1996 by the release of a live album on High Vaultage Records. ANGEL WITCH themselves were far from dormant issuing a CD compilation of various demos including the 1987 'Psychopathic' tapes and 1999's set 'Twist Of The Knife'. The resulting album 'Resurrection' was at first only available via the internet, then in 2000 released through Crook'd Records in the US and by Zoom Records in the UK.

ANGEL WITCH was back in 2000 for live gigs and a projected new album. Alongside Heybourne the fresh look band comprised guitarist Keith Herzberg, bass player Richie Wicks, a former lead vocalist of SONS OF EDEN and VIOLENTLY FUNKY, and drummer Scott Higham. The band bounced back in quite spectacular with a performance at the prestigious 'Wacken' Metal festival in Germany before setting to work on fresh studio material.

The list of bands to have covered 'Confused' increased in 2001 as Americans SIX FEET UNDER cut a grindingly heavy take for their latest album. In August 2001 it was announced that Higham had decamped to join the highly regarded SHADOWKEEP. Ace Finchum, a former member of Glam band TIGERTAILZ, took his place.

In November the ANGEL WITCH ranks splintered further with Wicks opting to resume his former role as a lead singer and opting to join fellow NWoBHM resurrectees TYGERS OF PAN TANG. Statements issued by band members in January 2002 would confirm the fact that ANGEL WITCH had folded once again, Wicks resuming action with SONS OF EDEN. However, in August a surprise official statement confirmed that Kevin Heybourne, Keith Herzberg, Richie Wicks and Scott Higham had resolved their differences and were back in action yet again. During October Richie Weeks, maintaining his position with both ANGEL WITCH and TYGERS OF PAN TANG, enrolled as lead vocalist for Power Metal band SHADOWKEEP.

By January of 2003 ANGEL WITCH had been re-built once more, Heybourne now being joined by former colleagues Jon Torres and Tom Hunting with Lee Altus of HEATHEN repute plus Doug Piercy, also from HEATHEN. This version of the group appeared at the German 'Bang Your Head' festival that same year. However, the trio of guitarist Keith Herzberg, bassist/vocalist Richie Wicks and drummer Scott Higham claimed that the band was, in fact, over. The US Heybourne version of the band soon encountered line-up problems though as Hunting decamped in order to concentrate on his priority act EXODUS. Erstwhile HEATHEN and current DECONSTRUCT Darren Minter filled in.

Sadly guitarist Myk Taylor, who appeared three tracks featured on the 'Resurrection' album album, died from leukemia on 21st August 2003. He was just 41 years old.

ANGEL WITCH performed at the April 2009 'Roadburn' festival in Tilburg, Holland and the July 'Headbangers Open Air' festival in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany. The membership for these gig comprised Kevin Heybourne, guitarist Chris Fullard, bass player Will Palmer with Andrew Prestidge on drums.