Warlock
Burning The Witches

Of course, when you talk about heavy metal, Warlock is not the first name that comes to mind. In 1984, heavy metal was a well-defined genre. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon, Motorhead, and their contemporaries had already set the standards to which any metal band had to conform. However, the debut album of the German band led by the historic Doro Pesch, along with "Triumph and Agony" that came three years later, remains one of the best testimonies of that pure, unadulterated, and somewhat naive metal that was characteristic of the Eighties.

9 tracks, more than sufficient to properly hammer our poor eardrums. There aren't many novelties, except for the appearance of a female singer for the first time in a predominantly male genre. But what a singer, ladies and gentlemen... On first listen, you might not even realize that behind the microphone is a blonde (decidedly attractive) like her... Doro's voice exudes power, aggression, grit, and emotion with every note, and it is perhaps one of the most suited voices in this musical genre (without, of course, disturbing the sacred monsters like Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Halford, etc...).

Analyzing the album track by track is pointless. "Burning the Witches" doesn't contain hits, but all the songs maintain a medium-high level. The album opener, Sign of Satan, literally pierces the stereo. A fast and merciless riff surpassed only by Doro's grand entrance. After the Bomb and Dark Fade continue the relentless metal march, grinding riff after riff. Homicide Rocker is perhaps the lightest track, though still honest to the album. But here comes the best of the best... Without you, the classic slow song in every respectable metal album, is applause-worthy. Definitely Doro's best ballad. A perfect blend of sentiment and rage, power and emotion, from which the exquisitely "Deutsch" spirit of the group emerges. The song opens with a perfectly crafted arpeggio, and with Doro's usual grit, saves a song, simple at its core with a text that doesn't stand out for originality, from being melodramatic. In less than a minute, it reaches peaks of intensity rarely found elsewhere. When the song ends, the album certainly doesn't. The famous Metal Race and the title track Burning the Witches shift back into fifth gear and compel headbanging. Here lies this group's strength: combining power with catchy choruses so much that after a while, it becomes hard not to sing along. The closure is delivered by the excellent Hateful Guy (a scream-worthy chorus in the truest sense of the word) and the good Holding Me

Ultimately, an album of heavy metal as it should be (perhaps not a fitting definition but you get the idea...). If you're looking for something new, never-heard-before, you certainly won't find it in this album, but if you love metal, studs, tight pants, teased hair, and the '80s, then "Burning the Witches" will become addictive. You've been warned.