Witch – The Hex Is On…And Then Some (2011)
The history of Witch dates all the way back to 1982. Peter Wabitt and Punky Peru formed the band when their former member Don Costa was snatched up by Ozzy Osbourne. Witch opened for many bands on the Sunset Strip including W.A.S.P., Loudness, Obviously, the band never had the same level of success as the Motley Crue and Ratt, but that doesn’t mean the band didn’t have some cool tunes to check out.
Most of the band’s discography was only available on Vinyl and Cassette. FNA Records has unearthed some cool metal tunes that most people never got a chance to hear.Most of the songs on The Hex is On…And Then Some is from Witch’s original EP from 1984, The Hex Is On.
What does Witch sound like? The band has the raw sound of early Motley Crue, with little bits of Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister thrown in for good measure. The second half of the CD features tunes with some massive guest stars like Slash, Steve Stevens, Rowan Robertson and Chris Holmes. The sound quality is a mixed bag on this CD due to the age of the recordings. It does not take away from the fact that FNA Records has unearthed some extremely cool tunes with The Hex is On… And Then Some. Just give the songs “Damnation”, “Can’t Take Our Rock” and “Black Magic” a listen and you will know what I mean.
The song “Black Magic” with Steve Stevens over the top guitar playing is almost worth the price of admission of the CD all by itself. The song “Crazy” with Chris Holmes on guitar would sound great on the radio today! This is another really cool tune.
If you are a fan of 80′s metal, you gotta look into Witch, and this lost classic, The Hex is On… And Then Some. I think you will enjoy it. I know I have been!
For more information on Witch, please visit the band’s website. You can listen to song samples, and purchase the CD from FNA Records at this link.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Tracks:
1. Intro
2. Nervous Wreck
3. Damnation
4. Bewitched
5. Wet and Wild
6. Cinderella (In Black Leather)
7. Can’t Take Our Rock
8. Victory Without Pain
9. 1:45
10. Take Me Away (version 1)
11. Mad for Life (with Rowan Robertson on guitars)
12. Games that People Play (with Rowan Robertson on guitars)
13. Playing in the Rain (with Slash on Lead Guitar, Keith Emerson on Piano, Rowan Robertson on Guitars, Phil Chen on Bass)
14. Black Magic (with Steve Stevens on Lead Guitar, Rowan Robertson on Guitars, Phil Chen on Bass)
15. Pay the Due (Rowan Robertson-Guitars, Phil Chen-Bass, Howard Leese-Keyboards)
16. Take Me Away (version 2) (Rowan Robertson-Guitars, Phil Chen-Bass, Howard Leese-Keyboards)
17. Nothing Last Forever (Rowan Robertson-Guitars, Phil Chen-Bass, Henn Stone-Guitars)
18. Crazy (with Chris Holmes of W.A.S.P. on Lead Guitar, Rowan Robertson-Guitars, Phil Chen-Bass)
19. Conviction (Rowan Robertson-Guitars, Phil Chen-Bass, Henn Stone-Guitars)
Witch is:
Peter Wabitt – Vocals
Punky Peru – Drums
Ronny Too – Guitars
Jim Warmon – Bass
excellent unknown 80s band…I was lucky enough to own ‘The Hex Is On,’ but will have to check out this updated version…’Bewitched’ still kicks my butt today.