Witch (Swe / Umeå) - Still Alive? [CD] (2021)

Heavy Metal

2CD compilation with Witch's collected 1983-1984 recordings. Limited to 500 copies.
Released in slipcase with 10-page booklet including story and rare photos.

Other issues:
- Black LP "Black Winds Edition", 2022 (ltd. 150) [Cult Metal Classics #CULTMETALWTCHSELP]
- Red/Black/White Splatter LP, "Witch In Flames Edition", 2022 (ltd. 150) [Cult Metal #CULTMETALWTCHSELP]

Original front cover poster by Jari Aalto
Artwork restoration and additional artwork and layout by Janne Stark
Digitizing of "Still Alive" and "Soldier Of The Future" demos by Janne Stark
Audio Remastering: Nasos Nomikos at VU PRODUCTIONS (www.vu-pro- ductions.gr)
Executive producers: Janne Stark and Emil Öhman (https://www.fwoshm.com)

CD1, Tracks 1-5:
Demo "Still Alive"
Recorded at Studio Tonteknik in 1984

Line-up Mk II
Henrik Kjellberg - Vocals
Anders Hedman - Bass
Patrik Bergholm - Guitar
Tomas Jakobsson - Guitar
Frank Stenbro - Drums

CD1, Tracks 6-12:
Demo "Soldier Of The Future"
Recorded by Tomas Fahlgren, at IOGT, Åsele, 1984

Line-up Mk III
Henrik Kjellberg - Vocals
Anders Hedman - Bass
Ulf Johansson- Guitars
Frank Stenbro - Drums

CD2, Tracks 1-2:
Compilation "Helgdagsrock Åt Far"
Recorded at Pang Records Studio in Stockholm in 1983.

Line-up Mk II
Henrik Kjellberg - Vocals
Anders Hedman - Bass
Patrik Bergholm - Guitar
Tomas Jakobsson - Guitar
Frank Stenbro - Drums

CD2, Tracks 3-6:
Demo #2
Recorded at Tonteknik Studio in 1983.

Line-up Mk II
Henrik Kjellberg - Vocals
Anders Hedman - Bass
Patrik Bergholm - Guitar
Tomas Jakobsson - Guitar
Frank Stenbro - Drums

CD2, Tracks 7-10:
Demo #3
Recorded by Pär Gardenkrans at Mariehemsgården in Umeå, 1983

Line-up Mk I
Henrik Kjellberg - Vocals
Anders Hedman - Bass
Patrik Bergholm - Guitar
Tomas Jakobsson - Guitar
Jan Johansson - Drume

Biography from booklet
Witch was founded by bass player Anders "Lus" Hedman and guitarist Patrik Bergholm in late summer of 1982. Shortly after, guitarist Tomas Jakobsson joined, first as a rhythm guitarist, but soon as a twin guitarist together with Patrik. The band recruited Jan Johansson on drums and Henrik "Henke" Kjellberg on vocals. On February 18, 1983 the band played its first gig, in the small town of Obbola, where they opened for Mogg. The engineer, Per Gardenkrans, even recorded the show from the sound board, which became the band's first demo, known as "Live In Obbola". The band actually ran out of songs, so when the audience wanted an encore they had to play "Evil Night" and "I'm A Hero" all over again.

The band went into Studio Tonteknik (where bands like Gotham City and Meshuggah also re- corded) later the same year to record their first proper demo, which they had planned to send to various labels to try and get a deal. The songs were "Losing My Mind", "The Last Breath", "Heads Are Rollin" and "Still Alive". In the fall of 1983 they went to Stockholm to record the songs "Evil Night” and “White Death” for the notorious Pang Records. Both songs were featured on the com- pilation "Helgdagsrock åt far". Another 4-track demo was recorded in 1983 at Mariehemsgården in Umeå by Per Gardenkrans. The last one with Jan on drums, who was then replaced by Frank Stenbro.

The band had been approached by record label Tandan Records and again entered the Tonteknik Studio. They re-recorded "The Last Breath" and "Still Alive", plus the new songs "Queen Of The Dark", "Black Winds" and "Crucifixion". This is the demo known as "Still Alive" which was supposed to be released as a MLP for Tandan. Unfortunately, the deal with Tandan fell through when the label went bankrupt, and the band went through some personnel changes. Guitarists Patrik and Thomas were replaced by Ulf Johansson.

Frank remembers why: "It's my fault the first line-up broke up. We had a giant row, and I threw the snare drum just a few centimetres from Anders' head! That was the last time we rehearsed with the guitarists. I told Anders that the only thing that can keep this band going is to get rid of those guitarists. So, I called up a guitarist from Åsele I had played together with in the band Skrock, Ulf Johansson, and asked him to join instead. He was three years older than me and almost like an idol. He was an awesome guitarist. I remember at a music festival in Åsele in 1984 when we played with Skrock, all of the hot shot guitarists of Gotham City and Mogg stood there, armed crossed, just waiting for this shit band from the woods to make a fool of themselves. Ulf started jumping on stage, hit his head in a roof beam and passed out, blood was spraying from his head, but up he went and continued playing like an ace, even more pumped up. The other guitarists just stood there, with their mouths hanging to the floor!".

In 1984 they entered a studio in Åsele to record a new demo. Or rather, their friend Thomas Fahlgren had a Porta Studio and they set up in the basement of the IOGT (Sobriety Association) hall where they recorded. Anders says they were very dissatisfied with the mix and the new 8-string Veilette-Citron bass he used on the bass solo didn't sound that great at all he thought. The demo was entitled "Soldier Of The Future" and the songs were "Soldier Of The Future", "I'll Never Forgive", "Mean Machine", "Night- mare City", "Bass solo", "Lights Of The Dying City" and "The Answer Is Cruel".

Frank remembers a story about the recording of this demo: "Henrik was a lot younger than the rest of us, so his mom called me when we were going to Åsele to record the vocals for the demo. I was the older one and had to promise things would be calm. Henrik also had his Siamese twin with him, Nicke, the youngest brother of Lars Eklund of Umeå Small Band (the mid-brother is Janne, who was in Mogg). Henke did his vocals, then there was a one helluva party. When Anders heard the vocals afterwards, he was so pissed off and asked us what the hell we had been doing in Åsele. He didn't approve of the vocals and wanted them to be re-recorded, which of course never happened". Worth mentioning is also that the way the band paid Thomas to record them, was that Frank and Ulf played with Frank in his band Glorious Advance, with whom they recorded some demos as well.

The band did numerous live shows in places like Ålidhemsgården, Lövånger Sporthall, Mariehemsgården, Nordmaling and Anders also remembers a special concert at Hagagården. "We had bought a full-size female mannequin that we tore apart, dressed it in a white night gown and put up on a wooden crucifix behind the drum kit. We also didn't have one, but two smoke machines on this show. The problem was that someone put out too much smoke. Worse than the London smog and we couldn't see shit! The aftermath of it all was that some Christian group said it was horrendous that we could keep doing this and wrote about in the papers and all".

Another memorable show was On September 19, 1984, when they, together with Mogg and Gotham City opened for Europe at Universum in Umeå. Frank: "I remember Joey Tempest was sitting backstage with sunglasses on indoors and I couldn't help commenting how light it was indoors. I remember we tried to get drummer Ian Haugland to a biker party, but Thomas Erdtman prevented him from going".

Anders remembers the ending of the band: "After the misfortune with Tandan Records in 1984 the band began to fall apart, and we were all exhausted. As an attempt to reach fame and fortune we changed the line-up and went to Åsele to record a new demo. At the late 1984/beginning of 1985 the split was complete. Ulf went to Stockholm, Frank drifted away, Henrik started some new project and I had nothing left to give".

Henrik later appeared in bands like The Facer, Jonny's Bomb and Doc Squeeze while Frank played with Gotham City, switched to guitar and later joined Finnish metal legends OZ and is now in Elake Grisfot.

The Witch poster, which is basis for the cover for this release, was made by Jari Aalto. Jari also made the cover for the, now classic, single "Flickor är blinda" by Hades.