Birth evolved from Astra, whose two albums for Rise Above Records - 2009’s ‘The Weirding’ and 2012’s ‘The Black Chord’ - had already reinvented classic sonic textures and mind-melds in lucid and intoxicating style. Conor Reilly and Brian Ellis nonetheless found themselves seeking out new life and new civilisations. Initially this led to a collaboration with Psicomagia’s Trevor Mast and Paul Marrone, although later Marrone (while he does play on ‘Born’) was replaced by Thomas DiBenedetto (of Sacri Monte, Joy and Monarch) as sparks began to fly in earnest.

The result has been a self-titled debut which combines a questing spirit with a dystopian take on the here and now.  Musically, whilst traces can be discerned of the dark and magisterial King Crimson of ‘Red’ herein, as well as the yearning cadences of early Yes and the delirious contortions of Van Der Graaf Generator, a whole host of influences made their presence felt in these mournful cadences, joyful solo passages and kinetic freakouts, from '70s mainstays like Aphrodites Child, Premiata Formeria Marconi and Area to the primitive folk of Robbie Basho and the symphonic soundtrack work of Osanna.

Born

BIRTH "For Yesterday"

The discovery of WITCHFYNDE's Lost Tapes illuminates a fascinating missing link in the history of British heavy metal. In the lull between the Purple/Zeppelin/Sabbath revolution and the angry charge of punk rock and NWOBHM, in the East Midlands county town of Derby, four lads came together to create a tentatively progressive and intriguing new sound, and get heads banging in boozers all over the Peak District....

The Lost Tapes

Madame Noname

WITCHFYNDE "Madam Noname"

The 5-piece is inspired by the golden-era of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, but they add a focused and slightly doomy, riff-heavy sound of their own. Expect short songs with catchy vocals, heavy riffs, soaring leads and bone-shaking bass, driven to the limit with pounding drums. A sound that fits somewhere after "classic" BLACK SABBATH, but before METALLICA's scene-defining debut.

AMULET "Running Out of Time"

Elements

From our forthcoming 'Reflections' EP out soon on No Remorse records.

Red Leather

In the parallel universe where the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal happened 600 years early, WYTCH HAZEL are the band of choice for the discerning Plantagenet headbanger. The folk-rock eccentricity of Jethro Tull, the mystical harmony of Wishbone Ash & Thin Lizzy, and the exuberance of prime NWOBHM, immersed in sacred medieval influences via David Munrow's Early Music Consort of London; on their debut long-player Prelude, Lancastrian hard rockers WYTCH HAZEL have happened upon an extremely singular and compelling alchemy. 

WYTCH HAZEL 'We Will Be Strong'

WYTCH HAZEL 'Freedom Battle'

In the parallel universe where the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal happened 600 years early, WYTCH HAZEL are the band of choice for the discerning Plantagenet headbanger.

Elements

Wytch Hazel

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