WITCHWOOD - Before the Winter (NEW*70’s HARD/HEAVY ROCK*JETHRO TULL*URIAH HEEP)

Jolly Roger Records 2020 - Brandnew 3rd Album – CD Edition from The Masters of 70’s Hard/Heavy Rock with some Prog/Folk Influences from Italy are back with their 3rd Album and its again a Masterpiece !

For Fans of Uriah Heep, Blue Öyster Cult, Jethro Tull, Spiritual Beggars, Psychotic Waltz or early Judas Priest

Witchwood were born in 2014 from the ashes of Buttered Bacon Biscuits . B.B.B. released a self-produced Cd in 2010 entitled "From the solitary woods" (available on Cd and Lp - JRR 2017) and positively reviewed by many italian and foreign music magazines and websites. They played in many gigs around Italy, also supporting important bands like Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, Bud Spencer Blues Explosion. After the split some members of the band, mastermind Ricky (vocals, guitar and main writer of B.B.B. and Witchwood), Andy (drums), Steve (hammond, synth, keys) and Sam (flute), decided, with the entry of new member Luca Celotti on bass, to start Witchwood. All musicians, active for decades, with past recording experience with local bands and collaborations with artists like Martin Grice (Delirium) and Nik Turner (Hawkwind). Debut album "Litanies From The Woods" (2015) is the result of 2 years of songwriting, long and hard rehearsals and recording sessions and features ten tracks (78 minutes) and it is a long journey from 70’s hard rock, to progressive, psych, southern rock and blues. Got very excellent acceptance from public and press, both in and outside Italy, which allowed a strong promotional-push (they play live at Hammer of Doom and as guest for The Vintage Caravan in Germany, at Malta Doom Metal Fest) and a deserved good visibility on all main specialized webzines and magazines; both Cd and Lp first runs went quickly sold out. Rightly Witchwood were considered one of the best bands from the new "retro-rock" wave, voted as "best emerging band in 2015" by Rock Hard Italy readers and played the final italian match in the Wacken Metal Battle competition.

One year later the acclaimed debut, Italian 70’s hard rockers Witchwood came back with a new recording, featuring 3 unreleased songs, 2 covers ("Flaming Telepath" from Blue Öyster Cult and "Rainbow Demon" from Uriah Heep) as homage and tribute to these two great bands, so important for Witchwood's musical journey, and an unreleased version of the suite "Handful Of Stars" (from "Litanies From The Woods") with a new breathless intro, for a total of 45 minutes of music.

“‘Handful Of Stars’ represents an hypothetical band’s cycle as it contains also music based on ideas developed during the recording sessions of ‘Litanies From The Woods’, but left behind because that album was already almost 80 minutes length”, said Ricky Dal Pane. “There are 3 unreleased songs and a tribute to two of our favourite bands of all time: ‘Flaming Telepaths’ from Blue Öyster Cult and ‘Rainbow Demon’ from Uriah Heep. We also added an extended version of the song ‘Handful Of Stars’. This is a very well curated album and it’s full of interesting material. It’s not just a filler between two full-length albums as its length is 45 minutes. We are very happy about it and we hope our fans won’t be disappointed”. “Handful of Stars" was also the right way to celebrate the appreciations received for the debut album, to introduce the new guitar player Antonino Stella, appreciated session man and long time Ricky's friend and to present new videoclip for "Handful of Stars" with drawings by artist Dimitri Corradini. Last 4 years the band played live and collected all the energies and inspirations to release the new, best possible, album entitled “Before the Winter”. A long time, but worths the wait! 

Tracklist

Anthem For A Child  

A Taste Of Winter  

Feelin'  

Crimson Moon  

Hesperus  

No Reason To Cry  

Nasrid  

Crazy Little Lover  

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