Review by ZeroSymbolic7188 for Witchfinder General - Death Penalty (1982)

Ah yes Witchfinder General, and Death Penatly. 

The best way I can describe this album is that it is Black Sabbath meets NWOBHM (particularly I get strong Angel Witch Vibes). I think it's a fun and very cool album, and "Free Country" is of course an underground anthem of sorts. At least the metal clubs around my area (Detroit) play it between sets over the PA all the time. That being said. It can also drag in places, and it's fairly generic sounding. I am a bit mesmerized by it's status as a cornerstone of the genre.

I think it works as a great entry point, but there is going to come a time where you want to go either faster and gravitate to full on NWOBHM and Thrash, or you're going want to go slower and thicker like myself. This album is the fork in that road, and once you go down either path it starts to fall short. I'm never upset to hear it, but I'm never excited to hear it either.