| Death Penalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:Death Penalty Censored.jpg | ||
| Studio album by Witchfinder General | ||
| Released | September[1] 1982 | |
| Recorded | 10 - 11 April 1982[2] at Metro Sound Studios in Mansbury, England | |
| Genre | Doom Metal, Heavy Metal | |
| Length | 30:38 | |
| Label | Heavy Metal Records | |
| Producer | Peter Hinton | |
| Witchfinder General chronology | ||
| Soviet Invasion! (1982) |
Death Penalty (1982) |
Friends of Hell (1983) |
Death Penalty is the debut studio album by the British heavy metal band Witchfinder General. It was released in 1982 on Heavy Metal Records. The album received some criticism for the cover photograph, which featured topless model Joanne Latham. The photograph had been taken in the yard of St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church in Enville, Staffordshire, without the permission of the local Reverend.[3] The album was originally released on LP and picture disc and was later reissued on CD. Pictured on the cover is Phil Cope, Zeeb Parkes, Graham Ditchfield and a member of their road crew. Bass is credited to a fictitious person called Woolfy Trope. Some sources claim that Zac Bajjón played bass on the album. However, the bass was actually recorded by Phil Cope. For the artwork, the band brought in a member of their road crew to pose as the fourth band member.
While Peter Hinton is credited with producing this recording, the writers Phil Cope and Zeeb Parkes always felt the credit should have gone to the engineer Robin George.
Death Penalty has since been regarded as a cult classic in both the NWOBHM and Doom Metal genres, praised retroactively by several critics[4][5] including a perfect 10/10 score from "The Collectors Guide to Heavy Metal".
Tracklist[]
All songs written by Phil Cope and Zeeb Parkes
- 1. Invisible Hate (6:05)
- 2. Free Country (3:10)
- 3. Death Penalty (5:35)
- 4. No Stayer (4:25)
- 5. Witchfinder General (3:51)
- 6. Burning a Sinner (3:28)
- 7. R.I.P. (4:04)
Personnel[]
Witchfinder General[]
- Phil Cope - Guitar, Bass
- Graham Ditchfield - Drums, Percussion
- 'Zeeb Parkes - Vocals
Other Personnel[]
- Peter Hinton - Producer
- Pat - Engineer
- Robin George - Engineer
- Tim Young - Mastering
- David Bonham - Photography
- Brett Prestige - Photography
- Kate Shakibi - Layout, Artwork
- Joanne Latham - Cover Model