HELLWITCH

PATRICK RANIERI

Death/Thrashers Hellwitch from Fort Lauderdale, Florida formed back in 1984 and after a bunch of demotapes the band released their debut album Syzygial Miscreancy on Wild Rags Records in 1990. The band released an EP called Terraasymmetry in 1993 but Hellwitch disbanded after a while. In 2004 Hellwitch returned and their second full length-album Omnipotent Convocation was released in 2009. I have spoken with vocalist and guitarist Patrick Ranieri.

Hellwitch

We can start with a small presentation of Hellwitch.

My college roommate and I started it as a joke band in Oct. ’84. Hellwitch was the FUNNIEST combination of generic band names we could think of for our joke band in ’84! There was White Witch, Angel Witch, Storm Witch, Hellhammer, Helstar, Hell. So, I thought that the WORST, most generic name would be HELLWITCH! Best joke name EVER!

Your debut album "Syzygial Miscreancy" was released back in 1990. How do you feel about it in retrospect?

It's good for a 25 hour project. Scott Burns made it great! In retrospect, I'm surprised it sounds as tight as it does. It needs more bass though.

Did it sell well?

10,000 world wide! It was released on LP, cassette and CD on Wild Fag Records. I mean Rags!

Syzygial Miscreancy (1990)

You released an EP called "Terraasymmetry" on Lethal Records back in 1992(?). Tell us a little about it.

It was three songs, the title track, "Dawn of Apostasy" and "Satan's Wrath". Done at Morrisound with Judd Packer engineering. Spent LONGER on those three songs than we did on the ENTIRE Syzygial recording! Was to be released on Wild Rags. We had a falling out with Wild Rags as we deduced he was ripping us off! I made the mistake of mentioning this in ‘zines, but NOT telling Ricardo this on the phone. So, he read these interviews and told us he would not release anymore Hellwitch stuff. Lethal IMMEDIATELY offered to release the EP and pay the recording bill that Ricardo had stuck Morrisound with.

Why did you disband?

Many reasons. No suitable drummer could be found to replace Joe Witch. Lack of interest on my part, etc.

Hellwitch returned and released a EP called "The Epitome of Disgrace" in 2005. How was it to finally record again?

The Epitome of Disgrace-recording was a “PROMO” Cd mainly recorded for label shopping, nothing more. It was NOT released as an EP. It worked as Xtreem signed us. It was fun to record again. We were introduced to ENGL guitar amps during that session. We now use those EXCLUSIVELY and are endorsed by ENGL!

Your second full length-album "Omnipotent Convocation" was released in 2009 on Xtreem Music. Are you satisfied with the album?

Yes! Very! We like to think of it as Lawrence Welk on steroids with a pinch of Roy Clark/Conway Twitty thrown in for good measure. Hahaha! No, it’s the most “team” effort HELLWITCH has ever produced. You’ll notice all music is by “HELLWITCH” and NOT just me anymore. This line up has been together on and off for about 25 years now, so we all know what HELLWITCH 2009 IS! We don’t settle for less. We want full power, extraordinary magnitude… basically… omnipotent convocation!

I've read that drummer Joe "Witch" Schnessel became a religous man and couldn't agree with Hellwitch's lyrics? What happened there?

He is more of a Christwitch than a religious person, really. and he does not agree with the DEATH demo lyrics of our cover of Infernal Death, so we do not play that song. He has no problems with the other lyrics, really. HELLWITCH lyrics are not Satanic, mostly. hahaha! "They mostly come at night... mostly". (ALIENS reference! hahah! )

Displeased Records re-released your debut album Syzygial Miscreancy. Were the band behind that release?

YES! It was a new package with all the old demos on it. But, they ripped us off in the end and now the label no longer exists.

Hellwitch has been around on and off for thirty years. But why haven't you recorded more than two full length-albums?

In the classic HELLWITCH tradition, we only write one song per year. That way the songs are completely top notch and boosted up in all respects. There are no “filler” tracks in the HELLWITCH universe.

You are working on your third full length-album now? Tell us something about the recordings. And will it be released before 2028?

No. Not true.

You shared the stage with Death and Chuck Schuldiner, how was that?

Very cool! He stayed at my house for a few days. Came to practice with us, smoked up with us and did a show with us where we opened for Corrosion of Conformity on 10/25/86. By ’86 I was really a total DEATH fanatic! We actually had BOTH Kam Lee and Chuck sing Infernal Death at different live shows in ’86. My favourite recordings are the ‘84+’85 demos.

Scream Bloody Gore was downhill in my opinion. Back in our earlier days, HELLWITCH played, “Infernal Death”, “Corpse Grinder”, “Zombie Ritual” and then a bit later “Archangel”. Basically we covered the DEATH songs I liked the best. Honestly, I wanted to do “Archangel” on Omnipotent Convocation, but after the band discussed it, we felt “Infernal Death” was more recognizable and would be more appropriate for the comp.

What's the highlight of your career?

The Omnipotent Convocation release or the 2011 N.E. U.S. tour.

Have you got any funny story to tell, if anything weird has happened while touring or so?

My friend was at the COUNTER being waited on at Kentucky Fried Chicken and this old guy runs up and cuts in front of him and says, "I want a leg and a thigh, OLLDDD FASHION!" And, I was filming Blue Oyster Cult a couple years ago and after this outdoor show some drunk guy was walking in front of me and his hillbilly friend was helping him walk.

I was about 10 feet behind them with camera running. The friend let go and the guy fell FLAT on his back. Like a tree falling in the woods! THEN, this guy walking behind me sees I'm videotaping this and says, "Oh man, that ain't cool." I shut the camera off! So, on the video you see the guy fall and you hear a sad voice say, "Oh man, that ain't cool". Finally, my doctor says I need to eat healthier so I've been buying yogurt, with Polish Sausage on the bottom. Much better for me than KFC buffet! Our tours have been pretty uneventful.

Any last words for our readers?

You can check us out at HELLWITCH.com! We have shirts, CDs, live videos, old demos and MORE! Also, i have OVER 10,000 concert videos for sale and trade at Darkest Soul Promotions (www.thrill.to/DSP) I have everything from Burzum to Bathory to The Exploited to Bad Company! Thanks for the cool interview! KILLKILLKILL!!!!

By/ Ruthless

(06-05-2003)