Witch Cross

Witch Cross formed in Japan in the early 1980s, with Tetsugyu Takada on vocals and bass, Takayuki Nishida on lead guitar, Shoji Mizutani on rhythm guitar, and Fumihiko Kitamura on drums. They released albums like 'Fire Child' in 1984, 'Stargazer' in 1985, and 'Extermination' in 1986. Their music had a heavy metal sound with some progressive touches and lyrics that leaned into dark, supernatural themes.

One of their better-known tracks is 'Alien Savage' from the 'Fire Child' album. It's a slower, atmospheric song with Takada's vocals and Nishida's guitar work creating a mood that felt different from straightforward metal of the time. Other songs like 'Face Of a Clown' and 'Rocking The Night Away' show the band could also write more direct, riff-heavy material.

Their stage presence and lyrical content drew some criticism in Japan during the 80s, which made things difficult for them at times. They didn't last long as an active band, but their albums developed a following among collectors and fans of Japanese metal from that period.