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UNITED STATES, New Jersey

Date Formed 1998

Categories: Heavy Metal

Biography

One of guitarist JACK FROST's numerous band projects along with FROSTBITE, METALIUM and THE BRONX CASKET CO. Bowing in with 1999's 'Second War In Heaven' the band rapidly maintained momentum with the issue of 'City Of Lost Souls', noted for its cover versions of EXCITER's 'Pounding Metal' and, more unexpectedly, PAT BENATAR's 'Hell Is For Children'. The record witnessed keyboard contributions from Ferdy Doernberg of ROUGH SILK. However, SEVEN WITCHES lost frontman Bobby Lucas following this release but filled the gap quickly with former CRIMSON GLORY vocalist Wade Black. Meantime, Frost joined German based Power Metal combo METALIUM, featuring on the 2000 'State Of Triumph' album.

Lucas announced a new project with ETERNITY X musicians guitarist Jeff Shernov, keyboard player Jamie Mazur, bassist Brett Rome and drummer Jimmy Peruta. Frost would heighten his public profile by joining the veteran Metal act SAVATAGE in 2001 but would still pursue the SEVEN WITCHES venture.

For recording of during 2001 for a new album SEVEN WITCHES enrolled DESTINY'S END drummer Brian Craig. The resulting record, entitled 'Xiled To Infinity And One' would be released in February of 2002 and included a cover version of GRIM REAPER's 'See You In Hell'.

During March of 2002 bassist Bill Mez bowed out, unable to commit to European touring alongside ANNIHILATOR, due to his commitments to his priority act SINGLE BULLET THEORY. His replacement would swiftly be announced as Joey Vera, high profile four stringer already holding down long term positions with premier acts ARMORED SAINT and FATES WARNING.

During mid 2002 Wade Black enlisted the services of the former NOCTURNUS pairing of guitarist Mike Davis and bassist/vocalist Emo Mowery for a fresh side band project billed as TIWANAKU. Reports also suggested Black had resurrected his former band LUCIAN BLAQUE. Within weeks of this announcement Black signalled his departure from SEVEN WITCHES, press speculation soon putting LEFAY vocalist Charles Rytkönen in the frame for the vacancy. However, it would be James Rivera, a veteran of high profile acts such as HELSTAR, DESTINY'S END and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM that fronted SEVEN WITCHES for their July appearance at the 'Classic Metal Fest II' in Cleveland, Ohio. SEVEN WITCHES March 2003 album 'Passage To The Other Side' included a cover version of DEF LEPPARD's 'Wasted'.

By early 2003 Wade Black was linked to a completely new venture entitled LEASH LAW, a heavyweight alliance incorporating ROB ROCK band musicians guitarist RICK RENSTROM and bass player Steve Eldar with ICED EARTH and DEATH drummer Richard Christy. However, it subsequently emerged this was in fact a new incarnation of TIWANAKU.

An all new act featuring James Rivera was revealed in August of 2003, the vocalist uniting with DESTINY'S END guitarist Eric Halpern and SYMPHONY X bassist Mike Lepond in DISTANT THUNDER. Guitarist and band mentor JACK FROST also returned in 2003, brandishing a solo album entitled 'Raise Your Fist To Metal' featuring a host of special guest contributors, including SEVEN WITCHES personnel Bobby Lucas and Joey Vera.

East Coast tour dates beginning on 31st October in Springfield, Virginia saw British Thrash veterans RAVEN acting as guests. Dennis Hayes of WRETCH covered for Joey Vera on these shows, the regular bass man unable to commit due to recording schedules. SEVEN WITCHES would support OVERKILL in Europe during November.

Gigs in Europe during the Summer of 2004, including a slot at the 'Graspop' festival with headline act JUDAS PRIEST, saw AFTER ALL drummer Kevin Strubbe acting as stand in. A new album, 'Year Of The Witch', would be launched officially with an appearance at the October 'The Metal Nation: Northern Aggression' festival in Manchester, New Hampshire. The group announced they had parted ways with Sanctuary Records but, remaining active, US touring in February of 2005 saw ION VEIN as support act.

It would be announced that Frost was to act as co-producer for Italian Thrash Metal band MERENDINE ATOMICHE's 'Raw' album, recording at New Sin Studios in Treviso, Italy in August. The guitarist also worked up a new solo album, 'Out In The Cold', and a fresh BRONX CASKET COMPANY record. New SEVEN WITCHES recordings would not involve James Rivera, who resigned to prioritise his other act KILLING MACHINE and subsequently join VICIOUS RUMORS. SEVEN WITCHES announced their new frontman to be the esteemed figure of Alan Tecchio, a scene veteran citing terms of duty with HADES, NON-FICTION, POWER and WATCHTOWER. The album 'Amped' would include a cover version of BILLY IDOL's 'Flesh For Fantasy'. Wade Black joined Anaheim Metal veterans LEATHERWOLF in July.

US dates in November saw SEVEN WITCHES supporting KAMELOT.

Alan Tecchio featured as a guest on PALE HORSE's 2006 opus 'In The Theater Of My Mind'. Meantime, SEVEN WITCHES embarked upon European headline touring in April 2006 bolstered by DEMON from the UK, AXTRA of Italy and IRON FIRE from Denmark. In March of 2006 Frost enrolled into the ranks of cult British Heavy Metal band MARSHALL LAW. However, he left this band before recording or playing a note and joined the Kyle Michaels fronted BIRD OF PREY in December.

In March 2007 it was learned that Frost was collaborating with ATTACKER frontman Bob Mitchell on new material for a Heavy Metal covers project dubbed FM, cutting versions of tracks by UFO, GILLAN, ACCEPT and JUDAS PRIEST branded 'Assylum Of Metal'. That same month bassist Dennis Hayes joined ICED EARTH. Frost added to his wealth of high profile credentials by appearing as second guitarist with LIZZY BORDEN at the April 28th 2007 Metal Blade Records 25th Anniversary Showcase at the New England Metal And Hardcore Festival. The SEVEN WITCHES 'Deadly Sins' album came out in November 2007 via Screaming Ferret Wreckords.

February 2009 live dates, supporting ALCATRAZZ, witnessed a SEVEN WITCHES line-up involving Jack Frost, James Rivera, Mike Lepond and Taz Marazz on drums. New songs were recorded with ARMORED SAINT and FATES WARNING bassist Joey Vera acting as co-producer.

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