Back in the early 80s, heavy metal had already begun to take shape from its 70s blues-based beginnings and culminate into something heavier and far more edgey. Even though heavy metal music originated in Great Britain, other countries such as the USA, Germany, Finland, and even Japan were taking their stab at the genre by the early 80s. Warlock was one of these bands to step out of Germany. Formed by guitarists Peter Szigeti and Rudy Graf, bassist Frank Rittel, and drummer Michael Eurich in 1982, this band sought after something to set themselves apart from the rest of the bands of that time period, and that something was female vocalist Doro Pesch. And in 1984, the band got to show for themselves with their first studio LP.

So what makes Warlock so special? Well for starters, Doro's beautifully powerful voice melds so well with the heavy metal music the rest of the band was playing. There's no one quite like her, and once you become accustomed to her unique style, you'll too be convinced that she is in fact, a metal goddess. There had been instances in the 80s of female pop metal bands or hard rock pop-based bands (a la Vixen, Pat Benatar, and Joan Jett), but Warlock's brand of music is straight-up PURE HEAVY METAL from front to back. For the four albums that this band released, they managed to maintain their complete heavy edge while they lasted (albiet with incorporated melodic stylings on the latter two albums). The music on BTW is comparable to the likes of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Ozzy, though with a female singer fronting the band. There is no popular hair metal to be found on this disc. One reviewer blindingly stated that this album is full of keyboards. I don't normally like to comment on other people's specific reviews, but I'll make an exception here. What album exactly did you listen to? Certainly not BTW because I've heard the album many times now, and THERE ARE NO KEYBOARDS TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE ON THIS DISC. With that out of the way, onto the album itself:

Starting off is the fast, blazing 'Sign Of Satan', which sports an opening guitar riff that almost matches Judas Priest's 'Freewheel Burning'. Next there is the mid-paced 'After The Bomb' which reminds me instrumentally of Blizzard-era Ozzy Osbournne. 'Dark Fade' starts out heavy just like the previous track but breaks into a brief faster passage where outstanding guitar work can be found. The heavy tracks don't let up until 'Without You' which is the album's only ballad. It's actually quite excellent, and not a wimpy ballad by any means. The pace picks right back up again with the lightning-quick 'Metal Racer'. The stellar title track is the high point of the disc, being that it's one of the catchiest, yet crunchiest heavy metal songs I've heard in a long time. 'Hateful Guy' has a similar fast pace to the previous track, but the band employs some cool harmonies within the chorus. Plus, Doro really lets out an ear-shattering scream on this track! The album closes with the excellent slow-paced metal rocker 'Holding Me'.

In general, I'm highly impressed with this debut album, as it's so filled with raw energy that the disc almost catches on fire. BTW displays the kind of "eager to make it big" passion that I like and find in certain albums of some bands. Look at some of the suggestions below for other band's albums with this same quality. It's not flawless, but there isn't a single song on here that I don't like, so I'm giving it 4.5 stars. I've read this elsewhere, but for the most part, the enjoyability of Warlock comes from what you think of Doro's vocals. I firmly believe that her German-accented shout is quite awesome, and fits well with the rest of the band. She certainly belongs in the heavy metal genre. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Other similar albums by other bands:
-'Hellbound' by Warlock
-'Breaking The Chains' by Dokken
-'Blizzard Of Ozz' by Ozzy Osbourne

-'Defenders Of The Faith' by Judas Priest
-'Bon Jovi' by Bon Jovi

If this is glammy,and cheesy ,what was Triumph and Agony?
What the F!CK!How could someone even think this album is glammy or cheesy.It's totally a great album for people who like Power metal,Traditional metal,and maybe even thrash metal,It's also probabaly the hardest Warlock album that has ever been done ever.And still people take the slow as hell way less musically impressive Triumph and Agony over this one.I think in that album they totally Sold Out,atleast style wise,way more than in this one.With there typical Glam 80's sound that only shows to me the fact that my little brother can play all those sorry beats on his drum set!Which is ofcourse typical for all those cheesiest of the cheesy glam band's,like Motley Crue,Poison,Def leopard especially,and the Scorpion's,and if you want me to be more specific about the Scorpion's,their song Rock you like a hurricane.Ofcourse you're probably thinking to your self that's not really a bad song right.That is,untell you really listen to the huge glammy simularity's to the other group's.

One being that the song is about sex,which doesn't bother me at all.It's only that it's the lerical inspiration for every single stinkin lame ass glam rock song out there,it's really just another mid career Motley Crue or Quiet Riot song if you think about it,with that oh so typical simple as hell a moron could play it drum beat.And if by some chance you're the type of person that can't see the selling out more on the Triumph and Agony album,It might be because you'r music collection probably is alot weaker than this album,and probably reaks of what actually is slow cheesy 80's glam rock...I on the other hand,highly recommend this album over Triumph and agony,just because it's more ballsy,faster, heavier,and a straight out good classic metal album.Although it is a little short on the love ballad's.Hmm,wait a minute,that's actually another good reason to buy this album.WOW!I guess there is no down sides huh...

Very Dark Album!
Warlock is in a very excellent way! These lyrics are very pessimistic but I like them. This album is full of agony. If you like hard rock, this is an album for you! For example "Holding Me" is a love song full of sadness. "Metal Racer" is a fast but still very sad. Doro sounds very much tough and gloomy.

All promise and no delivery
Actually, if it weren't for Doro's being introduced on this album, this wretched thing would get one star for certain. This debut from Warlock is the epitome of cheese metal. A nice cover, interesting song titles, cool band name, intriguing album title...and nothing but crap hair- metal music. Keyboards which would embarrass the likes of Poison are all over this thing, and the only 'evil' aspect of the cd is the joy some cigar-chomping fatcat gets after you've been suckered into buying it. Except... The singer, Doro. Although largely unheralded in the US, Doro is one of the finest metallurgists around. This lady can seriously rock (check out her solo albums, and even the other Warlock cd's for evidence of her abilities). More celebrated female rockers like Joan Jett cannot even compare to what this artist is capable of doing, and that even goes for this utter crap. I'd reommend Warlock only after getting acquainted with her continuing solo career. And even though this is the first, get this last.

the world's introduction to Doro
And so begins Doro's career. Like the first albums of bands with each member clearly in their late teens or early 20's ecstatic over recording their music for the first time (Metallica's Kill 'em All and Megadeth's Killing is my Business)
Warlock's beginning opus is appropriately fast, furious, and raw. While the riffs are aggressive with unrelenting speed, altogether the album's most distinctive asset is Doro's young voice at the peak of its screaming prowess. Like Klaus Meine of the Scorpions, who never managed to completely regain the resonant vocal tone again after his debut in Lonesome Crow owing to the obvious exigencies of unremitting touring, Doro's voice would become increasingly throatier and raspier over the years. Altogether, in recalling the review of an old relic heavy metal book back from '85, I am disposed to designate this album as solid, competent, but unspectacular headbanging music; the savage riffs are offset by their overall homogeneity and the one stab at a power ballad is derivative and unremarkable. Nevertheless, for those who believe that Doro has mellowed in her older years both musically and lyrically, this album is a refreshing reminder that in her youthful ardor she delighted in singing about the occult and in the 80's was clearly endeavoring to be one the hardest rocking women of heavy metal.