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https://austenitizedrecords.bandcamp.co ... alems-rise

Released February 7, 2020

Info from Bandcamp
As many collectors around the world thirst for more information on their prized pieces, I’ve assembled some information on the recording and forming of Witch, the 80’s metal band that released “Salem’s Rise” in 1985. I’m Tim Grogean, Executive Producer, co-songwriter and musician on the album and President of Eargasm Records.

Ted George and I were introduced in 1984 when he came to my studio in Dayton Ohio asking me to Produce a single for him. He was a shredding guitarist and songwriter from Versailles Ohio. Ted handled all the guitars on the first release with Jon Menger on drums and Larry “LD” Hampshire on keyboards. “Chained Heat” B/W Rock-N-Roll Dreams” was released on Eargasm Records in 1984. Pre-production work was done at Eargasm Studios and the recording at Audio Productions in New Carlisle Ohio with Tim
and Mike Niklas engineering. It was Mastered at QCA in Cincinnati.

After the completion of “Chained Heat” Ted yearned to write an album and I was looking for a project to present to larger Record companies in LA and NY. Songwriting and rehearsals started in Versailles Ohio, many nights jamming in the basement of brothers Tony and Dave Chappie. Tony on drums and Dave on Bass was completed by Ted and vocalist Ace Mathews. From there pre-production was done at Eargasm studios and into Audio Productions we went to record one hell of a heavy metal album.

Many of long nights and heavy parties ensued for then next month as the band hammered out the 10 songs on Witch “Salem’s Rise”. The instruments fell in very solid with Ted’s fast guitar work and solid rhythm section. The recording at Audio Productions in New Carlisle Ohio had Tim and Mike Niklas engineering. Tim was the Executive Producer as well as assisted in songwriting and guitar. It was Mastered at QCA in Cincinnati. Tim and Tony Chappie wrote the drum solo and incomparable pianist Larry “LD” Hampshire again came to Ted’s side for the keyboards. Yes, it’s true, we pulled out all the stops being a dark heavy metal album. LD Hampshire provided some awesome devilish backing tracks and backward masking. See “Something Evil” for some great examples of this. The album was released in 1985 with the album release party held at Hara Arena in Dayton Ohio. Tim Grogean opened up as an original solo act. The albums sold out almost immediately but the Large Record companies felt the tide was turning to new wave and Big Hair Metal away from the Heavy Metal of the late 70’s and no big deal was inked, unfortunately.

Most of the musicians involved continued to play and record to this day. Ted went on to front many bands and work with artists like Rick Dillinger. He is now known as “Fast Eddie” due to his freakish speed on the guitar. The Chappie brothers eventually became businessmen and less in known about the future for singer Ace Mathews. “LD” continued to play in bands with Tim and record in Dayton area studios. Tim went on to work with bands like Rush, Sponge, Days of the New, Sun etc. Tim Grogean, Executive producer on the Witch album, has continued recording and touring. His band Amplified has just released “The Last Circus”. Tim, an International Record Producer/Songwriter/Musician and Platinum Recording Artist/Funk Hall of Fame member Gary King join Amplified and special guests in a concept album not matched in many years. “The Last Circus” signifies an end to a simpler time and uses the circus as a metaphor for life and self-exploration. Lyricist and composer Tim Grogean remove the veil to reveal the truths of life in driving songs and anthems. Red Tube Records protects the integrity of the art by allowing each artist 100% creative freedom. The result is a whole lot of Fun, crank it up and enjoy.

Thanks
Tim Grogean
President Red Tube Records

Credits for 2019 Reissue
Audio was sourced from a sealed original LP that was ultrasonically cleaned before being ripped on a Technics SL-1800mk2 turntable with a Stanton 680EL cartridge.

- Audio source file had the following adjustments:
Slight remastering and EQ done by Dave Plser at Well Made Music, http://www.wellmademusic.net
- De-Clicking done by Adam Boose of Cauliflower Audio, http://www.caulifloweraudio.com
- Final restoration and mastering for CD by Craig Horval at reapermetalproductions.com

Under License Tim Grogean, Eargasm Records / Red Tube Records
Officially reissued by Austenitized Records, austenitizedrecords@gmail.com