Warlock (band) - Music and Style

Music and Style

Warlock were one of the few successful female-fronted heavy metal bands in the circuit during the 80s, when the scene was dominated by macho singers. Doro Pesch's voice and stage presence caught immediately the attention of fans and press and she became the principal mean of promotion for the band, as well as the main spoke-person for Warlock.

Warlock's music is always primarily described as heavy metal, and the band cite as main influences 1970s metal acts such as Judas Priest, Scorpions, Accept, and groups from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.

Warlock's sound and songwriting evolved from the traditional heavy metal of their debut album Burning the Witches to the faster and darker Hellbound, which incorporates elements of power metal, such as fast tempos, powerful choruses and fantasy-inspired lyrics. True as Steel is a more commercial album, where any reference to fantasy and the occult in the lyrics was abandoned. Triumph and Agony recovers elements of the first albums, but veers also towards a melodic and FM radio-friendly sound, influenced by the US production. Other bands that had a similar sound include Keel, the late 80s' Judas Priest and Lizzy Borden.

Power ballads were also characteristic of Warlock and are present in the track listings of every album.