“I think a couple of the older fans are a little pissed off,” begins Seven Witches guitarist Jack Frost (Savatage, The Bronx Casket Co. Metalium, and many others) about his band’s newest album, The Way Of The Wicked.

“We’ve gotten a little bit of slack from the fans for it not being metal enough,” Frost continues. “But I don’t write to make everyone happy, I write from my heart. I can’t be mad if not everyone likes it. In my opinion, it just has more of a rock feel with more to offer.”

Indeed it does, The Way Of The Wicked has a little bit of everything that a hard rock/metal album should consist of. The record possesses ’70s/’80s rock grooves mixed with a riff-centric bluesy flavor. CD-opener and title track is met with a somber violin intro, followed by a brutish groove and taunting lead guitar melodies, It’s more simplistic than previous Seven Witches material but certainly not pedestrian or generic. “I love bands like Badlands. And I love John Sykes and Gary Moore,” Frost said. “That’s really where I come from. That’s what I went for and it wasn’t a thing where I said, ‘I’m going to make a record that sounds like (this or that).’ It’s just what happened. It just fell into place. As I’ve gotten older, my ears have changed and my approach has changed.” 

Seven Witches possesses a potent lineup, and one that Frost hopes to keep. Joining Frost is vocalist Anthony Cross (Shadow Image, Attacker), bassist Ronnie Parkes (Farcry, Cleavage, Tango Down, Reece, Bonfire) and drummer Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative, Danzig, Pale Horse Named Death, Seventh Void, Kill Devil Hill). “This is the first record in Witches’ history with the same lineup; same drummer, same bassist, same singer,” he said. “And I hope to God I can keep this lineup. That’s our goal, and I love the guys I play with.”

Throughout Seven Witches existence, Frost has always been surrounded by singers with an awesome set of pipes. However, most of Frost’s former singers have never lasted more than two albums apiece, with the exception of James Rivera. This being the throaty Anthony Cross’s second release, I ask Frost if he plans to break tradition and keep Cross for another album.

“Nah, Anthony’s gone!” Frost said jokingly. “Two records and he’s gone. We gotta keep the tradition going!” All joking aside, Frost has a good relationship with his singer, as well as all of the former Seven Witches singers before him.

“I love Anthony,” He said. “He’s one of my dearest friends and we get along great. I never wanted any of the singers in the band to leave. Alan (Tecchio) left because he couldn’t commit or tour anymore. James (Rivera) is in a hundred different bands. I love Wade (Black) and I wish him the best. That guy is a great singer. We had a falling out and it sucks because I don’t have anything bad to say about him and I love the records we made together. Whatever everybody thinks that I must be a hard person to work with, it’s not like that. I give everybody the same amount of money I make and whatever we do; I split it all the way.”

First single and video, “Better Daze”, gives a good indication of the band’s new approach. Bluesy/sludgy, swaggering riffs mixed with a catchy chorus. Frost explains that the track, as well as the whole album, just happened organically and that things just flowed. 

“Our singer (Anthony Cross) doesn’t do those screams as (past vocalists) (James) Rivera and (Alex) Tecchio, that’s just not his thing. I wrote the lyric ‘better days are coming’ and thought that was a cool hook, that’s how it started. Johnny (Kelly) is such a great rock player; he’s John Bonham. He’s got that dude down like nobody’s business. That’s where it went. The whole record doesn’t sound like ‘Better Daze’, there’s a lot of different feels. I think it was a record of what we felt inside. It’s just a record of songs that felt good and something we were proud of.”

Frost plays some fantastic guitar on the album, pumping out some killer slide guitar, blazing leads and some straight ahead rocking riffs. Inspiration and influences play a big part in Frost’s fret skills. “I’ll make this easy; John Sykes, Richie Kotzen, Gary Moore. Just guys who know when and what to play in the right place, that’s what I went for. You can shred like Yngwie (Malmsteen); the guy is still one of the most sickest players ever. But there’s a time where you put that hot pepper in there and then there’s a time when you don’t. I approached it like, ‘What would Sykes do on something like this’? He just plays the right notes. Hands down, Neil Schon of Journey, that’s my biggest influence. When he plays a lead, I can hum that lead for the rest of my life.”

The Way Of The Wicked was mixed and mastered by Joey Vera (Armored Saint, Fates Warning). Frost and Vera go way back from the time when Vera played in the band. Having a friend such as Vera on board made the recording sessions very comfortable and the two got right down to business. “He’s one of my best friends of all time,” Frost said of Vera. “This is my baby (the record). When you’re sitting in a studio and making a record, it’s your baby and he’s the only guy ever that I would trust with my baby as much as I do. I look up to Joey. The new Armored Saint record is just insane good. I feel so comfortable with everything he’s done. Joey could make a lot of money, but he does it because we’re such good friends.” 

The Way of the Wicked drops September 18 with plans for upcoming tours certain to follow. However, other endeavors and opportunities will put Seven Witches’ tour itinerary on the back burner for a little while, as Frost explains.  

“We would start going out (as soon as possible), but I got offered a tour with Circle II Circle in Brazil,” Frost concludes. “So when I get back, Witches is going to start looking for a November/December tour. We’ll let the record sit a little bit, let people get adjusted and we hope to get out there as soon as possible. I hope people like the record as much as I liked making it.”