HELLWITCH arose from the depths of HELL in October 1984. Formed by guitarist Patrick Ranieri and drummer/vocalist, Harry Tiyler. An inaugural recording session, conducted in the living room of their apartment in Gainesville, FL. produced the immortal 1984 'Nosferatu' demo. The project expanded into a full band set up in February of 1985 with the introduction of current PRECIPICE drummer Dave Silverthrash (Silverstein), replacing Tiyler, and Andy Adcock on bass/guitar. That July, HELLWITCH played it's first show ever with local Punk band ROACH MOTEL. This signaled an intensive live campaign spanning the next three years, which saw HELLWITCH sharing the stage with such heavies as CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, G.B.H., CORONER, DARK ANGEL, KREATOR, DEICIDE, DEATH, MORBID ANGEL, ATHEIST, AGNOSTIC FRONT, D.R.I., ANTHRAX, NUCLEAR ASSAULT and many others.