In their time, Witchfinder General was considered one of the less-important bands to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, but they have become a popular early influence among bands in the doom metal scene. Formed in 1980 by Zeeb Parkes (vocals), Phil Cope (guitars), Woolfy Trope (ba**), and Graham Ditchfield (drums), the band was heavily influenced by Black Sabbath and released only two albums, 1982's d**h Penalty and the following year's Friends of Hell, before breaking up. Ironically, these became more notorious for their comical covers (featuring the band in medieval costumes torturing semi-naked women) than the band's raw, post-Sabbath grind. ~ Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide