Magnificent double A side 'Before the War' / 'Spanner in the Works' out now!
Things may have seemed a little quiet in the WitchDoktors camp recently, but they’ve been beavering away on new songs for an upcoming sixth studio album, the first of which have just been released!
‘Before the War‘ / ‘Spanner in the Works‘ packs a double punch of glorious tunes, each quite individual, playing to their strengths of ‘Dirty Rock ‘n’ Roll with a skank..’
WitchDoktors are: ‘Planet’ Andy Last – lead vocals and guitar; Tony Major – backing vocals and lead guitar; Lee Page – backing vocals and bass; and Joe Colfar – backing vocals and drums. Previous studio album ‘Voodoo Eye‘ (on their current label Bomber Music) was released in 2016, with a compilation ‘Timeless and Dimeless‘ out in 2019, so I think we all agree a new one is long overdue!
‘Before the War‘ is another of the Dok’s signature catchy tunes, with additional guitar from Tony Ware. Andy says: “‘Before The War’ focuses on the profound impact of PTSD on society, so it’s appropriate that a percentage of the profit from this release will be donated to the charity PTSDUK.” It also happens to be a total earworm and a genuinely great song, with all four instruments and vocals creating a mindblowing synergy of sound!
They’ve been playing it live since late last year to great acclaim, and it’s curently rising in the 365 Radio Legacy charts – vote for it HERE
Check out the excellent video shot on location in Brighton and edited by Mat Green:
‘Spanner in the Works‘ is a reggae tinged live favourite, featuring Jamie, Vee and Mikey from The Gyrators. Just as catchy as it’s sibling on the flipside, I dare you to keep your feet still to this record! You’ll also be singing the chorus “Push together now, take control” while in awe of Tony Major’s excellent guitar work and Lee and Joe’s funky rhythm section.
Here’s the song performed live at the Half Moon in Putney earlier this month at the Dok’s official single launch gig, with guest Jamie Bullock on keys, and some lively audience participation:
Get your hands on one of these lovely limited edition red or blue double A side singles direct from WitchDoktors HERE or from Bomber Music while you still can! While you’re waiting for your copy to arrive, you can listen to both sides of the single via streaming platforms, links in the socials below:
And if you can catch them live, then do – this band take it to another level! Dates below:
Main Photo Credit / All Photos: RUTH RAE
Follow WitchDoktors on Their Socials:
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Video premiere: Punk trio Gulls come out fighting on new single ‘Womb Raider’!
Brighton trio Gulls bring their own brand of Punk-Rock-Poem-Pop to new single ‘Womb Raider’, which highlights the struggle for bodily autonomy and the political forces
Punk Rock Creatives Podcast – June 2026 Update!
June was a month of getting out there and supporting the Punk community for Punk Rock Creatives Podcast, alongside special guests Trystan O’Connell of Bullitz23
EP Review – By the power of the coffee bean, Thronk! unleash ‘Kick Me While I’m Down’ to the masses
Self-described power-punk trio Thronk! are Newport/Weston-Super-Mare based, and their drummer, Rich Brown, was the original Split Dogs drummer. New 5-track EP ‘Kick Me While I’m
Interview: London’s Healthy Junkies on new single ‘Oh La La’ and their 2026 plans
On the eve of their latest single – ‘Oh L La’ – launch, Ruth caught up with London Alt-punks Healthy Junkies to discuss the single,
Compelling new ‘50 Years of Punk’ documentary captures the full controversy of the time!
A fascinating, thought-provoking and sometimes shocking insights into the 1976-7 Punk explosion, Mark Sloper’s documentary film ’50 Years of Punk’ hits a screen near you
Explode The TV, London Water Rats, 3rd July 2026
Explode The TV are clearly in a playful mood tonight, throwing a handful of covers into their set, including a superb rendition of David Bowie’s
Usually found jumping around down the front at gigs, I also relish taking photos and videos, singing, speaking with fellow music fans, and asking musicians the questions nobody else does. Writing about my favourite bands and connecting with people who love music too keeps me more-or-less sane! I’ve worked for over 25 years at a video production company, mainly filming live music events, therefore I have an additional backstage perspective on the scene.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
