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“The Bitch is Back.” A phrase that aptly applies to seminal ’80s heavy metal band Bitch and its infamous frontwoman Betsy Bitch.

Bitch is witnessing a resurgence in popularity these days, courtesy of the remastered and reissued double shot of their EP Damnation Alley and full-length debut Be My Slave, originally released in ’82 and ’83 respectively. Bitch were one of Metal Blade’s original bands, appearing on the groundbreaking Metal Massacre I compilation record with the song “Live for the Whip,” along with the first recorded Metallica song, “Hit the Lights,” recorded solely for this compilation.


Formed in L.A. in 1980, Bitch quickly gained a local following, particularly for their live shows, which were filled with tongue-in-cheek S&M and bondage themes. Betsy’s leather-clad image and songs dealing with the art of pain (“Be My Slave”, “Live for the Whip”) added to the band’s persona.

Bitch will always be an important part of history for being the first female-fronted heavy metal band to be signed by a major label. Canadian Lee Aaron might come to mind as well, but the self-professed Metal Queen didn’t release her debut album The Lee Aaron Project until 1982, well after Bitch was already established.

You can’t really lump Bitch into the typical ’80s’ glam metal scene; their riffs were heavier and they put on a theatrical show. They were on the cusp of the ’80s thrash metal wave and often played with up and coming bands such as Slayer, Metallica, W.A.S.P., Malice, Lizzy Borden and Armored Saint.

Heavily influenced by the godfather of shock rock, Alice Cooper, Betsy’s concept and live show developed because of her admiration for him.

Bitch also knew how to throw a punk-ish attitude and vibe into their raw, up front metal riffs.

The most well-known songs from Bitch are “Be My Slave” and “Live for the Whip,” and they’re both here on the double EP/LP release. The title track to Damnation Alley, one of the five songs on the EP, was a live staple and still has legs. One of the best songs in Bitch’s arsenal is the catchy and melodic “Never Come Home,” also from the EP.

Original drummer Robby Settles passed away from leukemia last year, and original guitarist David Carruth is not really currently in the music profession. But Betsy is currently touring and playing festivals with her new band, Anger As Art. Even talk of new material has been strewn about.

Compared with the poppy “You’ll Never Get Out (of this Love Alive)” song from 1998’s Betsy, this double shot of Bitch is raw, heavy and catchy. Bitch has a true cult following and they are proving that the band and the songs are still relevant.

(released August 2, 2011 on Metal Blade Records)



Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.