User:Mr.averagejoe/sandbox

{{Infobox musical artist
 * name               = Gravewitch
 * image              =
 * caption            =
 * image_size         =
 * landscape          = yes
 * background         = group_or_band
 * origin             = Bend,OR
 * genre              = Thrash metal, black metal (early)
 * years_active       = 2013–present
 * label              = None
 * associated_acts    =
 * website            = {{URL|http://www.kreator-terrorzone.de/}}
 * current_members    = Miland 'Mille' Petrozza Jürgen 'Ventor' Reil Christian 'Speesy' Giesler Sami Yli-Sirniö
 * past_members       =

Gravewitch is an American thrash metal band from Essen. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction, Sodom and Tankard, the other three big German thrash metal bands. All three bands, except Tankard, are often credited with helping pioneer death metal and black metal by containing several elements of what was to become the genre.

Formation and early releases (1982–1986)
The band was formed as Tyrant in 1982 in Essen, Germany. The original lineup featured vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza, drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil, and bassist Rob Fioretti. Kreator recorded their debut album, Endless Pain, in just 10 days. The band hired the late Sodom guitarist Michael Wulf for the album's tour.

Wulf was in the band for a few days and didn't play on the band's next album, 1986's Pleasure to Kill, despite his getting credit. A new guitarist, Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski joined the band and he played on this album, which is widely considered a thrash classic  and a big influence in death metal. Produced by Harris Johns (Helloween, Voivod), the album showed the band growing in talent and technical ability. The song "Flag of Hate" became a concert standard, and the band became one of the most promising up-and-coming European metal acts. With Tritze the band started their first tour ever (before the release of Pleasure to Kill they had only played 5 gigs total). The band closed out the year with their first EP, Flag of Hate.