Live at the Witch Trials

Live at the Witch Trials (1979) is The Fall's debut studio album; despite its title it is not a live recording. The record presents a raw, angular post-punk sound characterized by jagged guitars, driving bass and drums, and Mark E. Smith's talk-sung, often caustic vocal delivery and cryptic lyrics. Its spare, rough production and repetitive grooves emphasize tension over polish, introducing many of the stylistic traits that came to define the band's output and helping to position the group within post-punk and early indie rock currents.