If I put the number of 80s metal worship promos I receive weekly to the number of 70s metal worship promos I receive weekly, I promise you the ratio would be 10 to 1. Granted, if this were a decade ago, this figure would likely be flipped. The early 2010s were a wild time for 70s inspired metal. Early pioneers like Pentagram and Bang were being rediscovered through reissues and documentaries, and the crop of new bands pursuing the retro, freaky sounds of those early years were endless. One such band who fell into this category was Witch Hazel, who fared well with three albums that lie somewhere between classic metal, hard rock, and traditional doom.
They eventually changed their name to SpellBook, so not to be confused with the other Wytch Hazel, who also happens to be a 70s inspired metal band. Granted, theirs is spelled with a “y” as opposed to an “i”, but with such similarity in name and pronunciation, could you blame SpellBook? The last thing they want is to meet the same fate as Killer (“The Belgian one, not the Swiss one.”), Destructor (“The Cleveland one, not the Australian one.”), and Incubus (“The death metal band, not the wimpy alt band…the death metal Incubus from Georgia, not Louisiana.”), just to name a few. No, this is a band who wants their music to take precedent above all, and it sure does on their latest full length, Deadly Charms.
Whereas many of those in the 70s vein can be described as “Sabbath disciples”, “Purple disciples”, or so forth, SpellBook falls a bit in between and then some. The opening “Rehmeyer’s Hollow” combines the gloomy doom of Sabbath with the moody musicianship of Purple, resulting in a cut that’s as compelling as it is unapologetically retro, setting the tone for the rest of the release. From there, it’s a wild ride through a wild decade. We’re treated to the finesse and nuance of prime Uriah Heep (“Goddess”), a head-on collision of hooks and grooves (“The Witch of Ridley Creek”), and even a familiar offering of proto-doom (“Pandemonium”).
While the primary influences for Deadly Charms are from the 70s, there are some shades of the 80s and beyond. The dark, majestic, and epic “Her Spectral Armies” doesn’t sound too far off from prog era Maiden, specifically within the melodic, atmospheric passages that constitute the verses. The energetic “Night of the Doppelganger” is an unorthodox cross between a NWOBHM scorcher and a dark prog doom suite, warning the listener to expect the unexpected. And perhaps no song on here is more unexpected than the closing “Out for Blood”: A pulsating, quirky tune that’s half new wave, half power pop. I’m still not sure how I feel about it as a closer, but I appreciate the band’s disregard for the norm.
Deadly Charms is certainly one of the more unique old school metal/hard rock derived releases I’ve listened to this year thus far. Not only this, but it’s certainly worthy of the attention of any self-respecting headbanger, hesher, burnout, or freak! The riffs are the ideal balance of doom, psych, and groove. The atmosphere ranges between the familiar and the arcane. The songwriting comes off as more wholehearted than a half-ass attempt at ripping off *insert Sabbath album here*. What can I say? SpellBook has me under their spell!
8 out of 10
Label: Cruz del Sur Music
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep