__________.____ ______________________________ .__ _______ ________ \______ \ | \_ _____/\_ _____/\______ \ |__|\ \ / _____/ | | _/ | | __)_ | __)_ | | \| |/ | \/ \ ___ | | \ |___ | \ | \ | ` \ / | \ \_\ \ |______ /_______ \/_______ //_______ //_______ /__\____|__ /\______ / \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ artist: Wytch Hazel title: V: Lamentations year: 2025 genre: Metal type: Album label: Bad Omen Records language: English rel. date: 2025-07-04 source: WEB/MP3 quality: CBR 320kbps / 44.1 kHz / Joint Stereo runtime: 00:45:05 size: 108.42MB rip date: 2025-07-10 source url: http://play.qobuz.com/album/jd2076zvzz7xb tracklist: 1. I Lament 4:11 2. Run the Race 4:58 3. The Citadel 5:09 4. Elements 4:33 5. The Demon Within 4:26 6. Racing Forwards 4:13 7. Elixir 1:41 8. Woven 4:50 9. Heavy Load 4:42 10. Healing Power 6:22 release notes: The Lords of easy-breezy 70s/80s metal return to the chapel of riffs once more to pay their respects. Over the course of 4 albums, Wytch Hazel have perfected their stripped-down, bare-bones take on 70s rock and infused it with just enough metallic oomph to make it stick. Their music is more about joyous worship of nature and higher powers than despair, anger, and hostility, and it feels like a breath of fresh air from a sun-kissed meadow. Albums like III: Pentecost and IV: Sacrament were loaded with power rockers full of riffs, vocal harmonies, and choruses that hit just right and burned into the memory. There was no reason to expect anything different on V: Lamentations, and surprise, surprise, nothing much has changed. ItÆs still the same infectious, upbeat sound that Wytch Hazel owns completely, but this time itÆs even more laid back and restrained. Call it pastoral NWoBHM or 70s-centric ôwhiteö occult rock, it makes no difference. The Wytch is in, and you will be seen in the order that your sins necessitate. Lamentations comes out swinging with one lively hit after another. Opener ôI Lamentö is the quintessential Wytcher: itÆs got a buoyant energy with slick, smooth guitar work that reeks of Thin Lizzy as much as it does Angel Witch, and thereÆs still a touch of Blue ╓yster Cult in the brew too. The song is instantly memorable and goes down as easily as cold (cheap) beer after a grueling summer day spent digging graves. ôRun the Raceö is every bit as instantaneous and hooky, with a simple but invigorating energy and a deceptively humble song structure that packs a big wallop. Lead single ôElementsö is the best example of the Wytch formula on offer, with a straightforward, vibrant rock style that carries you along, making it impossible to resist. ItÆs not flashy, nor heavy; it just feels like classic rock with a thin undercoating of proto-metal and an ear for melody. With all the A-list material on the front half, Lamentations stumbles a bit as it powers to the end. Songs that feel a bit less essential at first, like ôWoven,ö do grow on you quickly and soon become earworms, but ôHeavy Loadö fails to leave a big impression. Closer ôHealing Powerö is better, but not as killer as the stuff packed up front. Ups and downs aside, the albumÆs 46-plus minutes go by in a flash, leaving you ready to hit replay. This is Wytch HazelÆs most mellow, dialed-back album yet, and though much of the languid rock is tasty and has a ton of cheerful charm, thereÆs little metal zing in this batch of mead. As their least ômetalö release, itÆs possible they went a bit too far in the other direction, losing the ability to fully tickle the fancy of the fickle metal masses. The Wytch Hazel sound relies on the interplay of Colin HendraÆs pleasantly understated, folksy vocals and his and Alex HaslamÆs period-perfect 70s guitar wizardry, which drifts just close enough to the earliest days of NWoBHM to absorb a small electric charge. The guitars are very warm and 70s-centric, full of old-timey appeal and memorable bits. The similarity to 80s British metal is more extenuated than before, but itÆs still present, and though things never get sharp or edgy, they do still orbit the hard rock/metalverse with some big, arena-ready moments. Colin Hendra sings in a kind of joyous, expressive way that imparts a slight Christian rock sheen to the material. HeÆs not the most versatile frontman, but his voice is so compelling that it almost seems supernatural, and he effortlessly guides the songs along with passion aplenty. They have a style that truly works, even when toned down as it is here. I doubt weÆll ever get a bad Wytch Hazel release, and thereÆs something so appealing about their intrinsic sound that it ends up tough to resist. That said, Lamentations is a bit less sticky than the past few albums, and the hooks arenÆt quite as skin-snagging at times. The good stuff is very good, though. If you loved their prior outings, you will likely eat this up like beer-battered brisket bits. ItÆs an easy spin, a great palate cleanser, and pairs well with beers and friends of good character (if you know any).