The glorious metal tunes of Wytch Hazel have been exciting even the most hardened heathen for nearly 15 years now, their Medieval styling and NWOBHM influence carries a strong spiritual message of hope and healing and along with long time producer Ed Turner they create a sonic soundscape that borrows from 80's bands such as Saxon, Iron Maiden and some 70's sounds of Rainbow.
Colin Hendra credits Ed's involvement as being their 'fith Beatle' he listens to the music and make sure it's much more layered than perhaps many bands that still play this NWOBHM sound. This record was written just after Sacrament was released in 2023 but Colin has had health issues between them and now which pushed the finish date further away.
But although it was physically and mentally exhausting, it was the music itself that pulled him out of this funk, though some divine intervention was probably present during the writing as Colin seems to have a a wealth of material at all times. Much of which carries his most personal lyrics to-date as he dealt with his health issues.
I Lament begins the album from this dark place, a galloping rhythm hiding the darker lyrics but if you listen you can feel his pain, as the album continues though we're brought through another record of jubilant heavy metal praise where old friendships are reignited, original drummer Aaron Hay rejoining the band on this record to keep the beat alongside Hendra, Alex Haslam (guitar) and Andy Shackleton (bass).
The foursome locking down the likes of Run The Race, Elements and Racing Forwards, and while there's folk on The Citadel, The Demon Within and Elixir to keep the bardic moments strong on this fifth album, resulting in a difficult but impressive new album from Wytch Hazel. 9/10
Our North - Everyone For Themselves EP (Self Released)
The second EP from Sheffield bruisers Our North brings more alt-metalcore to the ring with 6 tracks of modern heavy music, electronics twitch, guitars are technical but rabid while the vocals snarl and intertwine with a double delivery of harsh/clean.
Inspired very obviously by BMTH, While She Sleeps and Northlane they merge metalcore with trap style rapping on Choked To Death, and Everyone For Themselves, making for similarities to Hacktivist, where the bars are spat and breakdowns are numerous.
Whether you like this EP is all dependent on whether that sounds fun to you, do you like this nu-metal revival? Well then Our North will be you're new favourite band, if the thought of a Professor Green fronting BMTH makes you shudder then you'll probably want to avoid Everyone For Themselves.
No amount of complex/personal lyrical concepts or crossover musical styles will change your mind if it's not your thing but Our North do nu-metal brimming with pulsating electronics and rapid fire vocals and if you want it come get it. 7/10
Leonov - Shape Of Ash EP (Pelagic Records)
Named after the first human to walk in space, Leonov have been developing their galactic post rock wandering for around 15 years and their new EP is another four tracks of ethereal soundscapes and slow burning intensity. Fronted by the hushed, beguiling and often pained vocals and ominous organ of Tåran Reindal, she’s spectral and affecting, duetting beautifully with fellow Norwegian singer Syvert Feed (Jake Ziah) on the open chord dreamscape of Bygg En Menneskekropp.
Reindal is referred to a lot as having similarities to Julie Christmas and you can hear that on the title track for sure, though she has her own uniqueness, the band behind her captivating with their ability to build and release, the album itself thematically inspired by the idea of flames as purification, the serenity of being burnt to the ashes only the organ the, repeating riff, then the explosion of volume, as if ascending to another realm, the care given to each individual instrument a masterstroke in the recording studio as each was recorded individually so could fully invoke what they intended to.
Shape Of Ash is a precursor to a new full length but it’s an easy way to enter the musical canvas of Leonov, colossal heaviness puncturing ethereal meandering, let Shape Of Ash ensnare you with it’s beauty. 8/10
Matt Pearce & The Mutiny - Soul Food Served Live (Self- Release)
When Scottish guitarist and member of rockers Voodoo Six, Matt Pearce went out on tour in support of his Amazon Blues Chart topping album Soul Food Store, he recorded the shows in anticipation of a live album but the recordings on the To The Moon Tour turned out better than he could have expected, his full band firing on all cylinders capturing their on stage fire with a strong setlist of blues rockers and soulful moments, the sax parping, the drums propulsive, the vocals harmonic and oozing with style and the guitar unrestrained and cooking up this Soul Food on gas!
When Scottish guitarist and member of rockers Voodoo Six, Matt Pearce went out on tour in support of his Amazon Blues Chart topping album Soul Food Store, he recorded the shows in anticipation of a live album but the recordings on the To The Moon Tour turned out better than he could have expected, his full band firing on all cylinders capturing their on stage fire with a strong setlist of blues rockers and soulful moments, the sax parping, the drums propulsive, the vocals harmonic and oozing with style and the guitar unrestrained and cooking up this Soul Food on gas!
The band here, except for co-vocalist Daliah are totally different to the one that appeared on the records, Pearce keeping his live band as a separate entity, so they add a new edge to these tracks, imbuing them with plenty of funk, a key element in starting this Mutiny, but at the core this is live record of a shit hot blues rock band kicking out the jams and hooking in to every groove.
You can hear the audience loving every minute of it, clapping along, cheering every song while the band have an energy to them, it’s almost like they’re just itching to play these songs, cranking them out a quickly and as furiously as they can to maximise their stage size, after the introductions they conclude the show with a speedy cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Oh Well sealing their blues rock credentials.
A band of top draw musicians led by a seasoned pro playing funky blues rock to a receptive crowd, Soul Food Served Live will make you hungry for your own meal with Matt Pearce & The Mutiny. 8/10
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