Noodling about looking for something the other day I came across Wytch Hazel. Intrigued I looked at them and thought, hmmmm, sounds like my bag. Especially with their description of existing in the parallel universe where the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal happened 600 years early.
Hit the buy button immediately for their new album III: Pentacost. Wow. So pleased I did. Remarkable stuff all over.
That NWOBHM 600 years early description fits the bill 100%. Jaunty rollocking rocking style with a mystical medieval style kind of like if Jethro Tull had gone full on metal with Songs from the Wood.
Think something like Tull’s Hunting Girl heavied up to eleven. Throw in some early Wishbone Ash, Thin Lizzy, Angel Witch, Martin Barre type riffing and soloing all expertly performed it’s a modern throwback (is that a contradiction?).
All over it is that mystical medieval feel which conjures up images of the band floating around in some ancient woodland living the simple life entertaining the local gentry as wandering rocking minstrels. Fantastic.
From first note to last, III Pentacost is a monster album. The folksy/medieval/mystical feeling is present throughout and over the top of that is first rate retro-rock (if I can put it like that) just like you’d expect from that NWOBHM 600 years early tag.
After listening to the opener – He is the Right – you know what you’re in for. Crisp big chords, twin guitars, jaunty drums/bass and minstrel-style vocals. All works so well Spirit and Fire builds on that style further then one of my favourites – I Am redeemed.
The bass-driven intro leads to the Lizzy style guitars before the heavy stuff kicks in. Immensely catchy too. Drives along and fits a lot in to three and a half minutes or so. The guitar break is superb and we have a nice spot of organ to prog it up a bit. Outstanding. Have a listen:
What else to say……well, Dry Bones is another monster. I Will Not snarlingly delivered. Reap the Harvest similarly so. And the closer – Ancient of Days a proper beast of a song. All anthemic stuff.
Make no mistake, Wytch Hazel have put together a first class album here with a style all of their own with that medieval/NWOBHM throwback theme. So pleased I fell on it somehow and bought it “on spec”. All hail the Wytch!
Suppose I’ll have to buy their previous albums now…..
> WYTCH HAZEL III PENTACOST ON AMAZON HERE <
Please support us and buy us a coffee:
