Spellbook – Magick and Mischief

Spellbook

Magick and Mischief

Cruz Del Sur Music

Doom Metal

FFO: Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Atomic Rooster, Alice Cooper

For anyone wondering whatever happened to Witch Hazel; well the answer is here, after three albums, the Pennsylvanian band took the plunge and changed their name to Spellbook last year. A whole 12 months on from this and Spellbook are ready to launch their debut (fourth) album entitled ‘Magick & Mischief’.

                Previously, this band had been one that had dabbled in doom, but with ‘Magick…’, Spellbook have taken a step into a more retro sound, one that has all the appeal of 70’s rock with touches of proto-doom, progressive rock and hard rock. Naturally, any fan of this genre of music will hear elements of Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult and Atomic Rooster, but what Spellbook have delivered here are tracks of exceptionally well-crafted songs that are infectiously listenable as tracks ‘Black Shadow’, ‘Amulet’ and ‘Ominous Skies’ set the template out for this new venture as vocalist Nate Tyson wails like Ozzy in his prime as these vocals are traded off with some tantalising twin guitar harmonies and Hammond organ runs. However, it is ‘Dead Detectives’, the albums closing track which really pricks up the ears; this is an 11-minute beast which has all the avant-garde nature of Alice Cooper mixed with progressive rock that initially does take a few listens to get into as it doesn’t quite fit the album but once it clicks, this is a track which makes the album entirely worth it.

                Fans of classic rock and proto doom will love this album, with each listen ‘Magick…’ becomes more spellbinding and many doom bands could learn a thing or two from this release.

Adam McCann