Wytch Hazel Releases New LP ‘V: Lamentations’
Stream New Video for Medieval Track “The Citadel” – WATCH HERE
Acclaimed British hard rock band, Wytch Hazel, today releases its new album, ‘Wytch Hazel V: Lamentations’, on July 4 via Bad Omen Records (Pøltergeist, Satan’s Satyrs). Recorded with longtime producer Ed Turner (The Ettes, Heavy Trash, Purson), ‘Lamentations’ delivers uplifting, powerful heavy music, rife with a Maidenesque jubilance, that builds on the momentum of the band’s lush catalog, including the LPs ‘Prelude’, ‘II: Sojourn’, ‘III: Pentecost’ and 2023’s ‘IV: Sacrament’, a record hailed as “gloriously bright heavy metal” which landed at #15 on Billboard’s Top New Artists Albums in its first week of release. Purchase ‘Wytch Hazel V: Lamentations’ at this location.
In celebration of the new LP’s release, Wytch Hazel drops a video for the Sabbathian new track, “The Citadel”, created by Wild Stag Studio and edited by Ben Liepelt. Flirting with the downcast profundity of Black Sabbath, the yearning mandolin melodies, imploringly epic hooks, plaintive harmonies, and solemn medieval atmosphere of “The Citadel” make it one of Wytch Hazel’s most affecting tunes.
“The Citadel” is a song about feeling left out, feeling not good enough which is in stark contrast to the words on our other new song, “Woven”, which say “you are enough”, offers vocalist/guitarist Colin Hendra. “We’re all multifaceted as humans and I think it’s normal for this to be reflected in the art we produce. Each song takes on its own character, often guided by the direction of the lyrics. It’s also always fun to have a slower song that still feels heavy and a bit “Heaven and Hell!”.
Led by Hendra, Wytch Hazel is a singular source of hard rock/heavy metal dominion. The quartet have continually underscored and bolstered a signature sound rooted in heroic days of yore, finessed to an elegant apex. The fifth Wytch Hazel album is overflowing with indelible earworms the likes of which must be heard to be believed. And believe, you shall.
“I believe things have meanings and significance,” Hendra emphasizes. “Music isn’t just a self-indulgent, entertainment thing, for me it’s a huge part of my life, very special, very magical and very meaningful. I want Wytch Hazel to be a force for good, a healing power.”
‘V: Lamentations’ track listing:
1.) I Lament
2.) Run the Race
3.) The Citadel (stream video)
4.) Elements (stream video)
5.) The Demon Within
6.) Racing Forwards
7.) Elixir
8.) Woven (stream visualizer)
9.) Heavy Load
10.) Healing Power
Over time, Wytch Hazel’s indelible sound has caught the ear of many of today’s tastemaker indie platforms, with the quartet being hailed as “the most badass Christian metal outfit out there today” by Invisible Oranges, while the band and its music lauded as “a hard-rocking, foot-stomping good time” by MetalSucks, “powerful and emotive” by Heavy Music HQ, “one of the hookiest bands around” by Angry Metal Guy, and “excellent rock” by Nine Circles, while Metal Injection pegged Wytch Hazel as a band to watch as part of its “Lesser-Known Modern Heavy Metal Bands You Need In Your Life” hot list.
The first track released from ‘Lamentations’ is the galloping “Woven”, a shining example of Wytch Hazel’s avant-garde songcraft. “Woven” radiates a wholesome rustic charm tempered with pensive melancholy, its scrupulous simplicity belying its ability to continue blossoming with every spin. Stream “Woven” now at this location.
“On “Woven”, in particular, you can hear us locking in and playing off each other in the room” says Hendra of this crafty singalong. “I really wanted to write a heavy rock song about sensitivity and gentleness which you don’t hear too much of really. There’s this section where it goes quiet after the lyrics “be sensitive” then a big guitar solo comes in where I try my best to shred and let it all loose”. This heavenly lead, initially improvised, then had to be slowed down and meticulously relearnt.
Wytch Hazel has also released a video for its new song, “Elements”. With concentrated shades of Blue Öyster Cult circa Fire Of Unknown Origin, “Elements” has a bright, buoyant bounce and effervescent surge to warm the coldest heart, its sweet solo blending hummable melodic ingenuity with spontaneous flair. Stream “Elements” now at this location.
“Elements is a nod to both 70’s FM radio rock and bands who experimented with interesting and progressive ideas such as BÖC and Kansas,” offers vocalist/guitarist Colin Hendra. “Lyrically, I really enjoyed playing around with the concept of weather and how powerful and beyond the control of man it is. It felt like a challenge at the time, and a little out of my comfort zone, but I’m extremely happy with the song as a whole. It feels cohesive now the time has been spent on it”.
It’s these deeply personal lyrics, coming from a place of faith and conviction, which make Wytch Hazel stand out further from the modern herd; although we’ve been bombarded with the hip diabolism of the ‘occult rock’ revival for the past two decades, no other band has dared to offer the other side of the story. Lest any heathen headbanger start to fear any kind of evangelical conversion agenda, Hendra expands on his position: “Music is created for all, it’s a common grace for everyone,” he affirms, “which is why the music that shows the glory of God the most, in my opinion, is not music created by Christians. It’s Black Sabbath, you know!”
In addition to vocalist/guitarist Colin Hendra, Wytch Hazel features Alex Haslam (guitar), Andy Shackleton (bass) and Aaron Hay (drums).
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