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WYTCH HAZEL “V: Lamentations”
WYTCH HAZEL “V: Lamentations”
By Colonel Angus
I was lucky enough to catch this band at the 2024 edition of the Hell’s Heroes heavy metal festival in Houston. Not knowing anything about the band at the time, I walked away very impressed with their unique blend of music styles. Rooted in NWOBHM, they bring elements of JETHRO TULL, URIAH HEEP, STYX, and good amount of THIN LIZZY to create a very unique musical sound. Based on their set at the previously mentioned event, I went and purchased their previous record (newest release at the time) “IV: Sacrament” and have been enjoying it ever since.
Now that we are almost entering the last quarter of 2025, the band decided to unleash their newest opus “V: Lamentations”. For those of you counting (or know Roman numerals), this is their fifth album since releasing their first full-length in 2011. While I don’t have all their disks, which is something I’m going to rectify, I can compare this new material to their last album and what we get is more of the blended magic. It is almost a continuation of the previous record which is a great thing.
The opening track “I Lament” breaks out right away with signature mix of 70s rock with a healthy dose of NWOBHM. Colin Hendra has the perfect voice for this type of music and his performance harkens back to older prog-rock sound. Keeping up with the NWOBHM style, “Run the Race” has that signature galloping sound of early IRON MAIDEN but a little less metal and more hard rock. While the lyrics are not overtly Christian, there is a spirituality to the whole record but not in a preachy way. Certainly not in the vein of a STRYPER.
Shifting gears a little, the band get a little more subdued for the broody “Citadel” which starts off slow but eventually builds into a rocker. While the tune is relatively short, it builds drama throughout which brings in a bit of that prog element I mentioned earlier. As the album progresses, “Elements” brings together a bit of STYX and THIN LIZZY into the mix. These influences were more subdued earlier but on this one, they are brought more up front. Also, a special mention to both Hendra and Alex Haslam for providing some exceptional guitar work on this tune, especially towards the end.
“The Demon Within” starts off with that THIN LIZZY signature guitar sound but the verses have this great URIAH HEEP vibe that elevates the sing to something special. As I write this review, this one if my favorite on the disk which is hard to do because the whole record is top notch from start to finish. There is a commercial-friendly aspect to “The Demon Within” yet doesn’t fall for the cliché structure of your typical radio hit. As we transition into the back half of the record, the sonic sounds of WYTCH HAZEL remains largely intact, offering us listeners a continuation of the musical landscape created earlier. I love that the band doubles down on their trademark sound delivering tracks that are consistent and cohesive without blending into one another. “Racing Forwards” perfectly captures that vibe that is consistent throughout “V: Lamentations”.
The instrumental “Elixir” matches its placement just like “Gold Light” did on “IV: Sacrament” only this time, acoustic guitars replace keyboards as the main instrument. To finish the trifecta of the tracks at the end, we get the THIN LIZZY-ish “Woven”, the somber “Heavy Load” and the NWOBHM sounds of “Healing Power”. The latter being another shining light on a record full of great moments. It’s the kind of track that not only rocks on its own but also makes you want to start the whole record all over again.
As previously mentioned, I am relatively new WYTCH HAZEL but I can positively state that whether on record or in a live setting, this band delivers a blend of the best elements of their influences into a sound that is their own. There is a passion and conviction within the songs and performances that make this band stand out from the pack. While 2025 still has a few months left, I can’t imagine another release coming out that will knock “V: Lamentations” out of my top ten for the year.
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