Release date: July 4, 2025

Emanating from Lancaster, England, Wytch Hazel has been gaining ground around the new wave of metal scene with their distinctive sound and stage presence since 2011. With a hefty catalog of singles, EPs, and notable full length albums such as/ for example:“III: Pentecost” and “IV: Sacrament”. After two years of the release of their last full length album, Wytch Hazel are back with their latest album, “V: Lamentations” as a continuation to their earlier full length albums!

Review

Kicking off with the opening track, “I Lament”, it starts off with that signature sound that perfectly describes Wytch Hazel’s overall energy and presence. Colin Hendra’s vocals are also one of the crucial parts of the song and whole album. They are very distinctive and soothing, it is almost as if covering the instrumentation with a nice silk covering. This track is pleasant, and of course the guitar work by Colin Hendra and Alex Haslam are also great; this track is a fantastic opening for the album.

Run The Race picks right up with a bit of a more upbeat and quick tempo than the previous track, it swoops you right in with the notable guitar melodies at the start of the track. Personally, I really enjoyed listening to this track because of how it perfectly balances between a quick tempo to a slower/ melodic one. As a person that loves good guitar riffing and guitar melodies, this track definitely pleased my personal taste.

The Citadel is an interesting track, starting with acoustics that slowly bleeds into the introduction of electric guitar and Colin’s flowy vocals that overall engulf you right into the song. Personally I do not like comparing, but this one truly gave me the “Heavy Load” vibe, which is cool nonetheless of course! Guitar solo in this particular track were almost “Judas Priest”-y which also caught my attention, a very awesome track altogether.

Elements is a pleasant, enjoyable and lively track. It is upbeat, almost reminded me of 70’s rock, which also is really nice for a moment of easy listening. It has a nice beat and rhythm throughout the song, and as mentioned momentarily, it has that throwback feeling/ vibe of 70s classic rock. Good instrumentation of course, catchy riffs and lyrical content that give uplifting vibes to the listener!

The Demon Within is one of the tracks in “V: Lamentations” that has that good blend with classic New Wave of British Heavy Metal elements and other elements heard in bands like “Dust” and “Budgie”. The acoustics in this track are sort of a more notable foundation, along with crisp and refreshing guitar riffs and melodies that sing perfectly through the track. The track itself flows nicely, but also maintains a solid momentum from start to finish.

Racing Forwards is a more straightforward track that carries that magic and mysticism with it. The lyrical content in this song is also very good and thoughtful, and the drumming, bass lines, guitar work, all serve as the perfect half to the lyrics to combine into this awesome track. It is a track that is inspirational and lightens your mood up. It is one of the tracks that stood out for me the most so far.

Elixir is the shorter running track in the album, serving as an instrumental interlude that gives the listener a moment of reflection in a way as the song presents itself in a folk-like theme/ mood. Even so, it’s an exceptionally short track that made me further appreciate the talent that Wytch Hazel has in an instrumental sense and openness to go beyond the heavy metal themes to do a little something different.

Woven was released as one of the two singles for this album, and it kicks ass. It begins with an upbeat and also picks up the tempo, it is energizing and fun to listen to. It quickly became one of my favorite tracks included in “V: Lamentations”. It gets you going, as it has a positive message with uplifting themes and instrumental work by the band overall. Also one of my personal favorites off this album!

Heavy Load begins softly, setting the tone and mood in an effortlessly pleasant melody that bounces between guitars and bass line. The tempo is slower, reminding me of any of the slower tracks from the band Thin Lizzy. “Carry My Heavy Loaad”, the song’s bridge is really nice and bleeds to the second part. The chorus is also catchy, it is almost solemn and majestic in a way too.

The last track of the album that was also released as a single, “Healing Power” is also a fantastic song integrated into this album. It has a firm fusion of slow melodies but also that classic/ throwback heavy metal essence all through the song. It is epic, and graceful all at the same time. It also does a beautiful job with being flowy and gentle but maintaining that heavy metal edge to it. The song truly is a power that certainly heals the listener with all its components.

Conclusion

Wytch Hazel brought forth an awesome album that I believe is also just as great as their previously released albums. It is a very solid album that I believe fans of 70’s and early 80’s bands that have not yet listened to the band overall, would also enjoy! It is epic, as it does an incredible job with what Wytch Hazel is known for. And for fans of the band, I truly think you guys are really going to dig it! It has quality musicianship that was obviously made with love and passion by the band that cannot go unnoticed..

TheNwothm Score: 9/10

Links

Bandcamp:https://wytchhazel.bandcamp.com/music

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wytchhazel

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/wytchhazel/

Label:https://www.bad-omen-records.com/bands/wytch-hazel/