Release date: 1 May 2026
Label: Bad Omen Records
More than half a century into its existence, heavy metal still raises an uncomfortable question: is it a tradition preserved like a museum artifact, or a living force capable of striking at any moment with renewed intensity? For Spell, the Canadian band from Vancouver, the answer is clear. Led by vocalist and bassist Cam Mesmer, the group understands metal not as a rigid mold but as a territory in constant mutation.
Review
Built on mid-tempo rhythmic structures, the album opens with “Dark Inertia”, a track that recalls the Swedish band Ghost in its use of synthesizers to craft an enveloping and mysterious atmosphere, but it also nods to bands that are far from heavy metal proper and closer to gothic rock landmarks such as The Mission UK, The Cure, or Sisters of Mercy. The hypnotic bass-and-drums foundation drives the piece forward without rushing the pace, while intertwined guitar leads emphasize melody through fast scalar runs and sustained notes, never overplaying, always maintaining that shadowy vibe.
“Lilac” pushes further into the darker side, somewhat reminiscent of gothic metal pioneers like Theatre of Tragedy or Paradise Lost. That said, Spell are not merely echoing those bands. Their sonic architecture is recognizable: simple, but carefully refined, and perhaps not entirely pleasing to the most rigid traditional heavy metal listener. Cam Mesmer’s vocal work—he also plays bass—does not aim for sky-high, ultrasonic pitches. Instead, it favors warmer textures and restrained high notes, sometimes enhanced with echo to create that vampiric, beyond-the-grave aura.
“Take My Life” is structured around a deep, repetitive bass line that introduces catchy guitar riffs. Spell are not concerned with speed or spectacular shifts; rather, they focus on building an enveloping atmosphere, closer to a nightmare than to epic bombast. The opening riffs are reused confidently and repetitively, while keyboards are integrated to introduce a subtle neo-prog twist that suits the composition well—perhaps the track that best captures the spirit of the album. The drum pulse is firm and functional: no excessive fills, no cymbal fireworks, just a steady focus on the dark mood, occasionally broken by syncopated passages while the rest sits comfortably in a pop-leaning 4/4 framework.
If we have already had a lesson in dark gothic metal, “Unquiet Graves” drags us deeper into the cemetery’s crypts. The bass lines, resonant and prominent during the first third, set the tone for guitars that creep in with quiet, almost ghostly chords before later merging with synth textures to build additional layers. Spell handle this accumulation of textures very well, starting from simple foundations but crafting careful, detailed arrangements between verses and choruses.
“Oubliette” keeps the gothic structure intact but reminds us that this is still a metal band. It opens with a barrage of powerful riffs, more aggressive drumming, and harder-hitting rhythmic foundations, finishing with inverted power-chord accents while maintaining perfect synchronization in the strings. Moments of guitar silence are followed by dueling solos built on palm-muted alternate picking and tapping, blending technique and elegance effectively.
Those flanger-soaked keyboards at the beginning of “Iron Teeth” are brutally hypnotic. The accompanying guitar lead, the soft cymbal taps, and the orchestral base create the best opening moment of the entire record. Soon distorted guitars crash in, followed by vocal phrases supported only by the bass-drums tandem. Mesmer’s voice becomes more theatrical here, leaning toward the exuberance of King Diamond and proving that it is far from monotone, it has more textures and registers than it first appears. A great, dramatic track with a Castlevania-like aura. Could this be the first “metalvania” album? Jokes aside, it is one of the album’s jewels, packed with hidden details: distant howls, doubled rhythmic layers, and dramatic breaks with drums straight out of the grave.
If the previous track was a gem, “Exquisite Corpse” at least maintains the same level of quality. It sticks to mid-tempos, with choruses taking a more prominent role than elsewhere. The guitar work remains introspective and sharp, while keyboards take center stage, alternating between reinforcing the rhythm and commanding the melody. The solo exchanges are looser and more playful, again adopting the dueling style but this time incorporating the keyboards to create a pleasant polyphonic texture.
In “Savage Scourge,” the bass and drums once again dominate the introduction, but as the track unfolds the rhythm guitars take control and steer the song. The percussion is solid, perhaps with a heavier use of cymbals and tempo shifts, moving between slower introspective passages and moments of increased speed—yet always contained, never explosive. It is not the strongest track on the album, but it does its job and never drags the overall quality down.
“In Duress” serves as a short introduction of one minute and eleven seconds (perhaps some esoteric meaning?). Cymbal washes, synth textures, and a hypnotic keyboard pattern repeating like a mantra prepare the ground for the final stretch.
“Wretched Heart,” the longest track at 5:23, works almost like a poetic manifesto. Whispered layers accompany the vocals, while rhythms shift from galloping sections with strong bass groove to hypnotic melodic passages, adding tempo breaks yet consistently returning to mid and slow tempos. Some passages lean toward epic territory, even incorporating robotic voices reminiscent of Daft Punk. One could argue that this song, alongside “Iron Teeth” and the excellent opening track “Dark Inertia,” stands among the album’s most memorable and powerful moments.
Conclusion
Throughout Wretched Heart, the Canadian band Spell delivers a record sustained more by atmosphere and identity than by technical spectacle. The band favors mid-tempo pacing, layered melodic guitars, synthesizers, and a gothic sensibility that converses with heavy metal without fully surrendering to its most traditional clichés. Tracks such as “Iron Teeth,” “Dark Inertia,” and “Wretched Heart” capture the album at its best: a blend of darkness, melody, and theatrical flair that turns the record into a coherent and immersive experience. Not every song reaches the same peak, but the overall result proves that Spell treat metal as a living language—one capable of absorbing influences and reshaping them into something personal.
TheNwothm Score: 8/10
A solid, atmospheric album with a clear identity—one that stands out more for its aesthetic and emotional construction than for the aggression or speed traditionally associated with heavy metal.
Links
Bandcamp: https://spellofficial.bandcamp.com/music
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spellspell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spellofficial/
Label: https://www.youtube.com/user/BadOmenRecords
