REVIEW - Wytch Hazel - Are you interested in a joyful trip back to the future?

Wytch Hazel

V: Lamentations

Bad Omen Records (North American Distribution: Metal Blade Records)

4 July 2025

Are you interested in a joyful trip back to the future?

"The British band Wytch Hazel (Lancaster, Lancashire, England) is a particular type of retro or vintage classic rock, a hard-rock band working with the sounds of the 1970s from a contemporary perspective. First, what they are not. They are not any of the following 1970s genres and styles associated with that decade: stoner, psychedelic, doom, folk, blues-rock, prog, glam, punk, disco, shock or southern rock. So, they are not any of those styles from the 1970s, but they are a classic heavy rock heavy metal band. Now, let's pause: They are a peculiar retro, vintage band, in the sense that there is actually not a band in the 1970s that sounds like this because they are too heavy metal for the 1970s. For example, the drumming is a bit too fast for too much of the time and the guitars do too many galloping riffs for too much of the time.

So, what does that leave us regarding the 1970s? It leaves us with glimpses, partial views and fragments of the elements of Wytch Hazel. You can find segments, songs, a feel, a vibe from certain sounds of the 1970s being utilized and interpreted by Wytch Hazel for its own purposes: a joyful, pleasant, very melodic classic rock reminiscent of the 1970s or a joyful form of protometal. (I will get back to this issue in a minute.)

This fifth album is another awesome work from Wytch Hazel. It has their signature sound, a warm, vintage 70s hard rock sound of the melodic guitars. The sound is hard rock/metal with some big, fan-friendly moments. American fans of classic rock would recognize this sound as familiar because of the 1970s vibe, the melodic singing. The music is all about melody and well-crafted songs made to get fans listening. The guitars sound like they are not as distorted and loud as contemporary metal, so that allows the vocals and melodies to shine.

I had said that I would get back to this point. For new fans in the United States: If you have heard classic rock on the radio, you may have heard certain songs that might provide a general field of action. Some songs by Blue Öyster Cult sound similar to Wytch Hazel. For example, “(Don’t Fear) “The Reaper” and “Burnin’ for You” by Blue Öyster Cult have that melodic classic rock with pleasant vocals and a bit of melancholic feeling. “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Cowboy Song” by Thin Lizzy have that guitar sound in the melodies that seems familiar with Wytch Hazel. Now, having that said, “The Boys Are Back in Town” has party-rock lyrics, and Wytch Hazel is not like that. Wytch Hazel features lyrics about spirituality and personal struggles within the soul and mind. Alright, well, that’s pretty much it, those four songs that you may have heard on the radio provide a broad idea of what to expect. Personally, I think this Wytch Hazel album is really good and I have enjoyed it a lot.

V: Lamentations by Wytch Hazel

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