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Song

Elements

Artist

Wytch Hazel

Wytch Hazel backstory

“The discerning choice for the Plantagenet headbanger”. That’s how Wytch Hazel describe themselves. And it’s a decent way of summing up these talented Lancastrians.

Bearing songs rooted deep in Christian faith, this quartet rival Seven Sisters as kings of the New New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement: and they’ve certainly rocked the rushonrock world: IV: Sacrament was our Album of the Year back in 2023, beating off competition from the likes of Green Lung, Svalbard and Def Leppard. 2020’s III: Pentecost was a bona fide NWOTHM classic too.

The stratospheric choruses and dazzling dual guitars of Spirit and Fire, Strong Heart and Archangel have catapulted the band to festival stages… and even helped them bag a recent jaunt with the legendary Michael Schenker.

The boys are preparing to shift up another gear this year, with the release of their forthcoming fifth opus, Wytch Hazel V: Lamentations – Elements is the second track to be unveiled from that record, following Woven in May.

In vocalist/guitarist Colin Hendra’s own words

“Elements is a nod to both 70s FM radio rock and bands who experimented with interesting and progressive ideas such as BÖC and Kansas.

 “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”.

The verdict on Elements

There’s always been a strong hint of Blue Öyster Cult to Wytch Hazel’s work. On Elements, that really comes to the fore. Sure, it’s more of a grower than some of the band’s earlier cuts. But grow it certainly does.

Hendra delivers a typically impassioned and hopeful vocal performance. Alex Haslam’s soloing is simply sublime. And Wytch Hazel weave a rich tapestry of subtle fretwork and glistening melodies into a stirring rock hymn.

We just hope none of that rain got into their Marshalls…

What’s next for Wytch Hazel?

Wytch Hazel V: Lamentations will be released on July 4 via Bad Omen Records.

Wytch Hazel photo by Elly Lucas.