Heavy metal always has been a little dramatic, and in the earliest years, when the sound was forming, it could be a pretty bombastic art form. And that’s also what both made it stand out and become a focus of ridicule, yet it has survived half a century, so who won that one? Metal survives, thrives, and has embraced its roots.
Canadian force Spell easily could break out of the underground and play larger rooms. Think Ghost on their first or second record and Tribulation, only more consistent. Their new record “Wretched Heart” is their fifth and their biggest sounding, one that should help them expand their audience if it can reach enough ears. The band—vocalist/bassist/synth player/guitarist Cam Mesmer, guitarist/vocalist Jeff Black, guitarist/synth player Gabriel Tenebrae, drummer Al Lester —reached back into the late 1970s and 1980s for inspiration and smears that with gothic overtones, tackling issues such as capitalism, individualism, love, nature, and pure human emotion, packing all of themselves into all 10 tracks and 41 riveting minutes.
“Dark Inertia” gets off to a fiery start, galloping as the powerful vocals amp up the drama, Mesmer calling, “I can’t hear or see, but I can feel your skin on me.” Soloing erupts as the synth clouds, driving hard to a neon finish. “Lilac” has the keys clouding as the pace chugs, another strong chorus gushing power. The leads take off and electrify as a lather builds, Mesmer wailing, “If I look away, you’re gone,” as lush synth bubbles, melting into your mind. “Take My Life” immediately injects gothy sparks and swelling guitars, Mesmer prodding, “Let me hold you as you die.” The pace opens gradually and slays, the catchiness infecting, the chorus smearing menace across your face. “Unquiet Graces” has guitars churning, the bass driving, and the fog thickening its hold. “Every moment I can feel you, I can see you, I can hear your voice,” Mesmer calls, the tempo smothering with heavy shadows, guitars searching the skies, and the synth basking in beams of light. “Oubliette” opens with the mood feeling different, the singing deepening, a darker vibe working its way across your heart. The guitars go off and scuff, pushing morbid vibes, the catchiness becoming more unavoidable, blasting to the end.
“Iron Teeth” has keys vibrating as the pace picks up, humidity thickening as the synth bounces off dank corners. Screams echo as the riffs flex, lightning rocketing harder, speeding up before burning out. “Exquisite Corpse” has a 1980s feel, pumping with adrenaline, strong guitars blistering as the soloing unloads. The chorus buckles as the synth strikes colder notes, Mesmer vowing, “You’re forever mine,” as the final drops of freezing rain collide. “Savage Scourge” is punchy and airy, the deeper singing returning, warm guitars leaving a soothing glaze. Leads burst as dark energy floods, giving off a nighttime vibe, melodies swimming over the shores. “In Duress” is a brief, cosmic instrumental where keys create their own atmosphere, bleeding through time, setting the stage for the closing title track that punches through the gates. The bass chugs as the guitars explode, spacious melodies icing wounds, the singing soaring as the synth pulses. “Bring me back to life!” Mesmer calls as the track takes on an Iron Maiden vibe, a robot voice calling into the night, a fiery charge blazing long into the distance.
Spell continue to be captivating and dramatic in all the right ways on “Wretched Heart,” a record that sticks with you and keeps calling you back. Pretty much everything resonates over these 10 songs, letting you visit the dark, spooky terrain while also injecting you with energy. This band reeks of charisma and spreads it liberally, delivering cinematic fire with heavy fucking metal that feels made for a larger stage.
For more on the band, go here: https://spellofficial.bandcamp.com/music
To buy the album, go here: https://www.metalblade.com/spell/
Or here: https://www.bad-omen-records.com/releases/wretched-heart/
For more on the label, go here: https://www.metalblade.com/us/
And here: https://www.bad-omen-records.com/
Meat Mead Metal 