{"title":"Bad Omen @ct@if@label-23678@","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"wytch-hazel-iv-sacrament-lp","title":"Wytch Hazel - IV: Sacrament - LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e\r\nFor many all-time-great rock bands in the ascendant, the fourth album is often the point where youthful years of febrile creativity and progressive momentum culminate in a masterwork for the ages, setting the seal on an early signature sound while opening it up to future possibilities. From enchanting 2016 debut Prelude, through 2018’s assured II: Sojourn, to 2020’s wizardly III: Pentecost, each Wytch Hazel album has embodied that old-fashioned notion of unstoppable progress, and the glittering treasure chest that is IV: Sacrament proves eminently worthy of rising to the toughest challenge. Not just the Lancashire quartet’s most classically beautiful production, but their strongest yet front-to-back collection of affecting hooks and ageless melodies.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\nA very tough challenge it was, too; records this good don’t get banged out willy-nilly, and Jimmy Page, Ian Anderson and Freddie Mercury didn’t have to fit recordings in between day jobs and school runs. “This album has been a trial,” sighs founding singer\/guitarist Colin Hendra with his head in his hands, his voice full of cold. “It’s been a tough few years for everyone, which plays into it, but it was exhausting. Working full time, trying to be a dad and husband, running the band, writing the albums - and being a complete control freak about every aspect of the process...” Colin breaks off and chuckles at his Eeyorish approach to album promotion. “But there’s no gain without pain!”\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\nThe triumphs and tragedies are written all over IV: Sacrament. Working closely again with regular producer Ed Turner, Colin’s God-given gift for diamond songwriting has been enhanced to majestic proportions with Ed’s Roy Thomas Baker doozy of a production job, his expressive sonic trickery sublimely underscoring the varied musical moods. “Me and Ed like the same albums, so we’re singing from the same hymn sheet every time,” enthuses Colin. “We love the Sabbath production, obviously Martin Birch, and the Queen albums; we want it to sound like Wytch Hazel, which it kind of always does, but we want it to also have that classic sort of quality.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53025757102377,"sku":"P-54324-","price":23.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Wytch-Hazel-IV-Sacrament-LP-54324-1-1683648717.jpg?v=1778038825"},{"product_id":"wytch-hazel-v-lamentations-cd","title":"Wytch Hazel - V: Lamentations - CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eLancastrian rock apostles Wytch Hazel have been building their citadel since 2011, when debut single Surrender introduced this boldly wholesome new voice to the British metal underground. Since then the quartet have continually underscored and bolstered a signature sound rooted in heroic days of yore, but finessed to an elegant apex by long-time producer Ed Turner. That sonic alchemy coalesces all over V: Lamentations, bubbling with even more febrile creativity than previous masterworks Prelude, II: Sojourn, III: Pentecost and IV: Sacrament. The latter, bizarrely, reached number seven on the UK ‘Christian \u0026amp; Gospel’ chart, due to a mis-classification at the UKCC, despite selling enough to clinch the number one rock album spot.\u003cbr\u003e*Song\/Album Blurb (500 characters max):\u003cbr\u003eWOVEN\u003cbr\u003eA shining example of Wytch Hazel’s singular songcraft, Woven radiates a wholesome rustic charm tempered with pensive melancholy, its scrupulous simplicity belying its ability to continue blossoming with every spin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“On this one in particular you can hear us locking in and playing off each other in the room” says Colin of this crafty galloping singalong; “I really wanted to write a Heavy Rock song about sensitivity \/ gentleness which you don’t hear too much of really, there’s this section where it goes quiet after the lyrics “be sensitive” then a big guitar solo comes in where I try my best to shred and let it all loose”. This heavenly lead, initially improvised, then had to be slowed down and meticulously relearnt.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53031003619625,"sku":"P-63468-","price":15.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Wytch-Hazel-V-Lamentations-CD-63468-1-1747320808.jpg?v=1778067584"},{"product_id":"wytch-hazel-v-lamentations-lp-colored","title":"Wytch Hazel - V: Lamentations - LP COLORED","description":"\u003cp\u003eLancastrian rock apostles Wytch Hazel have been building their citadel since 2011, when debut single Surrender introduced this boldly wholesome new voice to the British metal underground. Since then the quartet have continually underscored and bolstered a signature sound rooted in heroic days of yore, but finessed to an elegant apex by long-time producer Ed Turner. That sonic alchemy coalesces all over V: Lamentations, bubbling with even more febrile creativity than previous masterworks Prelude, II: Sojourn, III: Pentecost and IV: Sacrament. The latter, bizarrely, reached number seven on the UK ‘Christian \u0026amp; Gospel’ chart, due to a mis-classification at the UKCC, despite selling enough to clinch the number one rock album spot.\u003cbr\u003e*Song\/Album Blurb (500 characters max):\u003cbr\u003eWOVEN\u003cbr\u003eA shining example of Wytch Hazel’s singular songcraft, Woven radiates a wholesome rustic charm tempered with pensive melancholy, its scrupulous simplicity belying its ability to continue blossoming with every spin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“On this one in particular you can hear us locking in and playing off each other in the room” says Colin of this crafty galloping singalong; “I really wanted to write a Heavy Rock song about sensitivity \/ gentleness which you don’t hear too much of really, there’s this section where it goes quiet after the lyrics “be sensitive” then a big guitar solo comes in where I try my best to shred and let it all loose”. This heavenly lead, initially improvised, then had to be slowed down and meticulously relearnt.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53031003914537,"sku":"P-63467-","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Wytch-Hazel-V-Lamentations-LP-COLORED-63467-1-1747320590.jpg?v=1778067576"},{"product_id":"witchfynde-royal-william-sacrifice-merchandising","title":"Witchfynde - Royal William Sacrifice - Merchandising","description":"","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53041819713833,"sku":"POD-47870-","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Witchfynde-Royal-William-Sacrifice-Print-on-demand-47870-1-1778125911.png?v=1778125918"},{"product_id":"witchfynde-play-it-to-death-merchandising","title":"Witchfynde - Play It To Death - Merchandising","description":"","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53041820041513,"sku":"POD-47869-","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Witchfynde-Play-It-To-Death-Print-on-demand-47869-1-1778125894.png?v=1778125901"},{"product_id":"witchfynde-the-witching-hour-merchandising","title":"Witchfynde - The Witching Hour - Merchandising","description":"","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53041820467497,"sku":"POD-47868-","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Witchfynde-The-Witching-Hour-Print-on-demand-47868-1-1778125851.png?v=1778125858"},{"product_id":"witchfynde-lords-of-sin-merchandising","title":"Witchfynde - Lords Of Sin - Merchandising","description":"","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53041820729641,"sku":"POD-47867-","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Witchfynde-Lords-Of-Sin-Print-on-demand-47867-1-1778125835.png?v=1778125841"},{"product_id":"witchfynde-cloak-dagger-merchandising","title":"Witchfynde - Cloak \u0026 Dagger - Merchandising","description":"","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53041820959017,"sku":"POD-47866-","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Witchfynde-Cloak-Dagger-Print-on-demand-47866-1-1778125818.png?v=1778125824"},{"product_id":"witchfynde-stagefright-merchandising","title":"Witchfynde - Stagefright - Merchandising","description":"","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53041821483305,"sku":"POD-47865-","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Witchfynde-Stagefright-Print-on-demand-47865-1-1778125877.png?v=1778125884"},{"product_id":"witchfynde-give-em-hell-pentagram-merchandising","title":"Witchfynde - Give 'em Hell Pentagram - Merchandising","description":"","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53041823449385,"sku":"POD-47864-","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Witchfynde-Give-em-Hell-Pentagram-Print-on-demand-47864-1-1778125745.png?v=1778125752"},{"product_id":"witchfynde-give-em-hell-merchandising","title":"Witchfynde - Give 'em Hell - Merchandising","description":"","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53041823777065,"sku":"POD-47863-","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Witchfynde-Give-em-Hell-Print-on-demand-47863-1-1778125764.png?v=1778125771"},{"product_id":"spell-wretched-heart-lp-colored","title":"Spell - Wretched Heart - LP COLORED","description":"\u003cp\u003eMore than half a century into its life, what exactly is heavy metal? Is it a kind of belief system? Is it something to be observed as a museum piece, or an exhibit in a museum? Or is it, to paraphrase Christopher Lee’s Due de Richeleau in The Devil Rides Out “A living force, which can strike at any moment of the night”?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeedless to say, SPELL, Vancouver’s next-level metal magicians, have plenty of thoughts on the matter. And as far as they’re concerned, heavy metal is something that needs to evolve to stay vibrant and exciting. This has been the fuel for their fifth album, the brashly confident Wretched Heart. What’s more, this relentless evolutionary momentum has led to them creating their strongest record to date - a thunderous celebration of individualism and eccentricity which stalks its nocturnal realm with savage finesse and beguiling charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Heavy metal can often be a regressive genre, almost by definition. But it doesn’t have to be!” emphasises the band’s singer. bassist and co-pilot Cam Mesmer, “I think that getting set in your ways is death. You have to be open to learning from new influences, or you’re washed up and a caricature of yourself. I consider SPELL to be a heavy metal band, and therefore whatever music we make, will therefore be heavy metal, rather than the other way around, where you try to make your band fit into whatever narrow niche you think heavy metal is supposed to sound like”.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTherefore whilst Wretched Heart is possessed of no shortage of stirring harmony guitars, blazing solos and foot-on-monitor bravura, it also delves into fresh psychic terrain, building on the gothic flourishes that emboldened 2022’s Tragic Magic and embracing an emotional resonance that elevates its viciously catchy songs into the stratosphere. Central to this is the chemistry of the new SPELL line-up, which consolidates the duo of Cam and drummer\/guitarist\/co-vocalist Al Lester with keyboardist\/guitarist Gabriel Tenebrae and lead guitarist Jeff Black. Having honed this incarnation through touring with the likes of Green Lung, Wytch Hazel and Angel Witch, they’ve forged a union which throws the band firmly from the realm of retro chic into a new, bolder direction which, in the words of Baudelaire, extracts the eternal from the ephemeral.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I feel that the core of SPELL is more of a feeling or an atmosphere than a specific sound, and by the time a song goes through our filter it always sounds like us anyhow.” reasons Cam. “I’ve never really cared for happy songs. Excited, maybe. Desperation. adrenaline. melancholy, but in a wild and passionate way”.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll of these attributes and more are to be found herein. Aided and abetted by long-time collaborator Felix Fung on mixing desk and “fifth Beatle” duties, and resplendent in a sleeve by macabre visionary Adam Burke; Wretched Heart is a glorious testimony to a band ready to transcend its influences in search of fresh glory. “Lilac”, the album’s lead single (which also features a guest guitar solo from former Spirit Adrift, Carcass and Angel Witch man Tom Draper) is their most addictive and bittersweet moment to date, channelling both stadium-sized passion and wistful longing. “Take My Life” is an existential mid-paced stomper with a chorus that a Spandex-clad ‘80s warrior would kill for yet an emotional depth that they might be perplexed by.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Oubliette” meanwhile tackles the feeling of being trapped under the wheels of capitalism with bleak fortitude, and the gloriously stirring finale title track maps out a curious hinterland where Maiden-esque gallantry can share space with Kraftwerk-style vocoder stylings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHaving previously dealt heavily with the mystical and fantastical, Wretched Heart also showcases a new kind of emotional directness, reflecting the band’s own personal lives, as Cam attests “I challenge all lyricists: don’t be a coward! Whatever you’re feeling, have the courage to write about it! Being afraid to be cringe is the worst disaster to befall art”?? “I’m always looking for that subconscious, under-the-skin feeling that we all got when listening to our first favourite bands in high school, where it’s just pure and exciting and takes hold of you” he reckons. “I’ll always worship Maiden, Sabbath and Priest, but I’d hate to be that guy who just goes back to putting on the same records every day. There is always new ground to be broken by those willing to risk it. I hope we succeeded in writing a catchy, exciting, personal record, which also pisses off a few of the more rigid traditionalists”.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWretched Heart, in all its gory glory, thus embodies a very vital paradox - a record made by true believers who yearn for catharsis beyond. The oxymoron of anthems forged from steel, yet with a very human heart. Even the most cynical bystander will likely struggle not to be bewitched.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis album is for anyone going through it” summarises Cam, “Anyone who’s not afraid to lay it all out in the open and feel something real!”.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Season of Mist - North America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53045497823529,"sku":"P-65898-","price":26.78,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0952\/9219\/5113\/files\/Spell-Wretched-Heart-LP-COLORED-65898-1-1773785860.jpg?v=1778077169"}],"url":"https:\/\/shopusa.season-of-mist.com\/collections\/label-bad-omen.oembed","provider":"Season of Mist - North America","version":"1.0","type":"link"}