Band:	Wytch Hazel
Album:	IV: Sacrament
Style:	Hard rock
Release date:	June 02, 2023
A review by:	X-Ray Rod

01. The Fire's Control
02. Angel Of Light
03. Time And Doubt
04. Strong Heart
05. Deliver Us
06. A Thousand Years
07. Gold Light
08. Endless Battle
09. Future Is Gold
10. Digging Deeper

If Wytch Hazel keeps putting out great record after great record, I might end up reconsidering my dark, heathen ways.

The first time I heard of Wytch Hazel was when their sophomore record, II: Sojourn, came out. But it wasn’t until III: Pentecost dropped in 2020 when I really got into their music. I became enchanted by the joyful brightness behind the triumphant melodies and incredibly catchy songwriting. For someone as non-religious as me, it is puzzling how much I appreciate the band not only for the music but also for their message. I don’t find any cringy and overworked preachiness; instead, there is an honest, caring message of love and hope against all odds that can easily be felt even if I didn’t understand English. As Radu pointed out in his review of the band’s previous effort: The fact that the music takes the first seat instead of the Christian message is the reason why Wytch Hazel are succeeding in their career and deservedly so.

Style-wise there is not much change. IV: Sacrament is another excellent installment of 70s hard rock with some elements of British folk music, while also scratching the heavy metal surface just enough for a necessary amount of bite. The tempo of all the songs are for the most part mid-paced, with twin guitar melodies that are inspiring, gorgeous but also melancholic at times. That can be seen in the lyrics as well, but generally it is the music and vocals that give off doomy vibes at times. Colin Hendra is giving his best performance to date with plenty of confidence and fervor, but also with a great deal of vulnerability. The vocals seem less adventurous and instead they are much more emotional, which further enhances this sense of doom like on the desperate chorus on “Time And Doubt”, most likely my favorite track from the album.

The rocking moments are there of course, but some of the best cuts are those that really pull on your heartstrings like on the aforementioned track, as well as on “Strong Heart” and the last song “Digging Deeper”. Speaking of “Digging Deeper”, that song along with “Future Is Gold” are the tunes that most embrace the band’s folk influences and serve as a perfect palette cleanser and closer for the album, with some of the group’s best vocal melodies and solos on the album.

Formed in 2011, Wytch Hazel have crossed the decade threshold with IV: Sacrament. It is a more than fitting record to celebrate such an achievement. If they keep at it, I’m sure they will get find even greater success. This is as good a time as it gets to discover this band, friends. Don’t miss out. The band puts it better than I ever could with the very last words sung on this album:

You possess the victory
A faith, a place, a destiny
Songs refrains created
Melodies so sacred