Spellbook: Deadly Charms

Are you scared of things that go bump in the night? Do mist shrouded forests at twilight and the background howls of wolves send shivers down your spine? If the answer is yes maybe Spellbook’s Deadly Charms will be a little too much to bear. This is the Pennsylvania bands’ sophomore effort, the follow up to their 2020 release Magick & Mischief.

The album cover art, courtesy of David Thierree, conjures images of haunted, demonic landscapes, a demented labyrinth where creatures of the night rule their kingdom. This unearthly mood is enforced with the short album opener “1928�, an eerier keyboard drenched mood scape leading directly to “Rehmeyer’s Hollow�, an addictive riff monster infusing Sabbath and Maiden-like elements and in the process creating a completely catchy slice of doom inspired heavy rock. The lead vocals have an Ozzy quality in both tone and delivery and when the band slows it down, it further enhances the eerie mood with an unforgettable guitar solo building up out of the ashes of a burnt, scorched Earth. With “Goddess�, the band let loose with a great chugging riff and super catchy chorus demonstrating how earworm metal and hard rock should be made. The music progresses into a softer soundscape featuring a subdued bass riff before exploding into massive earworm territory once again. One of my favourites has to be “Pandemonium�, an absolute juggernaut with a cool bass intro laced with thunderous guitar chords and a Maiden-like gallop. What a tasty track this is! “Her Spectral Armies� is another great track featuring the band’s ability to move through soft and heavy stretches with apparent ease, and in the process creating a blistering guitar solo and another catchy melody.

Whatever you want to call this: doom rock, occult rock, retro rock, or even metal, Deadly Charms is a superbly crafted album, with enough melodies to hold the attention of any fan of rock music. Easily recommended!

A Cruz Del Sur Music release.

The band:
Nate Tyson (vocals)
Patrick Benton (guitar)
Les Yarde (guitar)
Seibert Lowe Jr (bass)
Nicholas Zinn (drums)

Track Listing:
1. 1928 (0:33)
2. Rehmeyer’s Hollow (4:02)
3. Goddess (4:31)
4. Pandemonium (4:17)
5. Her Spectral Armies (6:49)
6. The Witch of Ridley Creek (3:19)
7. Deadly Charms (6:23)
8. Night of The Doppelganger (7:13)
9. Out For Blood (5:04)

Added: February 15th 2025
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 161
Language: english

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