Spell are a band that really hit a sweet spot for me with ‘The Full Moon Sessions’ release which was a real slab of traditional heavy metal from Canada. The dark mystical world of Spell is highlighted even more so here by a dramatic change of presence and sound. Some liken them to Canadian peers, for me this is a similar, but not so much of a dramatic change, to that of what In Solitude did between their last couple of albums, even Ghost (B.C.) for that matter but without going into the Occult world.
The haunting vocal of Cam Mayhem mystifies and involves you, the real change is the sound which is much more 70’s and less 80’s which is embodied by the opener ‘Madame Psychosis’. A track like ‘The Sickness Unto Death’ stands out more on the album, as this has a few different feelings conveyed via the guitar style and the arrangements. The remainder of the album seems to sit in a favourable albeit vintage position. I don’t find the songs repetitive nor boring, the surprise is the sound as I have mentioned earlier. Plus, I don’t think this is a retro re-hash, it has a character of its own with some amazing artwork I might add.
I have had plenty of time with this release over many weeks, Spell have changed, but I wouldn’t see it as a change for the worse, it’s simply a change. My personal preference is with their older material as this had a rawer edge, but ‘For None and All’ is undeniably a damn smooth record making the most of their influences whilst presenting themselves as a more refined and vintage act than any previously recorded material did.
(8/10 Paul Maddison)
https://www.facebook.com/spellspell
https://badomenrecords.bandcamp.com/album/for-none-and-all-2
http://spell.bad-omen-records.com
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