I have an opinion about Kyle McNeill, and it is this: he’s not trying to revive the so-called good old days by serving some abstract or market-driven retro movement. The man is simply blessed with the essence of the ’70s flowing in his blood, and he expresses it artistically because yes, this is WHO HE IS — an EXTRAORDINARY composer and musician so deeply steeped and infused with the monumental works of THIN LIZZY, URIAH HEEP, GENTLE GIANT, JETHRO TULL, MAGNUM, and other iconic prog rock bands, that he channels the spirit of their era in such a UNIQUE way, staying true to their spirit and brimming with sparkle; he’s nothing short of a phenomenon!
Having said that, let me also state that I’m an admirer of his work, both with SEVEN SISTERS and his solo project, PHANTOM SPELL.
It was in 2022 when we first heard the incredible, warm, wholehearted sound of PHANTOM SPELL, and no true fan of high-quality, genuine heavy rock was left disappointed. On the contrary, our hearts filled with joy and a sense of anticipation for what might come next!
Well, just a few days ago, the news came in the most beautiful way:
“It’s coming up on three long years since PHANTOM SPELL’s debut album, “Immortal’s Requiem”, left the comfort of its dusty home.
Since then, only whispers have been heard — the odd rumour caught on the wind. Reports of a skulking wizard with a travelling band of roguish bards, appearing only for a fleeting moment before retiring back to the shadows of his tower. Now, the wizard returns with a new set of compositions. Hark!”
YES!
I threw my hat in the air with excitement and took up watch, waiting for the moment — and finally, since this morning I’ve been having the new PHANTOM SPELL album on repeat, and full of ENTHUSIASM and pure, unmatched joy, I have the honour of presenting it to you!
First off, let me say that “Heather & Hearth” is even better (in my opinion, significantly superior) to its predecessor — yes, it’s possible! So, fans of the band -and of WYTCH HAZEL, HÄLLAS and PAGAN ALTAR and the like- rejoice; a gem of an album is coming that will exceed even your wildest dreams…
The album starts with force, as “The Autumn Citadel” wastes no time after its brief, pompous intro before bursting forth like the wind and gifting us a glorious first two minutes where guitars and keyboards snatch us up and transport us instantly to otherworldly, magical, dreamlike realms. What follows -ethereal at first, rhythmic in its unfolding- overflows with melody, and by the end of this 12-minute epic, we’re swept away by a staggering blend of ELOY, DEEP PURPLE, CAMEL, and BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST.
Still jaw-dropped from the surprise, I heard “Siren Song” begin with a heavy staccato style evoking an American hard rock sound combined with krautrock-infused textures.
And lo! From the very first two songs, a clear first realization: the album promises great variety and a powerful sense of character.
HOORAH!
On to “Evil Hand”, and the drums ring out alongside keyboards and guitar in a charge that echoes RAINBOW and URIAH HEEP, sweeping everything in its path.
Softer, “A Distant Shore” warms our souls with unmatched nostalgic melodicism until, halfway through, a frenzied section bursts forth, complete with solos. CARAVAN, ASIA (US), KING CRIMSON, RENAISSANCE, even QUEEN, are all present in a dazzling carnival of sound.
And just when you think the album has peaked, along comes the title track, an 11-minute MONUMENTAL track reminiscent of WISHBONE ASH but standing on its own beyond any comparison, because what it achieves, amidst the blur of today’s musical flood of releases, the relentless pace of life, and the diminishing appreciation for true musical enjoyment is to redefine and rekindle within us the reason we love GOOD music. And to make us feel, in the deepest part of our hearts, what music REALLY is — and why we MUST never stop seeking it.
So here’s the second realization: in “Heather & Hearth”, we have long-form songs that not only never tire, but actually define the album’s character and tempo.
With Kyle McNeill’s voice fading into a spine-tingling, elegiac ending that leaves us with birdsongs and forest sounds, we transition to “Old Pendle”, a traditional Lancashire song originally written by Milton Lambert, Allen Lambert, and Ted Edwards — discreetly and reverently reimagined by Kyle McNeill.
I wouldn’t really want to add anything more, except this: it will be very, very hard for any album to dethrone this MASTERPIECE from the top of my favourites this year.
And I already know the difference from many other AOTYs: “Heather & Hearth” will stay up there FOREVER, among the finest releases I have ever heard.
I close, as I must, with the misty verses of timeless English tradition:
“Pendle, old Pendle, thou standest alone.
Twixt Burnley and Clitheroe, Whalley and Colne,
Where Hodder and Ribble’s fair waters do meet
With Barley and Downham content at thy feet.”
“Heather & Hearth” will be released on July 18th on both CD via Wizard Tower Records and LP via Cruz del Sur Music.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can pre-order the CD here.
You can pre-order the LP here.
