The return of proto-metal in recent years has been something that many people have gladly jumped onto whether or not you think even half of the bands that populate the style pull it off, and I’m certainly one of the people that enjoy it all the way. There’s so much potential both with it by itself as well as molding it together with different classic styles to create a fantastic hybrid that it’s filled with even more potential. Many bands have tried with acts like Night and Ice War just being two bands off the top of my head, and it’s with their latest work that Spell has proven to be a name in the style that absolutely must be heard.

Whereas we’re treated to something that’s much more along the lines of classic heavy metal than that classy proto-metal in all of it’s stylistic “differences”, it’s the inclusion of expertly done psychedelic rock that elevates “Opulent Decay” to something that’s no less than staggering for anyone who dives into these beautiful depths. Just the first track alone is enough to have satisfied me, but it’s the entirety of what Spell accomplishes throughout this record that is what really gets me going purely from how awesome it all is from the undeniable musicianship, immaculate talent, and an irresistible sound that is nigh on enrapturing no matter what angle you’re coming at it from. We’ve seen plenty of acts like this come out of the woodwork from all over but there really hasn’t been many bands that have been quite as potent as Spell is throughout the entirety of “Opulent Decay” as we’re constantly shown a menagerie of flavors that are as mesmerizing as they are masterful, and there isn’t one song for all of this album that drops the ball even a little to show us that Spell is the real deal and far from anything that’s to be underestimated. I’ll be greatly disappointed if I don’t see this album show up on plenty of end-year lists purely because it has the clear potential to achieve just that, and it’s definitely something that I’ll be coming back to time and again for it is just that stupendous from beginning to end without exception.

This is absolutely one of those rare albums that come around that need to be on everyone’s “must hear” list because it’s not just the quality that makes “Opulent Decay” so great but it’s the wide array of infectious material bound with such an inviting sound in all of its accessible greatness. Spell has created a real marvel with this album in every possible form, and it’s the exact kind of material that I can’t help but recommend to anyone who thinks they’d enjoy this creation even a little.

LISTEN to “Opulent Decay” on Bandcamp here.

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