SPELL - Wretched Heart (Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless

Canada’s Spell have been around for over a decade at this point, and considering that they play a style of modern heavy metal that I often take to easily, it’s amazing that it took this long for them to hit my radar. Their brand of occult metal often dabbles in the doom, traditional, and gothic pools, but their latest album seems to put heavier emphasis on that latter tag. Titled Wretched Heart, this one may just be a bit divisive in how it cools some of the engines. Fortunately for me, I’m a fan of precisely that.

No stoppage of heavy riffs reveal themselves at any point, but melancholic undertones dominate the otherwise straightforward stomps quite consistently. For some tracks, synthesizers are added not simply as a vibe-setter but as a melody driver. Often, this can make or break something, but I truly think it compliments the bigger picture rather than distracting from it. What matters most is that the haunting but clean vocal style fits every mood conducted in Wretched Heart, working as the *ahem* beating heart of the record.

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As a bit of a bold statement, “Lilac” is one of my favorite tracks of the year with how this is integrated. Leading with spooky-meets-sad synths that flow seamlessly into beefy rhythms and a hooky chorus is a one-way ticket to impressing me, and rerunning it for a bridge following the song’s solo is pulled off exquisitely! Speaking of exquisite, “Exquisite Corpse” is tame enough to almost fit on an ‘80s goth rock record, and “Unquiet Graves” manages this by instead emphasizing the bass, being one of the most physically thick songs despite its somber attitude. In other words, Spell manages to craft sadness in a way that still feels heavy in the traditional sense, a feature not easily pulled off.
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But for every song like that, there’s one that’s a no-frills heavy hitter, or at least rests on heavier guitar riffs at some point, like the opening “Dark Inertia,” carrying out the meaner vibes that its title hints to. “Iron Teeth” flips this narrative by casting synths for the sake of foundation while relying on crushing grit to break up the otherwise gazey atmosphere. Similarly, “Oubliette” touches speed metal territory without abandoning the emotional release, even utilizing some shadier vocal techniques in exchange for the often cleaner approach. The fact that not a note feels out of place or awkward is what truly seals the deal here.

Having visited all of the previous records, I can see why earlier works might sit better than Wretched Heart for long-time fans, but the way all of these directions fell into place for me makes this my favorite Spell effort. I won’t go as far as calling it ground-breaking, but it’s an absolute masterpiece within its craft and has a distinct identity of its own. Spooky and sad often compromise each other, but in this instance, they compliment each other. Fans of Haunt, Unto Others, The Cure, or Shadows should absolutely lend their attention to this album.
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​Spell - Wretched Heart was released May 1st, 2026 via Bad Omen Records. Find it here!

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Spell can be found at Bandcamp and Instagram
Cover painting by Adam Burke