 Release:
Cruz Del Sur Music / Wizard Tower Records
18.07.2025
Info:
Bursting forth from The Black Spire with a charming blend of classic prog rock and NWOBHM-era metal, PHANTOM SPELL has been tantalizing unsuspecting onlookers since emerging in 2021… Dexterous twin-lead guitars entwine with undulating synths and Hammond organ to form the perfect backdrop for Kyle McNeill’s enchanting voice. Like a long-lost soundtrack to your favourite AD&D supplement, PHANTOM SPELL promises adventure and mystery aplenty!
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 rumor 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!
PHANTOM SPELL’s second full-length offering, "Heather & Hearth", is a collection of heartfelt tales, weaving the potent nostalgia of home with vivid fantasy and cautionary storytelling. It retains all the ingredients that made "Immortal’s Requiem" such a tantalising listen, but adds fragility and subtlety. As the album title suggests, a folk thread is woven into the fabric of each song. Acoustic guitar moves to the forefront, no longer just a supporting role. The artful use of space in the brooding quiet sections amplifies the Hammond-fuelled uproar that follows. There is melancholy in the majesty, but hope is never lost.
Once again, McNeill plays and programs all instruments on the record. Recorded and mixed at his own Wizard Tower Studios, "Heather & Hearth" is another solo adventure. However, with a now-established live act, it won’t be long before these new compositions take on a life of their own out in the wild.
Mastered once again by Justin Weis of Trakworx, the album has been given the utmost care for vinyl, cassette, and CD release. The vinyl will once more be handled by the splendid Cruz Del Sur, with whom PHANTOM SPELL has formed a strong bond. CD and cassette editions will be released via McNeill’s own Wizard Tower Records.
"A Distant Shore" - Official Track Stream: https://youtu.be/ss19XOoe-SY
Tracklist:
1. The Autumn Citadel
2. Siren Song
3. Evil Hand
4. A Distant Shore
5. Heather & Hearth
6. Old Pendle
Line-up:
Kyle McNeill - Vocals / Guitar
Jose Soler- Guitar
Ramon Romero - Keyboards
Miguel Moreno - Bass
José Vicente - Drums
Discography:
Keep On Running (Digital Single, 2021)
Immortal’s Requiem (Wizard Tower / Cruz Del Sur Music SRL , 2022)
The Phantom’s Spell (Digital Single, 2022)
Tales from the Black Spire (Digital EP, 2023)
Palantíri (split EP, 2024)
Heather and Hearth (Wizard Tower / Cruz Del Sur Music SRL, 2025)
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