Review Summary: Making the deeper commitment to one-man retro prog
Having established a solid exploration of retro prog with 2022’s Immortal Requiem, Phantom Spell pushes those inspirations even further with Heather & Hearth. You can certainly feel the one-man operation’s growing confidence if the two eleven-minute epics that bookend the album are anywhere to go by. Even on yhe shorter songs, the structures are more angular than those on the debut with greater emphasis on instrumental interplay and spaced out slowdowns than immediate choruses
It remains commendable to see how bandleader Kyle McNeil’s performances is able to wear so many hats. The way that the guitar/keyboard duals are able to play off each other is especially impressive and his vocals continue to retain a commanding melodic presence. As much as I still wish some of the expanded resources would help the drums pop out a bit more, they manage to get the job done.
The songwriting getting even denser risks making or breaking the premise, but it fully commits to that fantastical vision that keeps things cohesive. The opening “The Autumn Citadel” can seem slapdash navigating through acrobatic fanfare, spacey halts, and gallops shy of heavy metal, with a triumphant aura throughout while the closing title track takes a methodical pace. The songs in between also come out substantial with “Siren Song” sharing DNA with Wytch Hazel, the quicker “Evil Hand” soaring the closest to their sister band. “A Distant Shore” is like a mini epic with its pastoral folk start moving toward an uplifting choral segment.
While Immortal’s Requiem might have some higher highs in comparison, Heather & Heart is an even deeper prog commitment. It sits well with groups like Hallas, Tanith, and Flight in scratching the itch between Wishbone Ash and Yes, resulting in an abundance of wistful journeys. The enthusiasm never wavers with the greater focus and one could imagine even broader expansions to come.
