Ελληνικά
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Spain
Label: Lost Realm Records
Year: 2026
Barcelona’s Wicked Leather burst onto the scene in 2023 like a thunderclap from the underground, wielding traditional heavy metal with a razor-sharp occult edge. Their debut full-length, Season of the Witch, distills that raw power into nine tracks of unrelenting riffs, ritualistic grooves, and an atmosphere thick with witchcraft and infernal fire. If their 2024 single “Echoes of the Storm” was a battle cry, this album is the full ritual— a cauldron bubbling over with reverence for NWOBHM pioneers like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but twisted through a darker, more arcane lens.
From the opening salvo of the title track, “Season of the Witch,” Wicked Leather grab you by the throat. Galloping riffs collide with haunting, minor-key melodies, evoking midnight sabbaths amid steel-forged fury. Vocalist delivers with a gritty snarl that channels the spirit of Rob Halford crossed with a warlock’s incantation, while the rhythm section pounds like a coven drum circle gone berserk. Standouts like “She Is The Storm” ramps up the intensity next, unleashing a whirlwind of twin-lead guitars and driving basslines. Yami Martins’s raspy, commanding vocals ride the tempest like a fury unleashed, while the chorus explodes with anthemic hooks that demand air guitar, “Night Hunter” is simple yet catchy (as simple as that can be) and “Midnight Creature” keeps the momentum with galloping NWOBHM flair and howling leads, channeling Priest meets Iron Maiden’s gallop into something more sinister. It’s infectious, with a chorus that burrows into your skull.
The production, courtesy of their 2025 studio sessions, strikes a perfect balance: raw enough to feel like a live ritual, yet polished to let every occult hook shine. Tracks like “Shadows of the Blade” dip into slower, atmospheric territory, building tension with eerie keys and gang vocals that scream for headbanging unity. It’s not flawless— a couple of mid-album fillers lean too heavily on formula without enough fresh hexes— but the hunger for reinvention keeps it compelling, positioning Wicked Leather as Europe’s next wave of uncompromising new blood.
With Spanish tour dates opening for Enforcer this November, Season of the Witch isn’t just an album; it’s a hex on the stagnant metal scene. Wicked Leather don’t just pay homage—they summon the old gods of heavy metal into a bolder, blacker realm. Brew up this potion; your speakers will thank you with flames.
