2016
Just released last week, "Night Hides The World" is the latest full-length recording from Portland, Oregon-based band Spellcaster. This brand new album comes two years after the release of Spellcaster's self-titled album and it is this heavy metal band's forth studio recording since first forming way back in 2009. It's worth noting that Spellcaster has seen it's fair share of line-up changes since then and while I have admittedly not kept up with this NWOTHM act since 2011 or so I had heard that this one-time heavy/speed metal act had modified it's sound somewhat. That being said and all (and with the full knowledge that one-time guitarist Tyler Loney was now handling lead vocals for this Portland five-piece) it's hard to imagine that this is the same band that was responsible for the solid "Under The Spell". Frankly speaking, "Night Hides The World" is a huge disappointment to these ears! And in no way, shape, or form does the music on this album fit with the above artwork!! At best this could be called a (lightweight) heavy/power metal album with a little bit of speed. The thing is that is being extremely generous as more often then not this 8-track album comes across as modern day heavy rock/hard rock with some AOR leanings. There's a thin layer of melodic metal covering the whole affair, but that seems like more of an afterthought then anything else. And if that wasn't bad enough (and trust me it is!) the whole thing just sounds flat and uninspiring. There is simply nothing here to get excited about and that flat-out sucks as I was actually excited to hear this album. You can chalk this one up as another example of one band selling their soul to appeal to the masses. Instead of the title "Night Hides The World" this one should have been called "Hide This one From The World"!
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