What makes The Spell by Cellar Darling notable?

This album received critical acclaim for its innovative sound and lyrical depth, earning a spot on various year-end lists. It also showcased the band's growth in composition and storytelling, influencing emerging artists in the progressive and folk metal genres. The Spell is Cellar Darling's sophomore album, following their debut record This Is the Sound released in 2017. By this point, the band had solidified its identity within the folk metal scene, exploring deeper emotional and thematic complexities while continuing to push musical boundaries.

How many songs are on The Spell?

The Spell has 13 tracks, running approximately 63 minutes.

The Spell

Cellar Darling · 2019

63 min · 13 tracks · progressive metal

A haunting blend of progressive and folk metal, weaving intricate melodies with dark, introspective themes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Spell — The title track encapsulates the album's ethereal essence, blending haunting vocals with a driving instrumental backdrop that exemplifies the band's unique style.
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Death — This track stands out for its bold exploration of mortality, intertwining heavy riffs with delicate melodies that create a compelling contrast.
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Insomnia — With its relentless rhythm and evocative lyrics, Insomnia captures the feeling of restlessness and emotional turmoil, making it a pivotal moment on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album's narrative flow and genre-blending instrumentation create a compelling listening experience.

What we noticed

Several tracks incorporate both clean and harsh vocals, often alternating within the same song to enhance emotional contrast.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Pain 4:27
2 Death 7:14
3 Love 5:11
4 The Spell 4:41
5 Burn 5:08
6 Hang 4:33
7 Sleep 3:48
8 Insomnia 6:52
9 Freeze 3:37
10 Fall 0:59
11 Drown 7:11
12 Love Pt. II 5:01
13 Death Pt. II 4:35

What to play next

Listen next

The Spell

2019

Go back to

This Is the Sound

2017

Full Cellar Darling discography Artists like Cellar Darling

folk metal progressive metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata