The Wytches - Conversing Device

      Reviewer: Tessa Jay

      Released: 10th October 2025

      Label: Alcopop!

      Perhaps surprisingly for a band whose identity is rooted in the ability to transform restless anxiety into music, the standout impact of their fifth album ‘Talking Machine’ emerges from one of its more understated moments: Kristian Bell’s repetitive and resigned vocal style on ‘Don’t Make It For Me’ proves to be even more emotionally resonant due to its softer delivery, contrasting sharply with his previous screams. Likewise, the Beatles-influenced melody featured in ‘Is The World Too Old’ reveals a gentler and more melodic aspect of the band. Nevertheless, it’s the seamless blending of these quieter instances with the band's enduring doomy rock that elevates the album: ‘Black Ice’ combines their signature guitar tones with a vocal performance reminiscent of late-‘90s Britrock; the swirling ‘Nothing To See’; and ‘Perform’, where a simmering frustration emerges from distorted vocals, evolving from a dark waltz into a climax that evokes the sound of Queens of the Stone Age, as if they hadn’t seen sunlight for half a year. This broader perspective doesn’t always resonate completely: the dreamlike progressive elements of ‘Romance’ are largely forgettable (to the extent that its piano-driven reprise, ‘Romance 2’, despite its emotional weight, doesn't create an immediate recall). Nonetheless, in being intriguing for what it lacks—while remaining distinctly their own—this album is a notable addition to The Wytches' collection.

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