Brighton-based rock trio The Wytches are pleased to announce that they have signed to Alcopop! Records and will be releasing their new album Our Guest Can’t Be Named on 22nd September 2023.
The album will be released via Alcopop! Records on vinyl and digitally, with a special Dinked edition (500 copies) containing a glow in the dark patch and several original Super 8 film cells from the actual ‘Maria’ video on a signed collectors card.
As a taster of what fans can expect, the band have revealed the video for lead single ‘Maria’ which is released on 4th July 2023, and is the first track to feature new drummer and full time member Demelza Mather.
“Maria was the first track we put down for the new album, but it’s actually an older song,” says frontman Kristian Bell of the track. “We used to play this song live quite a lot and originally recorded it in a church in Liverpool with Bill Ryder Jones. It wasn’t really ready back then but we never became fed up with the song and its simplicity.”
“While we were getting together a set list for a tour a couple years ago we realised we loved playing that song and were all unsure as to why we didn’t put out when it was written. Maybe it didn’t fit in with what we were going for at the time. Most of the tracks from the new album are based around the loss of identity. Lyrically this track fits in with that theme so it felt like the song finally found its place.”
The official video for Maria “explores the nightmares of our beloved friend and demon, Damien,” says Mark Breed (guitar/keyboards). “We filmed it ourselves using super 8mm film.”
The Wytches formed in Brighton in 2011 after meeting at music college. During their first year they relentlessly played any show they could find and rapidly began picking up traction. In 2013 the band signed their first record deals with Heavenly Recordings and Partisan (USA). 2014 saw the release of their debut album Annabel Dream Reader and they would tour the world throughout the year, headlining shows and sharing stages with the likes of METZ, Cloud Nothings, Blood Red Shoes, Pixies and Jamie T.
Since then, The Wytches have released two further albums and countless EPs. 2020 saw the band release their third album Three Mile Ditch on their own label Cable Code Records—an explosive collection of 10 tracks that weaves seamlessly between gut-wobbling monster riffs, swampy rock, slick surf, and finely tuned song craft.
With the return of live music in 2021, the band appeared at a handful of UK festivals including Bigfoot, Handmade and Norwich Psych Fest, and were finally able to embark on a tour in support of Three Mile Ditch in October 2022. The album tour was a great success and allowed the band to showcase the new songs for the first time since recording back in 2019.
Fast forward to the present day and this year sees The Wytches return once again to the stage, embarking on a tour of the UK and France this coming autumn. “It feels amazing to finally be able to tour again in France,” says Dan Rumsey (bass). “The French have shown us nothing but love over the years and we can’t wait to return to their country.”
2023 is set to be a busy year for the band as they prepare to release brand new music, with further album details and live dates to be revealed over the coming months.
New album Our Guest Can’t Be Named released 22nd September 2023 via Alcopop! Records
Live Dates:
OCTOBER
Wed 25th Oct UK, Manchester, YES Pink Room
Thu 26th Oct UK, Bristol, Dareshack
Fri 27th Oct UK, London, The Dome
Sat 28th Oct UK, Brighton, Green Door Store
NOVEMBER
Tue 07th Nov – France, Lille, L’Aeronef
Wed 08th Nov – France, Paris, Petit Bain
Thu 09th Nov – France, Strasbourg, Petit Bain
Fri 10th Nov – France, Reims, La Cartonnerie
Sat 11th Nov – France, Rouen, 106