Classic rockers Wytch Hazel scoop album of the Year award for 2025

 

We are please to announce that Lancaster based classic rock revivalist Wytch Hazel have won a tightly fought Album .of the Year Award for 2025 with their album 'V - Lanemtations', The panel of judges were full of praise for the albums excellent production,fine performances and intelligent songcrafting. US thrashers Conniption came second with their album 'The Theater of Invention' and Bristol old school metal outfit Little Villains were third with the album 'Simpler Times'

The Little Vilains album 'Simpler Times' alsoscoopedthe Localalbumof the Year,given to artists from the greater Bristol area.The judges loved it's no nonsence attitude is raw power and its classic NWOBHM sensibilities. Second place for the local award was taken by grunge revivslists Superseed and their album 'Tremors' with industrial metalheads System Degenerate third with 'Fast hand Cure'

Over all the judges were full of praise forall the twelve finalists  and the final scores were very close with only 9 marks seperating 12th from 1st

 

The Final Possitions

1) 'V - Lamentations' - WYTCH HAZEL

2) 'The Theatre Of Invention' - CONNIPTION

3) 'Simpler Times' - LITTLE VILLAINS

4) The Bog Of Cosmic delusion; - SAMTAR

5) 'Tremors' - SUPERSEED

6) 'Fast Hand Cure' - SYSTEM DEGENERATE

7) 'All I Ever Wanted' - DOOZER McDOOZE

8) 'Big Blue Sky' - DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DUNHAM

9) 'True Love' - ANTI-EVERYTHING

10) 'Freeworld' - BEST BOY ELECTRIC

11) 'I Can't Believe It's Not Distopia' - ELEPHANT HAND

12) 'Jesters Privilage' - FOOLS WORLD

Award rules....

To qualify an album must...
a) Be a full length album, or album length demo, ie contain at least 8 tracks and / or have a playing time of greater than 30 minutes
b) Be self released, on a SMALL independent label, or an import not officially released in the UK
c) Have been featured on the BCFM Sunday Rockshow and / or The Rock Druid Show qnd The Darkplace on Rock Radio UK in the year the award is for.

This is how it works...
a) Through out the year any album that meets the above criteria is entered into a long list
b) The award is judged by a panel of judges including regular listeners to the show, musicians, and other people from with in the music industry; dj's, gig promotors, record producers, music writers etc...
c) In December each year the long list is cut down to a short list of 10 or 12 based on the judges feedback and listener reaction to the album tracks featured on the shows. The shortlist is compiled to give a representative balance so as many sub genres of rock are featured as possible.
d) In January the short list is announced
e) The judges then spend 8 weeks listening to and reviewing all the shortlisted contenders.
f) In early March the judges marks are collated and the award is announced on a special edition of the BCFM Sunday Rockshow.

There are two possible awards if no act from the Bristol area wins there is an award given to the best placed local act in the final listings..
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Previous winners...

Album of the year

(2007) ' Chemical Dogs' - CRASH STREET KIDS
(2008) 'Project Destiny' - DIGNITY
(2009) 'Lunacy Box' - LUNACY BOX
(2010) 'Zer0' - V0iD
(2011) 'Songcycle 2011' - TODD DILLINGHAM
(2012) 'La Danza Del Cadvar' - LOS CRIPTIZOOS
(2013) 'Save As I Save' - ZOLTAR SPEAKS
(2014) '3' - KRANKSCHAFT
(2015) 'Keep Fighting' - V0iD
(2016) 'Lineage' - SCYTHIA
(2017) 'The Art Of Manipulation' - WARD XVI
(2018) 'Eclipse' - FLOR DE LOTO
(2019) 'Show Your Colours' - SCARLET REBELS
(2020) 'Metamophis' - WARD XVI
(2021) 'Shove n Love; - SICK WALT
(2022) 'Empire Of Dis - THE NEW JACOBIN CLUB
(2023) No award given

(2024) 'Highbro Lowbro' - RAINCHECK

(2025) 'V - Lamentations' - WYTCH HAZEL

Local Album of the Year

(2007) No Award Given
(2008) 'Psycles' - IAN RAGGETT
(2009) 'Misunderstood' - CRIMSON SKY
(2010) 'Who Am I?' - RITA LYNCH / 'Settle Up Or Settle Down' - JEBO (joint award)
(2011) 'Crack On' - RITA LYNCH
(2012) 'Return Of A Sonic Assassin' - LASTWIND
(2013) 'VI' - ONSLAUGHT
(2014) 'The Hunt' - BLACK WOLF
(2015) 'Shakedown' - DYNAMITE PUSSY CLUB
(2016) 'Ticket To Somewhere' - BILLY IN THE LOWGROUND
(2017) 'Live On Earth' - SERGENT THUNDERHOOF
(2018) 'Aces and Eights' - CAUDA PAVONIS
(2019) 'The Lemon Tree' - THE NOTHIN' MAN
(2020) 'Paradise Postponed' - SAMPANVIKING
(2021) 'Bristle' - FRANKLIN MINT
(2022) 'Silly Heart' - ACID CLAW
(2023) No Award Given

(2024) 'Paint The Town' - THE SETBACKS

(2025) 'Simpler Times' - LITTLE VILLAINS