"The Spell" is a song by American rock band Mammoth. It was released on July 9, 2025, as the second single from the band's third studio album, The End. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in February 2026.
Contents
Background and composition
Wolfgang Van Halen characterized "The Spell" as having a "woozy seventies rock vibe" and said the song featured vocal runs he previously would not have attempted. He also called it a "good-feeling song", stating that listeners who were not interested in musical technicality could enjoy it, while noting that "cool riffs and drum fills" were also present. The song was described as opening with a palm-muted groove and featuring an "incisive riff" over an "off-kilter drumbeat".
Consequence characterized the song as a melodic hard rock track.
Release and promotion
"The Spell" was released on July 9, 2025, alongside the announcement of Mammoth's third studio album, The End. The single was accompanied by a performance video featuring Wolfgang Van Halen playing multiple instruments. A video of the band performing an acoustic version of the song for Apple Music's "Zane Lowe Show" was published on March 25, 2026.
Reception
In a review of The End, Gerrod Harris of Spill Magazine wrote that singles including "The Spell" had a "slightly meaner sound", while James Christopher Monger for AllMusic identified "The Spell" as one of the album's standout tracks.
Music video
The music video was directed by Gordy De St. Jeor, and depicts four versions of Wolfgang Van Halen performing together, similar to the band's 2021 video for "Don't Back Down".
Chart performance
"The Spell" became Mammoth's fourth number-one single on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart when it topped the chart on February 7, 2026.
Personnel
Credits adapted from Apple Music.
Mammoth
Wolfgang Van Halen – vocals, all instruments, songwriter
Additional credits
Michael "Elvis" Baskette – producer, mixing engineer, recording engineer
Brad Blackwood – mastering engineer
Josh Saldate – assistant mixing engineer, additional engineer
Jeff Moll – editing engineer, recording engineer