[1] The Crimea were dropped by Warner Bros. Records in 2006 after the band's debut album, Tragedy Rocks, sold 35,000 copies worldwide.

[2][3] The band decided to self-finance their second album, titled Secrets of the Witching Hour, and make it available to download for free from its website.

[3] Artwork for the cover was produced by the band's bassist Joe Udwin, in collaboration with London-based visual artist Tersha Willis.

In a review of the album for NME, Jess Colman wrote: "Although slightly ruined by the frequent and unnecessary Americanised monologues, the record’s Technicolor fusion of dark, sombre tunes and vibrant, upbeat tracks proudly pushes aside any doubts.

"[5] Francis Jones of Hot Press said that on this album, "The Crimea manage to fashion epic tales from everyday material, intimate scenarios instilled with the heroic bombast of Greek myth, or a sense of tragedy befitting the Bard.