By:
Ernesto Aguilar
Album Type: Full length
Date Released: 17/11/2017
Label: Witchfinder Records |
Spinefarm
Records
“Wizard Bloody Wizard” transcends whatever the in-thing of
the moment is, and focuses instead on musicianship, the album's all-analog
approach creates a warm, vintage sound for the songs and on the whole Electric Wizard feels re-energized, whilst remaining true to their seedy pedigree
"Wizard Bloody Wizard"
CD//DD//LP track listing
1.
See You In Hell
2.
Necromania
3.
Hear The Sirens Scream
4.
The Reaper
5.
Wicked Caresses
6.
Mourning Of The Magicians
The Review:
Doom
metal institution Electric Wizard has
been around so long that its musical progeny continue to make waves around the
world. Its gritty, mystical method to metal has directly and indirectly
influenced legions of heavy music performers for over two decades. Consider
2000's "Dopethrone" and
what it meant for the genre. Indeed, the English band has been at it over 25
years, plying its brand of pulpy blues/stoner/sludge rock in the vein of Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer and other
legends.
The
2014 release "Time to Die" saw
the return of original drummer Mark Greening to the team. However, Greening
again left, resulting in a pause from recording. Instead the group kept a
hectic touring schedule, with new drummer Simon Poole joining Electric Wizard for its new chapter. With its over-the-top
artwork and Occult/marijuana/horror themes in "Wizard Bloody Wizard," Electric Wizard is
back at last. The next inquisition is whether Electric Wizard
can make remarkable music in this period where plenty of acts have, arguably,
co-opted it sonically and lyrically, or whether that brand of a seminal group still
makes it something to watch.
The
album got a preview with the lead-off single and opener, "See You in Hell." Great reason for
that: it is easily one of the album's best tracks, with its plodding bass
courtesy of Clayton Burgess, distorted guitars and vocals that overwhelm with
lyrics rather than volume. Electric Wizard has
gotten a reputation over the years for theatrical songwriting that is more Alice Cooper than Cannibal Corpse, and
this opener only reinforces it. “This
world is crazy and makes me sick/Maybe I'll torture you just for kicks/But I
lie here possessed by evil/Forever a servant of the Devil." The
delivery is not nearly as threatening as that sounds. In fact, it is entirely
listenable in a manner that is reminiscent of the late 1970s' flirtations with
evil music themes. Electric Wizard stay
true to the seedy pedigree, though it remains accessible.
The
more skeptical might find this opening a tad formulaic – Electric Wizard
does particular things exceedingly well, and stays with it. However, credit
must go to a band with this kind of history, which has mastered its craft in a
way that transcends whatever the in-thing of the moment is, and focuses instead
on musicianship. Jus Oborn's vocals are as spellbinding as ever, the album's
all-analog approach creates a warm, vintage sound for the songs. Electric Wizard feels reenergized to give fans that dig
what they do, exactly what they came for.
Still,
familiarity for some is sure to breed contempt. You may have heard by now that "Wizard Bloody Wizard" has
gotten its share of heat for lackluster moments. A dash of that criticism is
fair, though some of that is based in expectation of a louder, lewder Electric Wizard in the vein of 2010's "Black Masses." Here, the group is looking for a more
stripped-down performance; hence the aforementioned analog recording and
flourishes that harken back to Led Zeppelin era heavy
rock. True to that, a song like "Hear
The Sirens Scream" offers you a taste of a cleaner vocal and more of
the downtempo, bluesier hard rock of the period. "Necromania" opens with a more conventional booming heavy rock
riff. It too is an energetic jam, in a fashion that can likely attract new
fans, frankly.
One
of the few disappointments is that this release is incredibly short, at just
under 45 minutes. Electric Wizard try to
make up for the brief disc with "Mourning
of the Magicians," an 11-minute closing cut that sees Liz Buckingham
doing some impressive guitar work. The chorus "see you in Hell"
reappears, as if to close the story loop from the opener, and the song's
themes, which speak of darkness and betrayal, illuminate the thick rhythm laid
out. Although "Wizard Bloody
Wizard" is unlikely to be considered Electric Wizard's
crowning achievement, it may in fact turn into bait for a new audience into the
renaissance of old-school hard rock.
"Wizard
Bloody Wizard" is available here
Band
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