Electric Wizard (Electric Wizard - Electric Wizard)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Electric Wizard - Electric Wizard
Date:	03/07/08 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Modern take on the classic doom sound.

Disadvantages: Few songs really stand out.

The first release from Dorset's drug-fuelled doom metal band Electric Wizard is less distinctive than their later works, more directly derivative of the classic doom tradition pioneered by bands like Black Sabbath in the seventies, but still applying a more modern sound with production trickery. These songs are long, sloooow and heavy, crawling along with frank disregard for musical convention, though lacking the effective wall-of-sound approach of subsequent releases.

None of these songs really stand out apart from the atmospheric instrumental 'Mountains of Mars,' but this is still a high quality album of stoner doom, with some blues-influenced guitar solos and a nice vocal performance from Jus Osborn, even if he hasn't quite found his voice yet. The emphasis on reverb and feedback effects is deliberately alienating to the faint-hearted and aids the atmosphere immensely, while doom fans should enjoy the more overtly Sabbathesque songs such as the band's fantasy-themed title song.

1. Stone Magnet
2. Mourning Prayer
3. Mountains of Mars
4. Behemoth
5. Devil's Bride
6. Black Butterfly
7. Electric Wizard
8. Wooden Pipe

Summary: Electric Wizard's first album (1995).