Coming out of nowhere for the first time with their self-titled debut album, and following that with the Mountain Witch single, Black Wizard from Canada decided to get down to work once more and self-release their sophomore album, Young Wisdom, on June 28th, 2013 (release party details below!) on CD and digital, and on vinyl in a couple of months on War On Music. The blurring regions between stoner rock and doom metal is where the band is set, bringing eight tracks full of 70s worship, doom metal weight and psychedelic influences.
The hypnotic and dreamy intro of “Spacer” lays the tracks perfectly and it transforms into an energetic track with great retro riffs, haunting vocals (aided by the magnificent use of effects) and a fucking impressive rhythm section. You get the first taste of what is to follow, and soon enough the 70s influences are unleashed through the speakers when the title track comes in with a healthy chunk of traditional doom metal. About a couple of minutes into the song, Black Wizard build up the track once again, leading to a monumental part where the guitar leads and solos set your mind on fire.
The ideas on the guitars are just monumental, being placed on top of a steady-as-a-fucking-rock rhythm section. “Midnight,” with its slower pace and the guitar dropping notes as if it was dropping acid, reveal a more emotional side of the band, while at the same they don’t lose any of their heaviness. They continue to channel the spirit of Black Sabbath with the sickening riffs of “H.U.G.H.” and an unbelievable vocal performance, while the tempo of the song changes in a quite abrupt way about two minutes in to a much more vigorous part, becoming with ease one of the highlights of the albums.
The bluesy “Danger Dances”, acts like the interlude for the album. Even though the track is quite minimalistic, it retains an almost epic aura around it, with the brilliant acoustic guitar and the uncanny use of effects giving way to the most fucking inspired moment of the album: when the unreal “Something Sweet” is set loose. It seems like the track is just flowing, with the mesmerizing vocals and brilliant guitar hooks. It’s a song you cannot simply listen to just once.
The massive sound of “Appetite,” once again with the intriguing guitar leads and the heavier-than-thou closing track of the album, “Wicked Wanderer,” complete this album. “Wicked Wanderer,” with Black Wizard’s trademark (by now) riffology and the tempos that come and go, brings an impressive end result, putting the final nail in the coffin that is Young Wisdom.
Black Wizard have really done it with this album. Their performance is impressive, the sound is massive, the vocals are colossal and the guitar leads are seriously, seriously great. If you are a doom metal fan then Young Wisdom will put you in an ecstatic state of mind.
New Comments