Kult Reviews: ELECTRIC WIZARD - Witchcult Today
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I’m not a huge stoner or doom fan, but Electric Wizard’s latest record, Witchcult Today (Rise Above)—with its eight tracks of monolithic, narcotic doom and trippy melodic sense that grooves in a Charlie Manson/Spahn Ranch kinda way—put its hook in me and won’t let go. If I smoked weed, I would definitely turn on Witchcult Today, turn out the lights, burn one…and then start sharpening my knives and see where the night took me. Luckily I don’t smoke weed.
Electric Wizard was formed in Dorset, England, back in 1993, by guitarist Jus Oborn, bassist Tim Bagshaw and drummer Mark Greening. Since that time, the group has released six full-length albums, including the genre-defining records Come My Fanatics and Dopethrone, and its seen a nearly complete lineup overhaul. Of the founding members, only Oborn remains, with the other positions currently being filled by guitarist Liz Buckingham (formerly of NYC doom crew 13), bassist Rob Al-Issa, and drummer Shaun Rutter.
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Witchcult Today’s opening title track lured me in with its infectious, fuzzed-out slab of guitar and distant, gloomy vocals, but it was the second cut, “Dunwich,” that made me a believer. The guitars explode like a thunderstorm, evoking the specter of ancient Black Sabbath, and resolve into a catchy, melodic, trance-inducing passage. “The Satanic Rites of Drugula” keeps the intensity level high and “Raptus” sets its own interstellar course for the heart of the sun. “The Chosen Few” layers a warm bed of stoney riffage before propelling you into the hard-charging “Torquemada ’71.” Witchcult Today concludes with “Black Magic Rituals and Perversions” and “Saturnine,” which collectively time out at over 22 minutes and take you on a dark, psychedelic journey through the depths of occult Hell.
My biggest problem with “stoner rock” has always been the almost upbeat, good-timey blues vibe that a lot of the bands associated with the genre seem to embrace. But let me tell you this: I’ve been spinning Withcult Today for the past few days and there are no good times on this dark ride. So if you’re like me and not typically down with this genre, you should still give Electric Wizard a shot—the catchy songwriting and thunderous, tectonic riffs will be an (un)pleasant surprise. — Mike Hill
i listen to sleep and kyuss, and i read a great review on wichcult today so i thought id give EW a listen and holy crap i think they are awesome. gotta pick these other albums you speak of…
I am not a fan of stoner rock and to be honest I think EW is not Stoner. It is Heavy-as-balls stoner… this cd is awesome, I found myself struggling with Dopethrone due to the production but this album has enough distorsion to make think of good ol’ 70s sabbath, though like mentioned before way heavier). The songs are awesome Dunwich is my favourite track and except for Black Magic Rituals and Perversions (which drags for the last minutes) every song is a winner.
Personally, I was pretty disappointed by this late album. I know they can’t make another Dopethrone but still…there was nothing exciting about this album. Still a GREAT band though
Great album, ordered it from the UK when it came out so I could get the foil cover. The reviewer MUST be on some kind of drugs. The way he talks about weed makes it seem like it’s some kind of psychedelic. Leave your biases out of the reviews damn it.
weed is a psychadelic…
…if you get the good stuff.