Release
date: October 10th
2015. Label: Black Monk Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Wizard
Eye – S/T - Tracklisting
1.
Eye of the Deep
2.
Flying Falling
3.
Phase Return
4.
Graybeard
5.
Drowning Daydream
6.
My Riposte Is Like Lightning
7.
Nullarbor
8.
Thunderbird Divine
9.
Stoneburner
Band
Members:
Dave
- bass/vocals
Erik
- guitar/vocals/theremin
Mike
- drums/percussion
Review:
Five
years on from their debut album – Orbital Rites – Wizard Eye return with their highly anticipated 2nd self-titled album. The sound
as you would expect is one of fuzzy and cosmic doomy and stoner
metal.
Opening track – Eye Of The Deep – is an instrumental
Doom/Stoner riff-fest with the band showing they have a keen eye for
sound and rhythm as the song has some impressive cosmic/space rock
style moments to open the album with. Influences such as Blue Cheer,
Sabbath and Hawkwind can be heard on the opening track and it’s an
exciting ride with Wizard Eye setting up the tone for the rest of the
album.
Second
track – Flying Falling – carries on the space rock influenced
doomy/stoner metal vibe with the band finally adding vocals to the
mix. The vocals are grizzled as hell with a slight Lemmy vibe. The
song blends classic hard rock theatrics with a fuzzier modern day
style of Doom/Stoner Metal. The guitars are down-tuned and played
with a huge amount of FUZZ. It can be very trippy and psychedelic at
times as Wizard Eye opts for a mind-expanding approach towards the
end.
Third
track – Phase Return – is one of the albums standout tracks as
Wizard Eye weaves a hard-rocking tale where the atmosphere is very
loud from the start. The vocals more than match the crazed guitar
riffs in the volume stakes though it’s the heavy-pounding bass
guitar that’s the loudest part of this song. It can be very
jam-based at times and that’s a good thing as it shows Wizard Eye
know how to have fun despite some of the heavier moments.
Fourth
track – Graybeard – sees Wizard Eye offer some of the albums
heaviest moments in both the riffs and vocals dept as Dave takes over with grizzled conviction. It’s a bluesy and
boisterous affair with Wizard Eye offering some serious Sabbath style
amplifier worship. The vocals are different as they take a heavier
approach and it’s a style that takes some getting used to but it’s
good that the music is so damn good. Riffs are the main order of
business as some impressive guitar solos appear. The drumming sounds
fantastic on this song as you feel part of the action with each
passing moment.
Fifth
track – Drowning Daydream – is Wizard Eye playing a more direct
Doom/Stoner Metal sound that fans of Saint Vitus will dig. It’s
another trippy and psychedelic offering that some people may yearn
for something different from time to time. It’s true that the band
stick to a set sound for the majority of the album but you can’t
deny how good it sounds and Drowning Daydream is another superb track
that Wizard Eye have created here.
If
you’re apart of the Black Sabbath riff loving congregation then
you’re going to be in your element here as Wizard Eye create some
of the albums most spaced out and heaviest moments. Especially on
songs such as My Riposte Is Like Lighting (where Dave takes over vocal duties once more), Nullarbor and Stoneburner.
Nullarbor sees the band blend Eastern noises and moments of
psychedelic instrumental madness. Nullarbor is perhaps the most
diverse song on the album as it shows Wizard Eye can experiment with
their sound by adding different noises to the mix.
Before
you we get to Stoneburner, Wizard Eye offer a slice of demented
madness with Thunderbird Divine. The vocals matched against the doomy
guitar sounds create a dark and twisted atmosphere as the fuzz-based
riffs reach their natural conclusion. Finally, the album closes with
Stoneburner. An epic 8 minute song that sees the band play one final
round of heavy-psych-stoner-doom metal epic riffs as it ends this
album on a trippy and far out experience.
Wizard
Eye has created an excellent album and one that will win them a huge
range of admirers within the Doom/Stoner Metal community. Check it
out. You won’t be disappointed.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Earsplit PR for promo. Wizard Eye S/T album will be out to buy on
DD/Vinyl form Blank Monk Records on October 10th 2015.
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