Release
date: January 26th 2018. Label: The Company KC. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
The
Wizard – Tracklisting
Abyss
Gravelord
Sage's Crystal Staff
Golem
Iron Borne
Tarantula Hawk
The Wizard Suite
Members
Caleb Wyels -
Percussion
Carter Lewis- Guitar
Jordan Knorr -
Vocals
Chase Thayer - Bass
Stu Kersting -
Saxophone
Review
I'm
going to say now that I think Merlin's new album - The Wizard - is a
superbly produced and an hugely entertaining album. The only problem
that I have with this album is the saxophone that the band have added
to certain parts of the album. Stu Kersting who plays the saxophone
does a superb job and it does indeed sound fantastic. However I felt
the album could have been a much better experience without it. That's
my only criticism of this album.
Merlin
have created a rich example of different doom based sounds with songs
such as Abyss, Gravelord, Golem, Iron Bone and The Wizard Suite being
the main highlights of the album. The music is quite progressive and
psychedelic at times and most of the songs contain a cool story or
idea about Merlin and Wizard Life in general. The Wizard is more
seventies prog rock based than their last album and the vocals from
Jordan holds everything together. The lyrics are quite catchy at times
showing that Merlin have a flair for both musical and lyrical
content.
This
is the kind of album that marches to its own beat and doesn't worry
about sounding different to other Doom Metal bands currently out
there. The production allows Merlin to fully expand their sound and
it's the little things that you miss listening to the album for the
very first time that you begin to notice upon further listens. Such
as how Merlin weave different styles of music and matching
instruments that shouldn't really work but actually do. The
atmosphere is heavy and gloomy especially during the heavy
metal/retro rock sounding moments.
I
know within time that the Saxophone parts will soon become part of
the albums DNA and I will probably adore everything about this album.
It's kind of cool that The Wizard will leave you frustrated at times
but the album has more than enough going for it to entice you back
under its magical spell. Even the saxophone parts of Sage's Crystal
Staff is slowly taking over my musical soul. It's one of the shortest
songs on the album but it's slowly becoming one of my favourite songs
on the album.
Merlin
has delivered a wickedly entertaining and devilish sounding album
with The Wizard. I can see this album perhaps dividing the Doom Metal
community but it's always good to have a band or album to challenge
the status quo. If you're a dedicated Doom Metal fan then you need
this album in your life and record collection. No question.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks to The Company
KC for the promo. The Wizard will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl
via The Company KC from January 26th 2018.
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