Release
date: August
30th
2019. Label: Svart
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Wizard
Rifle – S/T
– Tracklisting
Rocket
To Hell
Caveman
Waltz
Beneath
The Spider
Funeral
Of The Sun
V
Members
Sam
Ford, Max Dameron
Review
There are times when you listen to a record and you love it and then when you step back and try to put into words the reasons why you love it, the words can escape you. The third full length from Portland, Oregon’s Wizard Rifle is one of those records. The simplest thing to say is that this record fucking rules! Some of the difficulty in describing the record is that it is wickedly hard to categorize the duo’s sound. Noise rock, metal, sludge, you wouldn't be wrong with any, but you wouldn't necessarily be right either.. What is amazing is the tremendous array of sounds that the duo delivers. The five songs on this record are long, intense, multi faceted, challenging and utterly satisfying.
The overall theme of the record seems very dark and pessimistic, much like the general climate in the States these days. Perhaps, the duo was being prophetic and/or writing the soundtrack for the world these days. The record opens with the amazing Rocket To Hell that brings with it a massive riff, a ton of punk infused drive and the band’s trademark double sung/screamed vocals questioning “Can’t you see I’m blind” and a chorus of “Gotta feeling nobody is gonna save us”.
The eclectic Caveman Waltz comes next with another killer riff carrying this guitar driven track and featuring some well placed handclaps and a massive uptempo breakdown along with almost detached vocals delivering the lament of “The modern world is a trap. The modern world no going back.” The intensity carries on with the march heavy Beneath The Spider. The intense mix of drums and cymbals with angular guitar noise and distortion mixed with blackened metal screams give the song an unsettling feel. The band brings forth their “inner-Tool” on the amazing
Funeral Of The Sun. The duo mixes metal heaviness with massive drums and more blackened screams but veers off into space inflected, almost ethereal moments. The album closes with the frantic noise rock of V. The bands double vocals mixes with the heavy guitars and drums and at times takes an almost new wave feel.
Wizard Rifle’s self titled third record is an amazing display of raw, angular power that shows that even the darkest of subject matter can hit all the right nerves. The overall feel and sound of the record will appeal to fans of any of the genres I had mentioned earlier. These sonic titans have delivered the goods on this one. Dig heavy on this one!
Words by Todd Stealey
Thanks
to Curtis
at Dewar PR for
the promo. Wizard
Rifle new album be
available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Svart Records
from August
30th
2019.
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