New Waste is the forthcoming new long player from Vancouver, British Columbia-based heavy metal/stoner rock alchemists, BLACK WIZARD. Slated to drop on February 12th, 2015 via Listenable Records New Waste hurls forth nine road-raging tracks of red-eyed, retro-riff worship.
In advance of its release today the volume bleeders at The Obelisk offer up fourth cut, “Vivian Girls” for communal celebration, the esteemed blog issuing of the band’s latest output, “If there’s any resonant doubt that modern heavy rock is the inheritor of the methods and boozy intentions of classic metal, the dual guitar antics BLACK WIZARD proffer throughout New Waste tracks like ‘Revival,’ ‘Harsh Time,’ ‘Eliminator,’ ‘The Priest’ and ‘Final Ripper’ should lay them thoroughly to rest. While basking in the hazy light of an increasingly prevalent (particularly in the Pacific Northwest) post-Red Fang neo-dude party vibe, the four-piece of guitarist/vocalist Adam Grant, guitarist Danny Stokes, bassist Evan Joel and drummer Eugene Parkomenko also pay due homage to Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden’s gallop and Judas Priest’s fist-pump-ready groove. Their tones and upbeat style find breadth in the inclusion of organ on the slower ‘Laughing And Lost’ and the Spanish guitar ending of ‘Vivian Girls,’ the plus-sized riffing of ‘Unnecessary Evil,’ but they never go too far from that metallic underpinning, tying the album together as a unified whole even as individual songs stand out across its span.”
Sample “Vivian Girls,” now playing at The Obelisk, at THIS LOCATION.
You can also turn up “Harsh Time,” still streaming at Decibel at THIS LOCATION.
Already raising the eyebrows of critics, BeatRoute Magazine commends BLACK WIZARD for being, “the only band in town that will add inches to your dick,” while Sonic Abuse gushes, “Taking the best bits from thirty years of heavy-ass metal, there are hints of Priest, Maiden, Sabbath, Purple and more, all wrapped up in BLACK WIZARD‘s own, patchouli-scented haze. The prog aspects of the album help to make the sound more unique and interesting and the delivery is spot on – gritty and brutal and yet with a deft touch that keeps things interesting throughout. If you like your metal to veer on the traditional and yet to offer an eclectic edge to keep things interesting, then you’ve come to the right place.” In a 4/5 score Sea Of Tranquility notes, “With plenty of modern as well as vintage influences seeping in, New Waste has something for every metal/hard rock fan. Doomy, bluesy, proggy, psychedelic, and just plain old heavy…it’s all here.” Ave Noctum hails, “a solid and thoroughly enjoyable record… that will satisfy both the dyed in the wool metal traditionalists and those who are looking for something new.” Team Rock concurs, “With a name like BLACK WIZARD, you might expect a band scouring doom’s dark underbelly and spinning your brain into a state of dreamy lethargy, but this four-piece from Vancouver offer an all-round chuggier endorsement of Satan’s songbook…this album prefers to take you on a bong ‘n’ roll journey of odes that would appeal to anyone cast under Red Fang’s spell.” Adds Hellbound in an 8/10 rating, “If you’re looking for the sounds and traditional metal of Motörhead, Priest, Maiden, Thin Lizzy and Sabbath, one can look no further. Also, for a new label debut, Listenable couldn’t have asked for a better album of catchy, crunchy and exciting songs.”
BLACK WIZARD was forged in 2009 by four high school friends. Founding members Adam Grant and Eugene Parkomenko were both working underwhelming construction jobs at the time, passing the days to the sounds of Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Witch, and Electric Wizard. Heavily motivated by the thick, weight sounds of bands like Bison and 3 Inches Of Blood monopolizing the scene at the time, “The Wiz” was born. Having followed a true DIY aesthetic, the band has released two full length LPs along with a 7″ single independently and sold over five thousand copies worldwide.
New Waste will be officially unveiled on February 12th, 2016 Via Listenable Records. For physical preorders go to THIS LOCATION.
For BLACK WIZARD coverage in North America contact liz@earsplitcompound.com.
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