Audio CD review:
Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

Band: Electric Wizard Title: Dopethrone Rating: Release Date: 2000-09-25 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Vinum Sabbathi 2: Funeralopolis 3: Weird Tales/Electric Frost/Golgotha/Altar of Melektaus 4: Barbarian 5: I, the Witchfinder 6: The Hills Hve Eyes 7: We Hate You 8: Dopethrone

Pure Fuzzy Fun It is simply an album for those that enjoy a good bit of heavy, low-end rock with an undeniable 70s styling. First let me say this album is not solely for fans of the doom genre, I enjoyed it long before I knew there was such a genre. No pretence, no never ending guitar licks, just flat out heavy fun. To put this album in a little bit of context, Electric Wizard established themselves as a class doom/stoner act with their s/t debut which showed signs of later writing, and their monolithic tour de force of fuzzy riffs, "Come My Fanatics". "Dopethrone" sees the band continue the vast songwriting, huge juicy riffs and enough low-end to do some serious ear damage. Arguably their career highlight, this is sure to give you a thrill if you're into this sort of thing, and for those new to the genre, be prepared for a big, bludgeoning ride of juicy fun. "Dopethrone" also marks Jus Oborn's introduction to the distorted, `behind the mix' vocal effect, which I initially questioned, but have grown to love. The result puts far more emphasis on the riffs and also gives a new abrasive, almost gritty vibe that the previous albums lacked. The style is best highlighted in the brooding I, The Witchfinder, with Oborn's verse delivery truly eerie and desolate. Perhaps the highlight to the album is Funeralopolis, simply one of EW's best opening riffs, incorporated perfectly in a two-section structure that sees another absolutely killer riff rampage for the closing minutes. A real adrenaline rush, ended perfectly by an exhausted, panting, simple exhortation of `f*ck' from Jus. It works, it really does. Other standout tracks include the monumental Weird Tales, clocking in at over 15 minutes, the song glides through everything one could adore about EW - big riffs, tempo changes, psychedelic atmospherics and of alternative lyrics inspired by science fiction and, well, `weird tales'. "Dopethrone" is quite simply a landmark in the doom genre, it is what every band should aim for - sumptuous riffs, psychedelic moments, interesting song structures and a complete lack of pretence, something I admire in EW. This album is not solely for doom fans as I stated earlier, if you're a fan of a good heavy slab of rocking fun, it would be a mistake to overlook this. . Colossal fusion of stoned riffing and pure white noise All of the songs are built on heavy, downtuned proto-Sabbath slo-mo riffs, but the sound is so loud, so huge, and so fuzzed-out that it borders on being a noise album. If you can imagine Merzbow covering Black Sabbath, that's what this album sounds like. Possibly the heaviest record ever made and certainly one of the loudest. Their earlier albums are good (and almost as noisy) but this is a quantum leap forward in every direction -- sound, playing, riffs, song construction, everything -- and is absolutely essential. Best doom record since Cathedral's "Forest of Equilibrium" Warn your neighbors before playing this one, because you might just break their china cabinets if you play this too loud. Electric Wizard have put together the best doom recording since Cathedral's "Forest of Equilibrium". . . heck, you might even break some cabinets in China - it is that freakin' heavy! Check them out on tour with WarHorse - this tour promises to crack the foundation of every venue that dares to have them play. You can see a complete list of all Electric Wizard discography, or go back to the Electric Wizard tabs