ALBUM REVIEW: Ablanathanalba – Wizard Master
There is an ancient magic in the eternal city of Rome. A city steeped in spiritual significance of all kinds, some truly remarkable and unexplainable events were bound to happen within its historic walls. One such event marks the beginning of WIZARD MASTER, where founding members Mano Sinistra (guitar/vocals) and Mano Destra (drums/vocals) both saw an ominous hooded figure in a dream that instructed them to form the band. This mysterious and strange shared dream (which some may consider coincidental instead of the dark forces of doom working in strange ways) brought them together and unleashed a Pandora’s box of evil riffs and esoteric lyrics about a powerful wizard.
Following on from their fast-paced, stoner-influenced EP Abracadoom and their slower, darker debut album Phasmatis, their sophomore album Ablanathanalba sees the Roman trio double down on the darkness, the wizard-inspired mystical esotericism and brain hazing fuzz. Drawing inspiration from the bluesy rock sound of the 1970s infused with the darkness of modern times, Ablanathanalba sees WIZARD MASTER venture into uncharted territory.
Ablanathanalba thematically reflects the times that we are all living through. Observing how nothing seems to be true anymore, everything is ephemeral and everything seems to be the opposite of what it actually means. Through its dark bluesy riffs and entrancing psychedelic atmospheres, the album delves deep into this mind-spinning, anxiety-ridden madness, offering up a fresh perspective with its powerful societal observations.
With that context in mind, the album is tied together through WIZARD MASTER’s members shared experiences. The vast array of despairing and confusing emotions have been channelled into a hazy and trippy record. Since Abracadoom, WIZARD MASTER have gradually gotten slower, more reflective and significantly psychedelic in their songwriting. As a result Ablanathanalba travels down an ELECTRIC WIZARD-esque path, as the band opt for slower, fuzzier and heavier riffs.
In a number of ways, this suits WIZARD MASTER’s aesthetic perfectly. They’ve pioneered their own brand of mysterious darkness, so the injection of bluesier psychedelia into their all-encompassing fuzz is a brilliant evolution of their sound. Throughout its entirety Ablanathanalba conjures up imagery of hooded monk-like figures showing you hypnotic, spiralling vortexes in space and time, like vivid visions with enigmatic meanings, yet the only colours your eyes can see are rich purples and hues of lilac and red alongside a deep blackness. The portentous sound snippets also add an eerie depth to the album that makes for chilling listening.
In comparison to Phasmatis, Ablanathanalba feels more expansive, as WIZARD MASTER have explored the more atmospheric elements of their sound which they began to do on the latter. There is something deeply ritualistic about Ablanathanalba, you’re often lulled into a trance with its deep, long-droning chords and slow half time rhythms. WIZARD MASTER make a concerted effort to bring you into their esoteric world to see the mysterious, hooded wizard of their dreams for yourself. Its grimy, oppressive and sometimes sinister atmospheres consume you completely.
Opening up with Hell Riders, WIZARD MASTER waste no time in getting down to business with a hypnotic and spiralling track that feels like a slow descent into hell. This is made extra dizzying by a swirling organ melody that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Funeral Boogie opens with a spooky film snippet that launches into a monolithically sinister riff which follows a similar style of that found on Hell Riders. However, it is here we see the more bluesy evolution of the band’s sound and a more obvious leaning into grooves instead of caveman henge half time beats. Acid is a disorientating track that sees WIZARD MASTER go full ELECTRIC WIZARD mode – slow, grimy and fuzzed out whilst simultaneously being eerily trippy.
Baleful church bells ring out at the start of Master Of Wizardry, reminiscent of that seminal BLACK SABBATH track Black Sabbath. The organ reappears with a long droning chord whilst spectral, disembodied voices can be heard over the top before the song erupts into life with creepy guitar melodies and driving organ parts. We Are Füd gets back on track with the riffing and occult ritual vibes, with the lyrics implying the we are food for an uncompromising beast. The album closes with Tested By Death, a wonderful eight-and-a-half-minute deep dive into psychedelic blues and earth shattering fuzz. In an album that has a predominately eerie vibe, Tested By Death is strangely meditative. You lock into the groove and become completely entranced in its ravishing grimness.
WIZARD MASTER’s sophomore effort is quite something to behold. It seems the allure of the wizard’s magic is a potent force and the mutual dream is truly beginning to come to fruition. Ablanathanalba is heavy, bluesy and dark, what more could you want from a doom album?
Rating: 8/10
Ablanathanalba is set for release on July 7th via Electric Valley Records.
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