ALBUM REVIEW: Sirens – Moon Wizard
Utah-based stoner and doom four-piece MOON WIZARD deliver a stunningly varied and riff-heavy experience on their third full-length release Sirens. Initially flying under the radar when the band self-released the album back in March 2024, Sirens gets a rare second chance with a re-release via Dutch label Hammerheart Records, bringing MOON WIZARD’s blend of deliberately paced doom, dense atmosphere and Robert Plant style soaring vocals to a wider audience.
If their name wasn’t a big enough clue, MOON WIZARD’s sound on Sirens lies somewhere between the extravagant prog of Sorceress era OPETH, the fuzzed-out stoner metal of WEEDEATER and the explorative rock of 70s bands like LED ZEPPELIN or BLUE ÖYSTER CULT for a perfect balance of the familiar and the boundary-pushing.
Opening track Meteor encapsulates MOON WIZARD’s ethos perfectly with an earworm guitar riff carrying the track over a layer of driving, thrash metal inspired percussion while lead vocalist Sami Wolf brings a tinge of retro flair with an impressively commanding performance. Meteor acts as a perfect introduction to MOON WIZARD, effortlessly combining the band’s heavier tendencies with memorable guitar work and spectacular vocals.
Comparing Sirens to MOON WIZARD’s earlier work shows how far the quartet have come since their 2019 debut, evolving from a trio who wore their ELECTRIC WIZARD and KYUSS inspirations on their sleeve to a far more unique and cohesive act complete with a significant retro charm. Prior to Wolf joining the band as lead vocalist for their 2020 sophomore album The Night Harvest, bassist Joe Fiel carried vocal duties on his own with a restrained growl which sat comfortably in between the pounding bass and wailing guitar riffs. On Sirens however, Wolf’s vocals take the lead, dragging the rest of the band away from directionless stoner jamming and into tighter, more elegantly crafted tracks.
While MOON WIZARD spend most of Sirens walking an invisible tightrope between ferocious doom metal and 70s inspired rock the band really shine in the moments they let one side overtake the other. The extended doom metal solos on tracks like Epoch have so much more impact when encased in a layer of soaring retro prog while the moment the cutting clean vocals come in on a more deliberately paced track like Sunday feel so much more satisfying after a thunderous build-up. It’s clear that MOON WIZARD have come across their unique mix of genres naturally, Sirens stands out with its elegant back and forth between styles where a less experienced band would throw their inspirations in a blender and call it a day.
Closing track Phantom ends the album with bang, building up to a BARONESS inspired crescendo with brilliant interplay between chugging guitar riffs and understated, melodic basslines. Despite stepping down as lead vocalist Phantom gives Fiel his moment in the spotlight with a driving yet expressive and subtly technical bass part which elevates the track’s howling lead guitar lines and passionate vocals. MOON WIZARD’s strength once again lies in their tug-of-war between genres, effortlessly balancing their blackened doom roots with prog and retro rock for a powerful and explorative yet fully accessible sound.
Showcasing their evolution from fuzzy stoner oddballs to dramatic doom prog powerhouse, Utah quartet MOON WIZARD have carved themselves a perfect little niche on their third full length Sirens. Carefully infusing their low and slow sound with a shot of 1970s inspired prog and hard rock adrenaline, MOON WIZARD set themselves apart from the countless other doom metal bands out there with a stylish retro edge.
Rating: 7/10
Sirens is out now via Hammerheart Records.
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