ALBUM REVIEW: Subterranean Exile – The Wizar’d
There are plenty of bands that get to their fourth album and begin to rest on their laurels, opting for their tried and true sound without ever really pushing the envelope any more than they already have. Fortunately this is not the case for the Tasmanian natives THE WIZAR’D, who have steadily added to their craft over the course of their reliefs. Since the release of Ancient Tome Of Arcane Knowledge the band have parted ways with both their drummer known onstage as Iron Tyrant and bassist Tangerine Dream. The previous guitarist Blackie has now moved sideways to four string duties, THE WIZAR’D have introduced new members Master of the Night on guitar and Maniac Frodsham on drums, respectively, with Ol’ Rusty continuing in his role as lead vocalist and guitar player. With their new release Subterranean Exile, the band are not simply looking to steady the ship, rather they are looking to take their new acquisitions on and strive forward into new sonic territory.From the very outset it is clear that the band are looking to expand upon their finely tuned brand of doom metal. On the album opening title track the two guitars of Ol’ Rusty and Master of the Night intertwine with each other with their soaring harmonies and riffs to create a grand sound that captivates the listener which highlights the fact that the new axeman has slotted in to his new role seamlessly and THE WIZAR’D are much stronger for it. The vocal melodies throughout the release are infectious to say the least, the vocal work from Ol’ Rusty pair up with his new guitarist counterpart effectively and layer up in the chorus for extra emphasis.
The aforementioned melodic guitar riffs and interlinking lead runs are a highlight that run throughout the entirety of the release and this is no more apparent than in the introduction to Wizard’s Revenge. The eccentric, charismatic vocal delivery of the front man adds an evil sound to proceedings, often coming across as the war cries of a madman. Once again the reliance on harmonised guitar leads is well founded, the retro style that they are written will appease rock and roll veterans as well as a new generation.
The groove that is fed into the very bones of the song Master of the Night is undeniable, as is the swagger and confidence that it is delivered with. This is where THE WIZAR’D are really coming in to their own as songwriters and indeed as musicians as a whole. The rhythm section on the song is among the finest on the release with the drums of Maniac Frodsham and the bass guitar of Blackie is water tight and lays a solid foundation for the rest of the song to build upon. If you were trying to show someone a track as a gateway to the band then this would be the one as it is probably the most accessible on the entire release.
Towards the back end of the album is the track Evil In My Heart which is as straight forward of a rock song as you are likely to hear from this group. The riffs once again are a focal point, driving the song forward aided by the powerful vocal display from Ol’ Rusty. Everything about this song has a touch of nostalgia for the late 70s era of rock and roll from the structure of the song itself to the guitar tones and slight echo on the vocal lines. Towards the end of the song is a solo that has shades of IRON MAIDEN about it as it sails over the top of a galloping rhythm section and tells a tale of its own, a sure highlight of an already well composed and impressive release.
THE WIZAR’D have honed their craft over the course of their career and have progressed with each release. Subterranean Exile may well be their most cohesive and concise release to date, demonstrating all of the things that the band have learned throughout their time together and creating a mature album that far surpasses their age and experience. The land down under may not be renowned for it’s doom metal scene, but this band are setting about the right way of making an name for themselves internationally and changing that.
Rating: 8/10
Subterranean Exile is out now via Cruz del Sur Music.
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