Electric Wizard: Difference between revisions
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In August 2003, Oborn revealed Electric Wizard's new line-up – drummer Greaves, second-guitarist Liz Buckingham (of 13 and [[Sourvein]]), and bassist Rob Al-Issa.<ref name=rock/> This new lineup recorded ''[[We Live]]'' in 2004, which featured a similar sound to ''Let Us Prey'', but with a much "tighter" style. The general response from critics and fans has been mixed. Greaves left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Shaun Rutter. In November 2007, Electric Wizard released their most recent album, entitled ''[[Witchcult Today]]''. It was recorded entirely using vintage audio equipment from the 1970s.<ref name=riseabove>[http://www.riseaboverecords.com/bandpages.asp?band=ewiz Electric Wizard biography at Rise Above Records]</ref> ''Witchcult Today'' has earned the band its most favourable reception since 2000. |
In August 2003, Oborn revealed Electric Wizard's new line-up – drummer Greaves, second-guitarist Liz Buckingham (of 13 and [[Sourvein]]), and bassist Rob Al-Issa.<ref name=rock/> This new lineup recorded ''[[We Live]]'' in 2004, which featured a similar sound to ''Let Us Prey'', but with a much "tighter" style. The general response from critics and fans has been mixed. Greaves left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Shaun Rutter. In November 2007, Electric Wizard released their most recent album, entitled ''[[Witchcult Today]]''. It was recorded entirely using vintage audio equipment from the 1970s.<ref name=riseabove>[http://www.riseaboverecords.com/bandpages.asp?band=ewiz Electric Wizard biography at Rise Above Records]</ref> ''Witchcult Today'' has earned the band its most favourable reception since 2000. |
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As of 2010, Electric Wizard will be concentrating on work for their new album: 'Black Masses' its planned for release 1st November 2010. |
As of 2010, Electric Wizard will be concentrating on work for their new album: 'Black Masses' its planned for release 1st November 2010. It has been stated on the Rise Above Records facebook page, that the album is in the mixing stage. After which the band plans a small tour starting around Halloween with [[Moss (band)|Moss]] as a supporting band.. |
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==Members== |
==Members== |
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Revision as of 00:10, 7 September 2010
Electric Wizard |
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Electric Wizard are a doom metal band from Dorset, England that formed in 1993. The band have since recorded six albums, two of which are now considered to be landmarks of their genre: Come My Fanatics... and Dopethrone.[1][2] Electric Wizard have a distinct yet traditional doom metal sound that incorporates stoner and sludge traits, with lyrics typically involving the occult, witchcraft, H.P. Lovecraft, horror films and cannabis. During 2003, founding members Tim Bagshaw and Mark Greening left to form the band Ramesses, making guitarist/vocalist Jus Oborn the only founding member who remains.
History
Electric Wizard began in Wimborne in Dorset, England during 1993, when guitarist Jus Oborn left the band Eternal/Thy Grief Eternal and joined with bassist Tim Bagshaw and drummer Mark Greening.
In 1995 the band signed to Rise Above Records and released their self-titled debut album, Electric Wizard.[3] The music was in the vein of traditional doom metal, and it received positive reviews. Later that year they released the song "Demon Lung" as a split-single with Our Haunted Kingdom (later to become Orange Goblin). In 1997 the band recorded and released, Come My Fanatics..., an album which has come to define Electric Wizard's sound.[3] Later that year, Man's Ruin records introduced the band to American audiences with the Chrono.Naut EP.[3]
In the three years following the release of Come My Fanatics...., the members of Electric Wizard encountered a series of setbacks. There were legal issues – Oborn was arrested for possession of cannabis, Greening was arrested for assaulting a police officer, and Bagshaw served a sentence for robbery[4]. Health problems also plagued the band – Oborn suffered a collapsed eardrum during a concert, and later severed a fingertip in a DIY accident.[5] Greening also broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident[6][7]. During this time the band released the Supercoven EP on Bad Acid Records.
After recovering from their complications, Electric Wizard finally recorded and released a third album, Dopethrone, in 2000. This album expanded upon themes from Come My Fanatics... and pushed doom metal into unknown territories.[2] Their next album, entitled Let Us Prey, was released in 2002. It was Electric Wizard's most experimental record, adopting an aggressive sound similar to sludge metal. Following the release the band embarked on an ill-fated North American tour that produced tensions between band members. The final concert of the tour was announced as their last, but this would prove a premature announcement. Electric Wizard subsequently returned to the UK for a tour with Cathedral, on which Greening was replaced by Justin Greaves (of Iron Monkey).[3][5] In April 2003 Greening and Bagshaw left the band to form Ramesses.[3]
In August 2003, Oborn revealed Electric Wizard's new line-up – drummer Greaves, second-guitarist Liz Buckingham (of 13 and Sourvein), and bassist Rob Al-Issa.[3] This new lineup recorded We Live in 2004, which featured a similar sound to Let Us Prey, but with a much "tighter" style. The general response from critics and fans has been mixed. Greaves left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Shaun Rutter. In November 2007, Electric Wizard released their most recent album, entitled Witchcult Today. It was recorded entirely using vintage audio equipment from the 1970s.[8] Witchcult Today has earned the band its most favourable reception since 2000.
As of 2010, Electric Wizard will be concentrating on work for their new album: 'Black Masses' its planned for release 1st November 2010. It has been stated on the Rise Above Records facebook page, that the album is in the mixing stage. After which the band plans a small tour starting around Halloween with Moss as a supporting band..
Members
Current members
- Jus Oborn – guitar, vocals (1993-present)
- Liz Buckingham – guitar (2003-present)
- Tas - bass (2008-present)
- Shaun Rutter – drums (2006-present)
Past members
- Rob Al-Issa – bass (2003-2008)
- Tim Bagshaw – bass (now in Ramesses) (1993-2003)
- Mark Greening – drums (also now in Ramesses) (1993-2003)
- Justin Greaves – drums (former member of Iron Monkey, Borknagar, Hard to Swallow, Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine; current member of Crippled Black Phoenix) (2003-2006)
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Notes |
| 1995 | Electric Wizard | Rise Above Records/GB | CD, Vinyl | |
| 1997 | Come My Fanatics... | Rise Above Records/GB | CD, Vinyl | Re-issued vinyl gate fold edition had Bonus 7" vinyl which included: "Demon Lung" & "Return to the Son of Nothingness" |
| 2000 | Dopethrone | Rise Above Records/GB | CD, Vinyl | Release date: 25/09/2000 |
| 2002 | Let Us Prey | The Music Cartel/US | CD, Vinyl | |
| 2004 | We Live | Rise Above Records/GB | CD, Vinyl | Extra songs included on reissues:
"The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue" – 4:59 (appears as a bonus 7" on the 2006 vinyl reissue, and as an extra track on the 2006 CD reissue) "Tutti I Colori Del Buio" (All the Colors of the Dark ) – 16:13 (appears only on vinyl editions) |
| 2007 | Witchcult Today | Candlelight Records USA/US | CD, Vinyl | Release date: 20/11/2007 |
| 2010 | Black Masses | Rise Above Records UK | CD, Vinyl | Release date: 01/11/2010 |
All studio albums released on Rise Above Records.
EPs
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
| 1996 | Demon Lung | Rise Above | Split 7" with Our Haunted Kingdom |
| 1997 | Chrono.Naut | Man's Ruin | |
| 1997 | Chrono.Naut/Nuclear Guru | Man's Ruin | Split CD with Orange Goblin |
| 1998 | Supercoven | Bad Acid | Reissued with extra songs in 2000 |
| 2008 | The House on the Borderland | Rise Above | Split 12" with Reverend Bizarre |
| 2008 | The Processean | Rise Above | Sold exclusively at the Rise Above Records 20th Anniversary Show (13 December 2008) |
Compilation albums
- Come My Fanatics.../Electric Wizard (1999, Rise Above)
- Pre-Electric Wizard 1989-1994 (2006, Rise Above)
References
- ^ Rivadavia, Ed. "Come My Fanatics... Review". allmusic. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
Essential doom
- ^ a b Rivadavia, Ed. "Dopethrone Review". allmusic. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
with Dopethrone, Electric Wizard has raised the bar for doom metal achievement in the new millennium
- ^ a b c d e f Electric Wizard biography at MusicMight
- ^ Lolipop: Electric Wizard
- ^ a b Electric Wizard biography at Allmusic
- ^ Electric Wizard
- ^ MetalReactor: Electric Wizard Biography
- ^ Electric Wizard biography at Rise Above Records