New Waste

Stoner metal is a relatively young sub-genre of heavy metal, and yet it suffers from a musical blight of sound-alike bands. This produces a need for new bands that enter its ranks to employ more trailblazing songwriting, musicianship, and imagery to make it more diverse. Allow me to present to you, the reader, a band that is a stark reminder that one can always produce originality within a realm of “special snowflakes” and bands that are common-place in style: Black Wizard. It’s ironic that a band that shares a name identical to four other “Black Wizards,” of the world can churn out songs that will baffle those who listen to them, with a style that is one-of-a-kind. Their latest conjuring comes in the form of their new album, New Waste, a lengthy and unique collection of songs.

What I enjoy most from this band is their variety of styles that they play around with. There’s some of the normal blues driven, head-long jams like “Eliminator” and “The Priest” that give off a more traditional light, but Black Wizard is not done there. They produce melancholy ballads like that of “Waiting For” and “Laughing and Lost,” which the latter of the two could have been from a Pink Floyd record. Hell, I even heard some thrash metal akin to early Metallica on the opening track “Revival,” “Final Ripper,” and some parts of “The Priest.” Metallica and Pink Floyd? If that doesn’t scream diversity, then I don’t know what does. There was clearly much time put forth from Black Wizard’s members as to how they wanted their band to evolve.

On top of all of that, the Black Wizard’s musical chemistry is nothing short of spectacular. I’ve heard a few stoner metal and even some doom metal bands attempt to add harmonies in their guitars’ licks, but it would sound so contrived and unnatural that it was cheesy. Yet the harmonies used in New Waste seem completely organic and actually provide a purpose to the music. The bass guitar and drum kit are perfectly intertwined into one another and they work together to create a bottom end that is rock solid, yet flowing and fluid to allow for the tunes to gain momentum and chug along. Each member adds their own staple to the music to ensure its uniqueness and that every idea and small melody doesn’t go unnoticed. This is all made possible to the production that enables the band sound both clean in their tones, but simple and unpolished in their riffing style. It’s spacey and a great fit for this odd trip of a group.

For a doom/stoner metal band, Black Wizard’s musical style in New Waste is fairly intense and driving in its melodies and riffs, unlike the usual neo-doom metal band that prefers to keep their songs below 110 bpm’s. This is okay for a few songs, but after one reaches minute ten of the fourteen minute, snail-packed funeral dirge, they start to become bored indeed. All of the songs on New Waste are pleasant to listen to because of their musical uniqueness. Those that are slow are jam paced with captivating vocals, riffs, and rhythms that show that the band is capable of all sorts of playing styles. The fast-paced burners like “Revival” are even more cool just because they are driving and mow down everything in their path. Adam Grant’s vocals are particularly versatile, and this adds an aspect of layers, that makes a potentially mono-tonal record full of life, vibrant qualities, and varied styles to keep the listener satisfied. He can shout, shriek, and wail. He does it all. If you’re in the business of entertaining people, then why bore them? Black Wizard certainly won’t do that.

I’ve got a riddle for all of you out there in reader land: What happens when you cross versatility and vitality with talent and expertise? You get New Waste by Black Wizard. Sure, there are plenty of albums that fit the description of the above album, but let’s be honest. In the world of doom/stoner metal, bands that fit that description are uncommon at best. Bands like Black Wizard have reaffirmed my belief that stoner metal and doom metal are the fastest growing sub-genres of heavy metal, especially the first of those two. Along with bands like the similarly titled Goat Wizard, Black Black Black, and Sergeant Thunderhoof, Black Wizard is ready to take the world by storm and become the world’s newest metal sensation.