Search - Electric Wizard :: Witchcult Today

Lovecraft Would Be Proud

Michael Pope | Clinton, MS United States | 12/12/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It may be a prerequisite to burn one as one listens to this album, but since I don't toke and don't intend to, you'll have to settle for a sober review.



OK, here's the screenplay: Imagine an ancient race of malevolent gods brooding under the sea, waiting for that opportune moment to arise out of the cold, black depths to rid their planet of the vermin of humanity. They are aided by a small cult of humans - betrayers to their race, if you will - that will be rewarded for their faithfulness once the Dark Ones are placed back on their rightful thrones of the earth. Electric Wizard's "Witchcult Today" would be the soundtrack to that movie...



The album is atmospheric more than anything else, with Osborn's and Buckingham's guitars laying down slab after slab of thick, fuzzy, crunchy guitar riffs nodding to Sabbath. I have read that the band dedicated themselves to using vintage instruments and equipment from the late 1960's to capture the full effect of the sound. It worked.



The songs are typical doom numbers in structure. Tempos are walking pace to downright super-largo, like oozing molasses in slow motion. Every song is in a minor key. Rob Al-Issa's bass is the backbone to the entire sound of the album, and rightly should be, as opposed to the failure of any identifiable bass on albums such as St. Vitus's "V". Also, don't look for excessive guitar noodling or a wide vocal range on any of the cuts. In a phrase, this album is for lovers of this genre only, and will NOT appeal to the mainstream, which is exactly what Electric Wizard wants...



The first two tracks, "Withcult Today" and "Dunwich", immediately drag the listener in with dark, catchy opening grooves. However, both songs get a bit repetitive within the last few minutes (the repeated phrases, "Our witchcult grows..." and "Our time has come...", ad nauseum). Still, these two gems practically pay for the album. "Satanic Rites of Drugula" is apparently a pun from the 1960's cult horror movie of the similar name ("Satanic Rites of Dracula"). "Raptus" is a forgettable soundscape that is totally unnecessary. "The Chosen Few" and "Torquemada '71" are similar to the first two tracks, but suffer from the same faults. "Black Magic Rituals & Perversions" is way too long for its own good. It starts out with a great groove, but ends in an atmospheric piece that literally goes nowhere. Plus, I just don't dig all the satanic incantations near the end. I almost always skip this track. The album ends with a great number, "Saturnine". This is one of my favorite songs on the album. Although it clocks in at around 11 minutes, it is enjoyable from start to finish.



Two big drawbacks I have with the whole project:

1. It is possible to overdo the satanic aspect. This is one of those albums that I have to listen to by myself for fear of offending others.

2. Depending on the edition one buys, the inside artwork of the American release is shocking to say the least. It is filled with photographs of acts of satanic worship. I can only hope the photographs were staged...!



This will probably be the only Electric Wizard (EW) album I own, but in a few places, it truly shines with that dark, rich luster from the Netherworld."