| Electric Wizard | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Dorset, England |
| Genres | Doom metal, stoner metal[1] |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | Rise Above |
| Associated acts | Lord of Putrefaction, Thy Grief Eternal, Eternal, Ramesses, Sourvein, 13, Iron Monkey, Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine, Sabbah Navahthani |
| Members | |
| Jus Oborn Liz Buckingham Tas Danazoglou Shaun Rutter |
|
| Past members | |
| Tim Bagshaw Mark Greening Justin Greaves Rob Al-Issa |
|
Electric Wizard are a stoner metal band from Dorset, England that formed in 1993. The band have since recorded seven albums, at least three of which are now considered to be landmarks of their genre: their self-title debut, Electric Wizard, Come My Fanatics..., and Dopethrone.[2][3] 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.
Before the the band was named Electric Wizard, the origins can be traced back to 1988 when Jus Oborn was in the band - Lord of Putrefaction. They put out three demo tapes from 1989 - 1991 and also did one split with Mortal Remains. They Changed the band name to Thy Grief Eternal after Adam Richardson left the band.
In 1992, the band was re-named Thy Grief Eternal, they only put out one demo in 1992 called ...On Blackened Wings. They later changed the name to Eternal after James Evans left the band.
In 1993, the band once again changed their name to simply Eternal and put out two demos - Rehershals (July) (1992) and finally - Lucifer's Children 1993. After Gavin Gillingham left the band Jus Oborn started Electric Wizard.
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. The name - Electric Wizard is taken from two Black Sabbath songs 'Electric Funeral' & 'The Wizard'[4]
In 1995 the band signed to Rise Above Records and released their self-titled debut album, Electric Wizard.[1] 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..., which saw them add the sludge and stoner elements that have come to define Electric Wizard's sound.[1] Later that year, Man's Ruin records introduced the band to American audiences with the Chrono.Naut EP.[1]
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.[5] Health problems also plagued the band – Oborn suffered a collapsed eardrum during a concert, and later severed a fingertip in a DIY accident.[6] Greening also broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident.[7][8] 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.[3]
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).[1][6] In April 2003 Greening and Bagshaw left the band to form Ramesses.[1]
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.[1] 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. The band toured England and Australia in support of the album, also playing a show at the 2005 Roadburn Festival. Greaves left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Shaun Rutter.
In November 2007, Electric Wizard released Witchcult Today. It was recorded entirely using vintage audio equipment from the 1970s. In 2008 bassist Rob Al-Issa left the band and was replaced by Tas Danazoglou.[9] Witchcult Today has earned the band its most favourable reception since 2000.
In November 2010, Electric Wizard released their latest album: Black Masses. In support of the new album; the band played a small tour starting around Halloween with Moss as a supporting band. Its expected that more dates will be added in 2011.
According to the October issue of Decibel magazine, Electric Wizard have begun working on their new album, expected in 2012.
Electric Wizard will be playing their first U.S. show in ten years at the 2012 edition of Maryland Deathfest
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