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Released on April 8, 2016 via Ripple Music / STB Records
It’s a common parental lament: “They grow up so quickly…..” as the realisation hits that those precious offspring are outgrowing the nest. San Diego quintet Red Wizard, we are informed, remain in their teens but debut full-length Cosmosis shows the kind of development from their 2014, five-track debut that could well cause disquiet to mothers and fathers. The rough-hewn, self-titled predecessor sounded somewhat naïve, but was no less enjoyable for that as it featured adroit musicianship and catchy melodies. With the braggadocio of youth, they even had the temerity to record a cover of ‘The Wizard’ by some bunch called Black Sabbath. Brave, but it was executed with aplomb.
Cosmosis benefits from a polished production and sees the band branching out with a display that belies their tender years. The album will be released on CD by Ripple Music, whose roster includes names such as Fen, Mos Generator and Leaf Hound, and on vinyl by STB Records.
Opening track ‘Tides Of War’ is most similar to the material of the debut, but it doesn’t take long for the outfit to showcase their compositional and instrumental dexterity. Travis Baucum on vocals pulverises his vocal chords with a throaty rasp, but is never anything less than distinctive. He manages to channel his “inner-Garcia” to good effect and even manages to bring Reverend Bizarre’s Albert Witchfinder to mind on ‘The Temples Of Tennitus’ (* little known-fact: Tennitus is a persistent ringing in the ears caused by playing too much tennis).
On ‘Blinded’ his harmonica-playing, featured on the afore-mentioned Sabbath cover, is again featured as the track veers off into a passage that Goatsnake would be proud of. The 10-minute title song, featuring an extended instrumental passage of near-psychedelic weirdness, provides ample evidence of this band’s growth. Cosmosis closes with a trilogy: ‘Red Wizard Suite, Parts I – III’. ‘Part I’ commences with a gentle, 30 seconds of Jeff Buckley-meets-lounge-act strumming and such mellow excerpts contrast with the galloping finale, capped by a fluid guitar solo. On ‘Part III’, the band sound like a more sun-baked version of Orange Goblin.
Their press-release cites Red Wizard as being steeped in the likes of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, but those possible influences don’t appear obvious, at least to my ears. Black Sabbath, however, are undoubtedly in evidence. Red Wizard, though, are no mere tribute act and well worth checking out by fans of doom and stoner with a retro sound and feel.
(*Little-known fact about little known facts: many little known facts are, in fact, completely made up).
