Released on: 11th May 2018
Southern Californians Old Man Wizard are taking The Crucible to its logical conclusion with Blame It All On Sorcery. Their second album and a prog metal masterclass. It is as cogent as it is emotionally provocative. Reminiscent of Pink Floyd, the space fart song from Rick & Morty and Shiny as sung by Jemaine Clement in Moana.
At times the whimsical passages that run through Blame It All On Sorcery are built with foreboding walls thick with distortion. Often opening up into a space that is resplendent with organic creations that whip and weave around the aforementioned musical masonry. Decorating the expanse, made through instrumental change, with sing-a-long choruses that spring from verses that rise in intensity to command some virtuous head banging.
Yet there are many more occasions when the band instead offer a laissez-fare experience. Beginning and developing a motif and running with it exclusively on acoustic guitar. Needless to say the dynamics between styles of metal, prog and folk are stupendous. With the guys creating riffs and rhythms that are filled with meaning that are generally well balanced; Delivering a musical vocabulary that is articulate and wonderfully eloquent.
Blame It All On Sorcery is an incredibly articulate album. Offering contrasts and comparisons that are ephemeral but impressionable. Its most noticeable feature however is the guitar work which smoothly transitions from ghostly apparition to having a densely lit constitution. Sturdily carried on the back on the rhythm and vocals. Of which each are interesting in their own robust right but lacking the timbre of the mighty guitar.
9/10
