Spinefarm Records & Mythology Agency proudly announces the upcoming release of ‘Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1,’ a stunning new live-to-tape double album by the legendary British doom band, Electric Wizard, set for release on December 13, 2024.
Captured on a 16-track tape machine, ‘Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1’ encapsulates the raw and malevolent essence that fans have come to expect from Electric Wizard.
“It’s raw as hell,” declares frontman Jus Oborn. “It feels like an unearthed ’70s black metal demo, raw and nasty, screaming in your face. I always said Electric Wizard was like rats in your face. This is pushing that boundary.”
With the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020, Electric Wizard faced uncertainty about future live performances. In the secluded Westcountry of England, where Jus Oborn and guitarist Liz Buckingham reside, the band retreated to their crypt-like jam space to create a live album unlike any other.
“We had been touring intensively for two years, hitting America three times, and visiting Japan and Australia. We were really tight,” explains Jus. “When the pandemic struck, we thought, ‘Screw it, maybe we’ll never play live again.’ So, we hit the jam room to capture our live energy on tape.”
The album opens with the colossal ‘Dopethrone’ and includes iconic doom anthems like ‘Witchcult Today,’ ‘Satanic Rites of Drugula,’ and the relentless ‘Funeralopolis.’ This set showcases Electric Wizard’s formidable power and dominance.
Jus aimed to capture the raw immediacy reminiscent of Motörhead’s ‘No Sleep ’til Hammersmith’ (1981) or the immersive experience of KISS’ ‘ALIVE!’ (1975), offering listeners a glimpse into the unique world Electric Wizard conjures. It’s an opportunity for a band of their cult status to illuminate metal’s gritty underworld, if only to shock the unsuspecting.
“We’ve always strived to pull the underground into the mainstream,” Jus states. “Instead of feigning a grand stadium show, we bring our raw energy to the forefront.”
Prepare for a soundtrack to the apocalypse. Step into the chaos, dear fanatics. Electric F*cking Wizard beckons…
Tracklisting for Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1:
Dopethrone
Incense For The Damned
Black Mass
Witchcult Today
Satanic Rites of Drugula
Scorpio Curse
The Chosen Few
Funeralopolis
Available formats include two limited edition 2-disc vinyl pressings—one in transparent green and the other in hot pink—along with CD and digital versions. Two exclusive shirt designs accompany the release.