Their second album for Listenable Records and their fourth overall, Black Wizards will release their new long-player, Livin’ Oblivion, sometime in Feb. 2018. The Vancouver-based outfit — who are not to be confused with The Black Wizards, from Portugal — made their debut on Listenable with Feb. 2016’s New Waste (review here), so they would seem to be right on schedule for somewhere in the middle of the month. Punctuality in heavy rock and roll is vastly underrated. I consider myself a reasonably responsible person and it’s a total crapshoot if I can show up anywhere on time. Hit or miss, completely.

Anyhoozle, Black Wizard have shown up in plenty of places since New Waste landed — copious touring and whatnot — and it looks like they’ll make their way back to Europe to support Livin’ Oblivion as well. The PR wire brings the preliminary album announcement:

BLACK WIZARD: Heavy Metal/Stoner Rock Collective To Release Livin’ Oblivion Full-Length This February Via Listenable Records; Artwork And Track Listing Revealed

Canadian heavy metal/stoner rock collective BLACK WIZARD will release their brand new full-length Livin’ Oblivion this February via France’s Listenable Records. Their second release on Listenable and fourth album overall was produced and engineered by Michael Kraushaar in Vancouver, BC, and comes sheathed in the cover art of renowned Berlin, Germany-based illustrator Eliran Kantor (Testament, Crowbar, Satan).

Livin’ Oblivion centers itself on the obliteration or slow decay of one’s self, morals, and life as we know it. “We are living in an age where the powers of the World are taking steps backwards and moving away from a positive future,” the band elaborates. “There is a large number of disenfranchised youth and young adults that would rather live their lives in oblivion — drinking, drugs, partying etc. — than chasing any kind of future or dreams, simply because the rest of the world seems to be falling apart around them.”

Further info on BLACK WIZARD’s Livin’ Oblivion, including final release date, teaser tracks, and preorders, to be released in the coming weeks. Stand by.

Livin’ Oblivion Track Listing:
1. Two Of These Nights
2. Feast Or Famine
3. James Wolfe
4. Livin Oblivion
5. Cascadia
6. Portraits
7. Poisoned Again
8. Heavy Love
9. Eternal Illusion

Since their first Listenable album release, New Waste, in early 2016, the band has toured non-stop including a Canadian mini-tour with Red Fang, a six-week stadium tour with Killswitch Engage and Volbeat, a month-long US tour supporting Brant Bjork and Royal Thunder, a month-long North American tour supporting Weedeater, and so much more. At home on the road, BLACK WIZARD is ready to take to the streets again kicking 2018 off with their fourth European run.

BLACK WIZARD is:
Adam Grant – vocals/guitar
Eugene Parkomenko – drums
Danny Stokes – guitar
Evan Joel – bass

http://www.facebook.com/blackwizardband/
https://twitter.com/BlackWizardVan
https://www.instagram.com/blackwizboys/
https://blackwizard.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/listenablerecs
http://www.listenable.net

Black Wizard, New Waste (2016)

Tonight’s the night. Or at least it’s a night. One of 26 on the current European tour of San Diego heavy psych rockers Joy and Vancouver strutters Black Wizard, but it also happens to be the first one, so, you know, that’s not nothing. Joy head overseas supporting their sophomore full-length for Tee Pee, Ride Along! (review here), while Black Wizard made their debut back in February on Listenable Records with their third offering overall, New Waste (review here). I would not at all be surprised if these two wound up jamming onstage together at some point on this trip — if not at all points on this trip — and not that you’d really need another reason to show up, but surely that would be one.

They’ll hit Desertfest Belgium 2016 along the way. Tee Pee posted the dates thusly:

JOY is touring Europe with Black Wizard – mark the dates!

Joy & Black Wizard on tour:
27.09 DE / Oldenburg, MTS Citysound
28.09 DE / Berlin, Urban Spree
29.09 NL / Tilburg, Little Devil
30.09 FR / Caen, Portobello Club
01.10 FR / Tours, TBA
02.10 FR / Bordeaux, TBA
03.10 SP /Oviedo,TBA
04.10 SP / Madrid, Maravillas Club
05.10 SP / Bercelona, Incivic Zone
06.10 FR / St. Etienne, Thunderbird
07.10 CH / Olten, Le Coq D Or
08.10 CH / Kreuzlingen, Horst Klub
09.10 IT / Treviso, Punky Raggae Pub
10.10 SLO / Ilirska Bistrica, Mknž
11.10 SLO / Lubiana, beltinci
12.10 DE / Wurzburg, Immerhim
13.10 DE / Köln, Sonic Ballroom
14.10 BE / Antwerp DESERTFEST
15.10 NL/ Den Haag, Bazart
16.10 DE / Freiburg, White Rabbit
17.10 DE / Karlsruhe, AKK
19.10 AT/ Innsburck, Decentral
20.10 DE / Leipzig, LIWI
21.10 DE / Dresden, Chemiefabrik
22.10 AT /Linz, Kapu
23.10 DE / Halle, Hünermanhattan

Award-winning California psych rock band JOY released its new album, Ride Along!, Friday, April 29 via Tee Pee Records. Produced by vocalist / guitarist Zachary Oakley and recorded at San Diego’s Audio Design Studios (Earthless, Rocket From the Crypt), the album contains nine new JOY compositions and a searing cover of ZZ Top’s “Certified Blues”. Ride Along! features guest contributions from an all-star lineup of Cali psych rock heroes, including Earthless drummer Mario Rubalcaba, Radio Moscow guitarist Parker Griggs and guitarist Brenden Dellar, of Tee Pee labelmates, Sacri Monti.

https://www.facebook.com/JOYHEADBAND/
https://www.instagram.com/joyheadband/
https://www.facebook.com/teepeerecords

Joy, “Peyote Blues”

Starting to get crowded on the poster for Desertfest Belgium 2016, but there’s no question the latest lineup update from the Antwerp-based Oct. fest is worth making room for, with John Garcia and Black Cobra leading the charge and the likes of Scorpion Child, JOY and Black Wizard offering backup. I can’t imagine there will be anyone in attendance at the fest who won’t be familiar with Garcia‘s work in Kyuss, Hermano, Slo Burn, Unida, etc. — I actually revisited the Vista Chino record last week on a whim; it’s held up well — and of course Black Cobra‘s devastating reputation precedes them as veterans of other Desertfests and just about everywhere else at this point.

The fest sent the following down the PR wire:

Hot on the trail of our last announcement, we present you with another load of great names to look forward to. We are delighted to welcome desertrock royalty JOHN GARCIA to the DF Antwerp stage this year, for what is sure to be a mesmerizing performance like we have come to expect from the Man. We are equally happy to announce SCORPION CHILD and BLACK COBRA, two bands with an excellent live reputation who will surely set the stage on fire. Expect no less from JOY too, a jam experience that is sure to equal Harsh Toke’s blistering performance from last year. And finally, BLACK WIZARD will be appearing to bring their homemade blend of stoner doom.

Our next announcement will be a biggie, so keep watching this space!

JOHN GARCIA

The man, the myth, the legend. John already secured his place in the rock history books as the iconic singer for the band who started it all, Kyuss. After that, he has consistently delivered only the finest in desert rock, both with outfits like Slo Burn, Unida and Vista Chino and as a solo recording artist on his 2014 self-titled album which showcased his immense talents as a vocalist and songwriter. Still one of the most powerful voices in rock music period, we’re proud to present the Man at DF Antwerp 2016.

SCORPION CHILD

Hailing from Texas freak capital Austin, Scorpion Child indeed add a slightly unhinged quality to their unique combination of classic rock influences. Their 2013 self-titled debut and the subsequent “Polygon of Eyes” single established them as a force to deal with. After that, gigs with Clutch and Monster Truck on the “Lords of the Riff” UK Tour cemented a serious live reputation as well. Now with their new album Acid Roulette, Scorpion Child confidently expands their sonic palette, but the focus is still squarely on a rocking good time!

BLACK COBRA

Formed by drummer Rafa Martinez (ex-Acid King) and guitarist/vocalist Jason Landrian (ex-Cavity), BLACK COBRA catapulted themselves onto the scene in 2001 with their ravenous, upbeat and ultimately unique style of punk/hardcore-fueled sludge metal. After several albums on At A Loss Recordings and Southern Lord, they have become virtually a household name to the tens of thousands of fans who’ve witnessed their flooring live performance.

JOY

The sound of JOY has been described as “a spaced-out sonic groove-ride” and “outer reach freak out.” Their kaleidoscopic flurry and full-throttle riffage is anchored by a subtle ear for detail and surprising textural depth. JOY has shared the stage with acts such as Dead Meadow, Harsh Toke, and psychedelic giants Earthless, with whom they now also share a record label. Tee Pee Records just released their new full album ‘Ride Along, another glorious slab of psychedelic boogie featuring members of Earthless, Sacri Monti and Radio Moscow.

BLACK WIZARD

Their performance is impressive, the sound is massive, the vocals are colossal and the guitar leads are seriously, seriously great. We could find more adjectives to describe the heavy heavy sound of Vancouver’s Black Wizard, but nobody put it better than the mysterious “Gord”, who is quoted on their website: “The only band in town that adds inches to your dick.” How could we follow up an endorsement like that!

https://www.facebook.com/desertfestbelgium/
https://twitter.com/desertfestBE
https://www.facebook.com/events/488174281372335/
http://www.desertfest.be/tickets

Black Cobra, Live at Saint Vitus Bar, April 1, 2016

Brash Vancouver rockers Black Wizard make their debut on Listenable Records Feb. 12 with their third album, New Waste. It is not to be confused with the old waste.

If there’s any resonant doubt that modern heavy rock is the inheritor of the methods and boozy intentions of classic metal, the dual guitar antics Black Wizard proffer throughout New Waste tracks like “Revival,” “Harsh Time,” “Eliminator,” “The Priest” and “Final Ripper” should lay them thoroughly to rest. While basking in the hazy light of an increasingly prevalent (particularly in the Pacific Northwest) post-Red Fang neo-dude party vibe, the four-piece of guitarist/vocalist Adam Grant, guitarist Danny Stokes, bassist Evan Joel and drummer Eugene Parkomenko also pay due homage to Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden‘s gallop and Judas Priest‘s fist-pump-ready groove. Their tones and upbeat style find breadth in the inclusion of organ on the slower “Laughing and Lost” and the Spanish guitar ending of “Vivian Girls,” the plus-sized riffing of “Unnecessary Evil,” but they never go too far from that metallic underpinning, tying the album together as a unified whole even as individual songs stand out across its span.

The band made their self-titled debut in 2010 and followed that with the self-released Young Wisdom LP in 2013, so that they’d have a solid sense of where they want to be aesthetically makes sense — the album is not raw anymore in style than in substance — and an abiding lack of pretense throughout lends even familiar motor-riffing elements a certain charm. I doubt Black Wizard would tell you they’re reinventing the wheel so much as using it to head out to the proverbial highway. After a raging one-two punch in “Revival” and “Harsh Time,” “Laughing and Lost” delves more into classic rock balladry, but “Vivian Girls” blends impulses well en route to the centerpiece “Eliminator,” which rides forth in catchy course while reinforcing the brain-cell destruction and the momentum of the album alike. The subsequent “Unnecessary Evil” cuts the tempo smoothly to set the table for a side B interlude and brief respite in “Waiting For” prior to “The Priest” — guess we know who we’re waiting for — and the latter track picks up where “Harsh Time” left off, it and “Final Ripper” providing a bookend to New Waste as a closing salvo that seems to mirror the opening one.

A central difference, though, is that the final pair of tracks, “The Priest” and “Final Ripper,” are shorter than were “Revival” — the longest song on the album at 6:39 as well as the opener (immediate points) — and “Harsh Time,” and that speaks to the momentum that Black Wizard build up as they run through this material. Listenable is doing a vinyl release as well, but New Waste feels structured as a front-to-back, linear listen too, and as it moves along, it continues to gain in its overarching thrust as well as its scope until the band brings it back around to finish with a tighter incarnation of where they started. Easy to imagine them bleary-eyed, coming to at its conclusion from blackout-induced lost time, but I think there’s more consciousness at work in New Waste than they might want the listener to believe. A record so fluid doesn’t just happen, and whether they’re willing to admit it or not, these guys know what they’re doing.

I have the pleasure today of hosting “Vivian Girls” as a track premiere. Please find it below, along with some more background on the band, and enjoy:

BLACK WIZARD: New Waste Full-Length To See Release Through Listenable Records Next Month

BLACK WIZARD was forged in 2009 by four high school friends. Founding members Adam Grant and Eugene Parkomenko were both working underwhelming construction jobs at the time, passing the days to the sounds of Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Witch, and Electric Wizard. Heavily motivated by the thick, weight sounds of bands like Bison and 3 Inches Of Blood monopolizing the scene at the time, “The Wiz” was born. Having followed a true DIY aesthetic, the band has released two full length LPs along with a 7″ single independently and sold over five thousand copies worldwide.

More recently BLACK WIZARD has kept busy touring Canada and the United States and spent last Fall on a month-long trek through Europe. Having shared stages with the likes of Sleep, Uncle Acid, Corrosion Of Conformity, The Shrine, Atomic Bitchwax, Weedeater, Saviours, Anciients and so many more, the band shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. No one is safe.

Black Wizard on Thee Facebooks

Black Wizard on Bandcamp

Black Wizard preorders at Listenable Records

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