A Heavy/Doom Metal, a multi-instrumentalist from the US, that summons catchy riffs with progressive and heavy elements. June 23rd, 2023, saw the Wizard Tattoo independently release his studio album Fables of the Damned, which would gratify Fans of Conan, Led Zeppelin, and Sunn O))).
Introduction:
Wizard Tattoo, Fables of the Damned: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Fables of the Damned
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Wizard Tattoo and his album, Fables of the Damned.
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Features summoning catchy riffs and soaring guitar solos with progressive (distorted/drone buzz-feed), heavy blues and wacky/groovy rhythms with bluesy bass riffs. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Involves bewitching of distorted vocals and ghostly vocals and (epic sing-along) choruses and narration. The Third Sin—The Percussions: Delves into the vast world of various tempo drum strikes/fills and beats.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion: Eerie, dark-bewitching and spellbinding -yet cheek-in-the-tongue fun…
Immediately before the listener presses that play button and heads into the review and the music, one should listen to the self-titled debut before Fable Of The Damned. Due to this, Fable Of The Damned picks up where the self-titled EP left off.
As soon as the listener presses that play button, one is welcome to a whammy-jammy (distortion of) introductory instrumental and vocal of the opening track, Wizard Van. Following suit with the second piece, The Black Mountain Pass, and the remaining five pieces and the continuation of the story. A story about a “man who gets a tattoo of a wizard and slowly loses his mind” –while introducing new characters like the loser of the infamous battle from the previous (song) released Wizard Knife Fight.
As one continues their journey and story, where the music feels heavier, darker and more unique – it feels structured as if seven distinct musical tales of madness come to life colourfully and imaginatively forming a whole piece.
While listening to and writing this article, I was spellbound straight away by the sound, various tempos, moods, and atmosphere incorporated within the opening.
The remaining six pieces delivered by this fruit of art and gifted multi-instrumentalist of devilmanship of Bram The Bard provide the listener’s ears with an electrifying, entertaining and magical release (bringing the music and entire album alive) and a perfect follow-up to his previous EP.
At the same time, Bram delivers and provides the listener’s ears with this captivating progressive heavy doom atmosphere with some changes here and there -which includes … Adding the heavy doom influences of UK heavy-doom act, Conan with the classic (splash of dirty rock & roll) rock of Led Zeppelin, as well as a healthy dose of 90s alternative Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains and drone metal of Sunn O))) and some gothic doom is added. Creating this experimental, theatrical and epic sound that’s spellbinding and utilises different compositions/characteristics, tones, moods, and tempos (convenient to place at the right moment) of instrumental/vocal artistry.
Simultaneously, the listener will encounter that each song doesn’t sound the same, neither repetitive nor dull a magical journey of one’s own imagined/vivid mind
Fans of Wizard Tattoo’s unique blend of catchy riffs with progressive and heavy elements will not be disappointed with Fable Of The Damned. The album is a fruit of an art display of Bram Bard’s musical prowess and a testament to the band’s ability to blend genres into a cohesive, hard-hitting sound seamlessly.
Wizard Tattoo is for lovers of heavy/doom metal, hard rock, and non-metal/rock fans…
The album comes to an end with the last song, Abendrote. An (over) slow six-minute instrumental piece, which welcomes the listener with a fascinating (medieval vibe) acoustic guitar along with this “flight of the dragons” wooden flute playing, with the additional sombre violin/tambourine… — hitting the four-half-minute mark, the piece transcends into this progressive doom-like instrumental….
We want to give a shoutout to Wizard Tattoo for letting us review his album, Fable Of The Damned. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
You’re Listening to “The Black Mountain Pass”
PlayThe Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins, our thoughts on Wizard Tattoo and his album, Fables of the Damned.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia: Altogether provides the listener’s ears with this entertaining, theatrically -at times eerie atmosphere -yet fun, cheek in the tongue, but dark-bewitching and spellbinding release from the moment of pressing that play button.
Simultaneously, track three, The Vengeful Thulsa Dan and track four Any Which Way But Tuned were the highlight songs for us. Both songs were magical and something else! Any Which Way But Tuned goes for the acoustic guitar and folklike singing (gives the song this) epic/folklore and Viking/Lord of the Rings vibe -with the additional violin sections adding a touch of sombre…-magical!
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The artwork was originally hand-drawn by Bram the Bard. Horror movies and comics inspire the painting, bringing the album’s six tales of madness to life colourfully and imaginatively.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Wizard Tattoo, and his album, Fables of the Damned.
This concludes the Wizard Tattoo, Fables of the Damned review.
Track-Listing:
- Wizard Van
- The Black Mountain Pass
- The Vengeful Thulsa Dan
- Any Which Way But Tuned
- The Ghost of Doctor Beast
- God Damn This Wizard Tattoo
- Abendrote
