Six years is a long time, and The Black Wizards have used it to give their sound a fresh twist. They’re back on Hassle Records with renewed energy and an evolved sound. This evolution has not only been musical, as the original line-up has also changed. The new trio features the powerful vocals and guitar of Joana Brito, Helena Peixoto on drums and José Gomes on bass.
‘Killing the Buzz’ is a track inspired by the psychedelia that characterises the band. However, there has been a shift from stoner rock towards garage-style sounds. The track features a circular riff and an immersive atmosphere similar to that of bands like Frankie and the Witch Fingers, bringing a more contemporary psychedelia that pulls the listener in without letting go. José joins Joana on vocals, bringing the tug-of-war energy of Blues Pills to the table and lending weight to the alternative stoner riff, which shares the desert-dry aggression of Greek band Puta Volcano.
“Killing the Buzz came out pretty funny & sarcastic, while talking about a real subject. The song is about being fed up with people in power positions, be it economical, political or social.” (Joana Brito)
Lyrically, this is a protest song, albeit an unconventional one. The line ‘I’ll be gone in a minute’ expresses detachment and anger towards politics itself. Here, The Black Wizards take a stand and offer their perspective on the latest election campaign in their homeland, Portugal: a noose around the neck, a house burning behind empty words, someone dressing up to look better on election posters. The sharpest line comes almost casually: ‘Did they teach you any manners?’, with which they ironically criticise the figures in power responsible for destroying vital energy with their mediocrity and corruption while disguising themselves as the ‘right man’.
A band that has taken its time, reshaping, refining, stripping back, and arrived exactly where they needed to be. The buzz is very much alive.
The Black Wizards live dates:
11 Apr – Barcelos, PT – Festival MotoRock
28 May – Esbjerg, DK – Fuzztival
30 May – Blädinge, SE – MuskelRock Festival
11 June – Porto, PT – Lovers & Lollypops
12 June – Cartaxo, PT – Cartaxo Sessions
13 June – Penafiel, PT – Racing Fest
26 June – Paimpol, FR – Paimpol in Rock Festival
28 June – Manigod, FR – Namass Pamouss Festival
30 July – Guimarães, PT – Festival L’Agosto
8 August – Benalua, ES – BenaRock Festival
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