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Amazon.co.uk Review
Unlikely to be seen manning the jam tarts stand at a Church jumble sale, Electric Wizard are a slothful trio of black-metal extremists from Dorset whose music (stoner rock, they call it) spreads the gospel of dope-smoking, the Apocalypse, Dungeons & Dragons and the Devil (not a bad bloke, according to them, which surely must be some kind of mistake) via the leaden and ancient sound of a melody-and-irony free Black Sabbath. But heavier. And slower. And--it must be said--with more power. Although lines like "From ancient Yuggoth black rays emit/Evils narcotic cyclopean pits" are guaranteed to provoke laughter or tears from 99 percent of the population--not to mention grammar-rage from English language teachers everywhere--Electric Wizard's main strength lies in the almost majestic manner they take the listener to the very heart of darkness and wave goodbye. They are the darkest. And that is no mean achievement in a genre famed for being "none more black". --Kevin Maidment
Product Description
The all-time classic doom album re-released as a deluxe digipack with a fifteen-minute bonus track.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"When you get into one of these bands, there's only a couple of ways out-death, or a mental institution..." The intro to this CD sets the scene for an onslaught of bass, feedback and torpid mayhem. I wasn't hugely impressed on the first couple of listens, but that's usually a good sign as far as I'm concerned and, sure enough, the tunes (no that's not a typo) started to emerge. I've had the chorus to 'Vinum Sabbathi' lodged in my brain for the last week. The rest of the album has a similar delayed reaction, even the initially annoyingly protracted third song becomes worthwhile. As an established stoner fan, Electric Wizard to me are the masters of crafting head-crushing and enduring soundscapes out of deceptively simple musical components......
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a monumental release from Electric Wizard, by far their finest work and one of the high points of the whole doom metal genre and metal in the 21st century.
Musically 'Dopethrone' occupies a sort of middle ground between doom bands who just try to sound like Black Sabbath e.g. Witchfinder General and the bands who tend to see just who slow they can play and how long their songs can be (e.g. Khanate). Because of this 'Dopethrone' is pushing the boundaries of the genre but not without influence of classic metal bands.
The first thing which struck me about this album was the crushingly dense guitar sound that sounds as if its coming from a tube amp pushed to melting point which is pretty much the polar opposite of the standard polished lifeless modern metal sound. Musically, it's hard to tell whether Electric Wizard can actually play or not, but all things considered I don't care whether they can because this album is about atmosphere, and it has it in spades, so whether or not Jus Oborn can sweep pick is irrelevant. For instance 'Funeralopolis' has a wonderful bluesy atmosphere (think Blue Cheer blues not B.B. King) that matches the apocalyptic images of the lyrics very well.
Lyrically, this album shifts from themes of drugs (really? I thought these boys had nothing stronger than a pint of bitter), general hatred to all humanity ('We Hate You') and more fantasy themed lyrics inspired by the likes of Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, which makes for a lyrically varied listen. Also of note is the very loose jamming feel dominant throughout the album that is evident in the albums shortest track 'Hills Have Eyes' which is just a short jam and in a lesser record could be considered filler but it somehow forms a integral part of the record.
This album also proves to be very consistent containing many of the bands finest songs (and yes, most of them have actual songs! Choruses and everything). Even the bonus track 'Mind Transferral' is a keeper, meaning Electric Wizard have not only delivered a heavy and atmospheric album but a consistent one with memorable songs.
So if you like the idea of Hawkwind played way too slow (see 'I, the Witchfinder' for the most dominant Hawkwind influence) and Black Sabbath pushed to melting point, I can strongly recommend this masterpiece. Easily one of the best albums of the last decade.
Musically 'Dopethrone' occupies a sort of middle ground between doom bands who just try to sound like Black Sabbath e.g. Witchfinder General and the bands who tend to see just who slow they can play and how long their songs can be (e.g. Khanate). Because of this 'Dopethrone' is pushing the boundaries of the genre but not without influence of classic metal bands.
The first thing which struck me about this album was the crushingly dense guitar sound that sounds as if its coming from a tube amp pushed to melting point which is pretty much the polar opposite of the standard polished lifeless modern metal sound. Musically, it's hard to tell whether Electric Wizard can actually play or not, but all things considered I don't care whether they can because this album is about atmosphere, and it has it in spades, so whether or not Jus Oborn can sweep pick is irrelevant. For instance 'Funeralopolis' has a wonderful bluesy atmosphere (think Blue Cheer blues not B.B. King) that matches the apocalyptic images of the lyrics very well.
Lyrically, this album shifts from themes of drugs (really? I thought these boys had nothing stronger than a pint of bitter), general hatred to all humanity ('We Hate You') and more fantasy themed lyrics inspired by the likes of Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, which makes for a lyrically varied listen. Also of note is the very loose jamming feel dominant throughout the album that is evident in the albums shortest track 'Hills Have Eyes' which is just a short jam and in a lesser record could be considered filler but it somehow forms a integral part of the record.
This album also proves to be very consistent containing many of the bands finest songs (and yes, most of them have actual songs! Choruses and everything). Even the bonus track 'Mind Transferral' is a keeper, meaning Electric Wizard have not only delivered a heavy and atmospheric album but a consistent one with memorable songs.
So if you like the idea of Hawkwind played way too slow (see 'I, the Witchfinder' for the most dominant Hawkwind influence) and Black Sabbath pushed to melting point, I can strongly recommend this masterpiece. Easily one of the best albums of the last decade.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is THE heaviest album Ive ever heard and also one of THE best! I got into The Wizard through this album, and along with Come MY Fanatics, this is their best work. SOOOOO Evil! Soooo sinister! Sooo Slow!!! Theres not enough good things to say about this band. If, like me you love Horror Movies, Black Sabbath and pure drop tuned sludge stoner rock....buy this record! You may end up playing it FAR more than you imagined. Its inspiring to hear a band who can be as overwhelmingly claustrophobic and frightening and at the same time be so chilled out and soothing! Hail!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Smoke em if you got em!
Had to write a review about one of my favourite albums of all time. Dopethrone is such a powerful, heavy, doom-laden album that you can't help come away impressed. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Holy Smoke
Heaviest album ever. Period.
This is the greatest psychedelic doom record ever mad. End of. Forget the rest. Every track is essential and every track has one of the heaviest riffs ever. Read more
Published on 1 April 2010 by Martin Branchett
Essential Album
I can't say anything more detailed than whats been said below, this is an essential purchase/download that is just cripplingly heavy, amazingly atmospheric and great to relax to.
Published on 28 Oct 2009 by H. Moss
Sees Man As A Rather Dismal Creature.
`Dopethrone' marks the beginning of even more change on the Electric Wizard scene. Whilst the line-up stayed the same, the band saw noticeable changes in production and sound. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2009 by S. Davitt
pray at the alter of the riff
Electric Wizard have always been held in high esteem in the doom rock, down tuned corner of the music world. Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2007 by J. M. Ashe
Wizard at their best
This is the definative Electric Wizard album. Angrier & more focussed than 'Come My Fanatics' & full of misanthropic hate. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2007 by James N. R. Goad
Quality
I bought the album about a hour ago and i am now listening to "I, The Witchfinder" and its an incredible album what more can i say that will do the album justice.
Published on 24 Jan 2005 by Mr. R. J. Barrow
The ultimate doom album?
Heavy, heavy, heavy; this is the album you want if that's what you're looking for. From pseudo-accessible opener Vinum Sabbathi to the crushing final track Mind Transferral this... Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2004 by "dopethroned"
Snail paced Doom from a misty forest
It’s a wonder this great British Stoner/Doom metal act haven’t embedded themselves deeper into the mainstream music scene, as I think they are the kind of kick up the... Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2004 by "uglyonbothsides"
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