Electric Wizard

Electric Wizard is a stoner/doom metal band formed in the early '90s. Throughout their history, only one member has been constant: Justin "Jus" Oborn, who played guitar and sang. His first band, Lord of Putrefaction, was formed in 1988. They recorded two demos and changed their name to Thy Grief Eternal, later shortening it to Eternal. By 1993, Oborn left Eternal and formed the band that he has become most well-known for: Electric Wizard.

Electric Wizard's history is a fairly interesting one. Their eponymous debut album was released in 1995. This album adopted a style reminiscent of Sleep. Two years later, they released Come My Fanatics..., which saw a change in the band's style. As opposed to singing in a lower register, Jus Oborn sang in a higher octave, added lots and lots of "fuzz" to the instruments, and played some much darker music, somehwhat moving away from their stoner rock roots.

After the release of Come My Fanatics..., Electric Wizard had many problems. Oborn severed a fingertip, collapsed an eardrum, and was arrested for marijuana possession and both other members (the band was a trio at the time) were arrested for other reasons. Over these three years, they released the Supercoven EP.

In 2000, the band released the album that they have become most well-known for: Dopethrone. The album expands upon the style of their previous album and features some sludge traits at times. Overall, the album is a masterpiece and one of, if not the best albums in the doom metal genre.

In 2002, they released Let Us Prey, the last album to feature the original Electric Wizard lineup. After the release of the album, the other two members of the band left (and formed Ramesses). The two of them were replaced. Along with that, however, a second guitarist was added, Liz Buckingham. Electric Wizard mark II has since released two albums, We Live and Witchcult Today.

Now that you know your stuff about the band, you can listen to them. Here's the tracklisting:

1.) "Eko Eko Azarak"
2.) "Return Trip"
3.) "Burnout"
4.) "Dunwich"
5.) "Funeralopolis"
6.) "Satanic Rites of Drugula"
7.) "Priestess of Mars"
8.) "Electric Wizard"

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Witchfinder General

Witchfinder General was one of the pioneering doom metal band. They were one of the few NWOBHM bands in the genre and only released two albums. Their work was highly under-appreciated upon release, however in recent years they have gained much praise.

Track Listing:

1.) "Invisible Hate"
2.) "Love on Smack"
3.) "No Stayer"
4.) "Requiem for Youth"
5.) "Witchfinder General"
6.) "I Lost You"

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YOB

YOB is a stoner doom metal band formed in the late '90s. Their first full-length album, Elaborations of Carbon, was released in 2001. They have released three other albums, Catharsis, The Illusion of Motion, and The Unreal Never Lived (released in 2003, 2004, and 2005 respectively). Over the years, they have gotten much heavier, becoming less of a stoner metal band to playing music reminiscent of funeral doom, incorpating death growls and very heavy, dark riffs.

In 2006, they announced that they had split up. However, as of 2008, the band is back together and recording a new album due out in Summer '09.

This compilation features at least one song from each of their albums. Hopefully you doom fans out there like this stuff. Track listing:

1.) "Ball of Molten Lead" (The Illusion of Motion)
2.) "Ether" (Catharsis)
3.) "Revolution" (Elaborations of Carbon)
4.) "Grasping Air" (The Unreal Never Lived)
5.) "The Mental Tyrant" (The Unreal Never Lived)

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YZBL's Symphonic Metal Playlist #1

Fresh off the presses.

Symphonic metal or opera metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that sound similar to a classical symphony. Symphonic metal is both a genre of metal and a name given to several subgenres of other metal genres, and as such, both forms of usage have slightly varying definitions. The genre refers to bands that combine aspects of varying metal genres, with signature female-led vocals and operatic/classical themes to give the music a feeling of being a symphony.

Most of the list fits that description. Lots of pretentious dutch women, keyboards, melodic guitar riffs and fast drums to make Richard Wagner proud.

Symphonic Metal #1
1. Midnattsol - Konkylie
2. Within Temptation - Our Solemn Hour
3. Together - Lunatica
4. Leaves Eyes - New Found Land
5. After Forever - Evoke
6. Nightwish - Kinslayer
7. Stream of Passion - Passion
8. Tarja Tarnunnen - Damned and Divine
9. The Gathering - Mirror Waters (Semi-acoustic)
10. Therion - Three Treasures

Symphonic Metal #2
1. Autumn NL - Angel of Desire
2. Draconian - Morphine Cloud
3. Fairyland - On the Path to Fury
4. Edenbridge - Fallen from Grace
5. Angtoria - Do you See me now
6. Atrocity - Forever Young (LOL, not necessarily symphonic metal, but hilarious)
7. Battlelore - House of Heroes
8. Elis - Phoenix from the Ashes
9. Epica - Fools of Damnation
10. Apocalyptica - Harvester of Sorrow

Mike Patton: An Introduction

Many Rockbanders are only familiar with Mike Patton through Faith No More's inclusion of the song "Epic" in the game. This is very unfortunate because "Epic" was seen as a jokey, accidental hit, much like "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses. Mike has been making music for almost 30 years, and while FNM was a large part of his career, he has had as many musical projects as Scott Weiland has had rehab stints. I did exclude some of his more avant-garde, experimental stuff because i don't want to scare you away yet.... anyway, the songs:

General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners: "Get Up Punk!" (2005)
this is a more recent project, with Patton teaming up with NYC hip hop turntabilist collective X-Exutioners. the track here features Patton singing, but many tracks feature crazy samples and Patton doing his patented beat-boxing

Tomhawk: "Crow Dance" (2007)
Tomahawk is an alternative metal band also containing John Stanier (drums, Helmet, Battles) Duane Dennison (guitar, The Jesus Lizard), and Kevin Rutmanis (bass, The Melvins). They started as a straightforward (for Patton, at least) rock band, sounding very similar to the bands they were all in, in a 90's Amp Rep style, but have since moved more in the direction of their name, and have been incorporating Native American music into their style, as seen here.

Dillinger Escape Plan (feat. Mike Patton): "Good Dogs Do Bad Things" (2002)
Dillinger Escape Plan's crazy, all over the place, need-a-calculator-to follow extreme math metal combined with the vocal theatrics of Senior Patton reminds me of the good ol' days when the harlem globetrotters or batman would team up with scooby doo. There is only this EP, and a few live recordings (the DEP were between singers), but definitely worth a few listens.

Faith No More: The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, Everything's Ruined, Ashes to Ashes
Everything's Ruined represents the Jim Martin (original guitar player) era, that those who know "Epic", "Falling to Pieces" and "Midlife Crisis" and the later, sorta-alt-metal Faith No More, who also dabbled in swing, spanish ballads, and electronica, here represented by "Ashes to Ashes" and "The Gentle Art of Making Ememies (listen to the lyrics to this one; it will change your life)"

Lovage: Pit Stop (Take Me Home) (2001)
This concept album with Dan the Automator (Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Dr . Octagon) about getting down with your lady friend pairs Patton trading breathy vocals with Jen Charles (Elysian Fields) over trip hop and jazz samples. Lyrics are tongue-in-cheek, but the quality of the record is definitely serious. Put away your Barry White next time the mood arises, and put this on...
Mr. Bungle: Goodbye, Sober Day (1999)
This album is from the band of Patton's true love, and first band, that was around before, during, and after Faith No More. From death metal to free jazz to Beach Boys-esque music and vocal harmonies to ska to carnival music to deadly serious covers of Burt Bacharach, you never quite knew what to expect from this band that formed back in high school in the early 80s and made it to Warner Brothers records due to the strong sales of Patton's "other" band.

Peeping Tom: Sucker (feat. Norah Jones) (2006)
Peeping Tom is a Patton pop/rock/trip hop project featuring a revolving cast (Dan the Automator, Rahzel, Massive Attack, Kool Keith) creating what Patton called radio pop music in his skewed world. Listen to this cut featuring Norah Jones (yes, that one) getting dirty with Patton and wonder how they not only opened up for The Who in Philly, but also got booed off the stage (not exactly what The Who fans were expecting, I guess)

check them out!

click to download the mix here!

'70s and '80s Metal

This a collection of some of my favorite metal songs of the '70s an '80s. There are only a few songs, but still a wide variety of bands and songs. I hope you find something you like!

Track listing:
Iron Maiden - "Aces High"
Black Sabbath - "Electric Funeral"
Judas Priest - "Rapid Fire"
Metallica - "To Live is to Die"
Samson - "Manwatcher"
Venom - "Schizoid"
UFO - "Doctor Doctor"

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Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep was one of the earliest Progressive Metal bands. Their debut Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble was released in 1970, and would continue throughout the 70s with fantasy themes on their albums. Their biggest success would come in 1972 when the albums Demons & Wizards and The Magician's Birthday would be released.

Uriah Heep has only kept one consistent member throughout their lineup, Mick Box, who is the lead guitarists. Though from 1986-2007 their lineup did remain unchanged. Their latest release was Wake The Sleeper in 2008.

Though they generally keep a heavier sound, some of their songs are lighter and some even acoustic, such as Lady In Black, The Wizard, and July Morning. Their biggest hits are Easy Livin' and Stealin'.

Gyspy
Lady In Black
Look At Yourself
Tears In My Eyes
The Wizard
Sweet Lorraine
Stealin'
Seven Stars
Book of Lies

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Iron Maiden Compiliation 01

Iron Maiden is easily one of the most influential and recognizable Metal bands, Iron Maiden has influenced near every thrash metal band to date (Including the Big 4 in thrash). They feature relentless guitar riffs, complex drum beats, and a galloping bass-line. All while Bruce Dickinson belts out lyrics at an operatic quality. Known For such hits as “The Trooper”, “Number of the Beast”, and “Run to The Hills”, the band continues to impress. However, instead of choosing to make a compilation of their greatest hits, I decided to form a list of some of their best B-sides, to show what this powerful heavy metal group is capable of.

1. Paschendale
2. Childhood's End
3. Genghis Khan
4. The Pilgrim
5. Gangland
6 Die With Your boots on
7. Journeyman
8. Drifters

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