It was a night of doom and black metal as veterans Electric Wizard made an appearance at the Fillmore Silver Spring supported by the barely contained black metal and punk energy of Midnight.
For the uninitiated, an Electric Wizard show involves slurping from a chalice of sludgy metal masterpieces, with lyrics touching on gothic literature and obscure horror films. In concert this is all set against a backdrop of ’70s Satanic Panic exploitation films and bathed in orange and red lights. The guitars (Liz Buckingham with Haz Wheaton on bass) are raw, the drums (Simon Poole) pound, and Jus Oborn’s vocals are tortured while blood and Satanic ceremony flash above the stage on the screen. It’s hypnotic and intense, and a little unnerving if you’re unaccustomed to it.
The fans gathered at the Fillmore were there for it, however. The usual roundup of black-clad metal fans came to see Electric Wizard on their brief jaunt through the East Coast, two years after their 2017 release, Wizard Bloody Wizard. The stop at the Fillmore Silver Spring was number three of six for the US this fall, so a special appearance indeed, and a treat for doom metal fans.
Led by vocalist and bullet-clad bassist Athenar, Cleveland black metal band Midnight (Athenar, Commandor Vanik, and SS) opened the gates of Hell with their mashup of punk and thrash metal. It’s an arresting set: all three members wear full black face masks onstage while displaying an off-the-charts level of energy. Where Electric Wizard traffics in Satanism, Midnight spews lust and sleaze. It’s a lot of fun to watch.
Electric Wizard wrapped up their fall tour of the US on November 22 in Worcester, MA. Midnight fits in a headlining show on November 23 on Syracuse, NY before heading to Germany for dates at the end of December.
MIDNIGHT
ELECTRIC WIZARD SET LIST
Witchcult Today
Black Mass
Return Trip
See You in Hell
Hear the Sirens Scream
Incense for the Damned
Satanic Rites of Drugula
The Chosen Few
Funeralopolis
