WIZRD: Psychedelic prog rock

[polmico]

I suppose that's as good a description as I can come up with. Here's what the band say:

"WIZRD is a Norwegian rock band that dips its toes in all kinds of genres. From rock and indie to jazz and prog, WIZRD knows all the rules but deliberately break them."

Whatever it is, the band smokes, moving from Yes-like instrumental passages to far-out stoner rock to dreamy lysergic bliss. I'm guessing that should appeal to a few folk out there.

https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/album/seasons

[Zappathustra]

I love it, one of my faves of previous year.

[Zeph]

I would dare try to put them in a genre, but I love the album. Been playing it a lot since I came across it in here.

[Sunlight Caller]

Thanks for the recommendation, I trust your judgement so will be giving this one a listen, as it is new name to me.

[Czyszy]

Thanks for the recommendation as well. I love the drum sound on Seasons!

[Sunlight Caller]

So I played it through yesterday and there’s a lot going on! It’s certainly not a one take hit, I’ll need a bit more time before I know how this sits with me, but I’m sure it will keep me interested for a few plays before I make judgement. One thing is instantly apparent, the musicality and performances are top notch.

[miamiscot]

With members of Soft Ffog!!! Fantastic!!!

[polmico]

So I played it through yesterday and there’s a lot going on! It’s certainly not a one take hit, I’ll need a bit more time before I know how this sits with me, but I’m sure it will keep me interested for a few plays before I make judgement. One thing is instantly apparent, the musicality and performances are top notch.

Not at all musically similar--only insofar as both bands seem aware of prog and are wiling to nod to it from time to time--but WIZRD sort of reminds me of Black Midi. Both bands are out there in no real genre and are doing interesting things. I've hung on to the one Black Midi album I've got because I figure, eventually, it's gonna click.

WIZRD immediately clicked. It just feels like joyously fun music.

With members of Soft Ffog!!! Fantastic!!!

A band that is on my "hey, I should probably check this band out at some point or another" list. One of these days.

[rcarlberg]

What's up with the recording? There's absolutely no frequencies above 2,000Hz.

[polmico]

The band are recording a new album. They've also released a cover of Black Sabbath "The Wizard," and it is rad.

https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/track/the-wizard

[Zeph]

Nice! I’ve listened quite a lot to Seasons. It’s a really fun album.

[Downbytheriver]

Wow, they have a lot of energy. Pretty good though. I'm definitely going to listen to the full album.

[JAMOOL]

yeah just checked out Seasons the other day based on this thread and think I'll order a copy. a lot of this psych rock revival stuff is kinda boring to my ears but not this!

[JAMOOL]

well I did order a copy and this is really incredible. genuinely one of the most bonkers prog albums I've heard in a while, almost can't call it 'prog' because it does so much at once

[polmico]

well I did order a copy and this is really incredible. genuinely one of the most bonkers prog albums I've heard in a while, almost can't call it 'prog' because it does so much at once

It is a protean little sucker, isn’t it.

While I love retro bands like … well, like every other band on Karisma, and I don’t consider “retro” to be a negative monicker, there is something special about a band like WIZRD who are clearly influenced by the past but not beholden to it.

The American band K’mono are doing something similar but in a completely different way (if that makes sense).

[Mascodagama]

The energetic and joyous vibe with a retro/modern sensibility puts me quite strongly in mind of the last Guranfoe studio album Gumbo Gumbo. An obvious point of difference being the focus on harmony vox with Wizrd.

Anyway, I like it.

[MudShark22]

Alright fine - gonna try it out tonight

[Boceephus]

The music rocks, but, for me the vocals will take some listens to gain acceptance.


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[chalkpie]

The music rocks, but, for me the vocals will take some listens to gain acceptance.


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Welcome to prog....

[mellotron storm]

With members of Soft Ffog!!! Fantastic!!!

Yes the keyboardist and drummer, the latter also with Krokofant. I haven't heard Wizrd yet but am on spin number three with Soft Ffog. I like it. Should have called themselves Heavy Fog though. Love the art work inside based off the cover art. I'm afraid of heights or afraid of falling as my sister says. You need to see the art work to get that, it's pretty cool though. I wish the keyboardist was given more space, the guitar leads here.

[polmico]

Time to get happy:
https://wizrd.bandcamp.com/album/elements

More Wizrd = more better.

[Zeph]

Great news! I’ve listened to Seasons quite a lot.

[Zeph]

Out now.

[Jacob Holm-Lupo]

What's up with the recording? There's absolutely no frequencies above 2,000Hz.

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this. I reviewed this for a Norwegian jazz magazine, and although I liked the album a lot, I had to comment on the sound in the review. I don't know if they were going for a "retro" sound or whatever, but that's pretty extreme. I have 1950s album with a lot more treble than that. I guess it sounds ok on those tiny speakers that pass for playback systems these days, but on an actual stereo something is definitely amiss - or rather missing - in the top end.