Psychorizon Ten Years Anniversary

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Abra Kadavar, Angel Witch, Angelo Kelly, Anniversary, Black Sabbath, Blood Ceremony, Blues Pills, Doc Martens, Doomsday, Dortmund, Duisburg, Electric Wizard, Elin Larsson, Hammer Of Doom, Headliner, Helvete, Irish Christmas Tour, Jex Thoth, Kadavar, Köln, Kelly Family, Live Music Hall, Liz Buckingham, Love Music Hall, Maggot Heart, Pit, Psychorizon, Rock Hard Festival, Rockpalast, Sexy Jexi, The Devil's Blood, The Oath, Tribulation, TuRock Open Air, WDR Rockpalast, Weihnachten, Westfalenhalle

Heute ist es nun also wirklich so weit: Psychorizon feiert zehnjähriges Jubiläum! Wer hätte das gedacht, also ich selbst wohl am aller wenigsten! Leider waren die vergangenen zwei Jahre recht ereignislos und bisher ist noch nicht absehbar, wann die Veranstaltungsbranche wieder zur alten bzw. neuen Stärken gelangen wird. Somit steht auch in den Sternen, wann und unter welchen Umständen es endlich wieder Berichterstattung von Konzerten und Festivals geben wird und ob sich Ende 2021 für mich ein weiterer Kreis schließen wird. Denn kurz nach Weihnachten 2020 habe ich mir eine Karte für die 'Irish Christmas Tour' von Angelo Kelly & Family gekauft und werde mit ganz viel Glück zusammen mit allen seinen 40. Geburtstag am 23.12.2021 in der Dortmunder Westfalenhalle feiern können. Wer Psychorizon intensiv verfolgt, weiß wahrscheinlich, dass mein allererstes Konzert am 23.12.1994 in Duisburg die Kelly Family war und wer im Kopf rechnen kann, wird feststellen, dass es Angelos 13. Geburtstag war. 
Aber genug der warmen Worte, denn es geht heute um jede Menge großartige Momente und da ich in den vergangenen zehn Jahren genug geschrieben habe, möchte ich einfach Bilder für mich sprechen lassen. In diesem Sinne: Auf die nächsten zehn und hoffentlich ganz viele neue Highlights. 

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Daumen hoch gab es für das RHF 2014 und beste Aussichten im Pit. Neben den 'Best of Boots & Shoegaze'-Bildern, gibt es auch noch jede Menge Menschen in voller Größe und in Aktion - vor und auf der Bühne zu bestaunen. Aber ich habe seit langer Zeit eine Vorliebe, für derartige Schnappschüsse, die hauptsächlich Hosenbeine und Schnürsenkelhalter zeigen. So auch bei der Headline-Show von The Devil's Blood beim Rock Hard 2010, Maggot Heart im Helvete und Tribulation beim TuRock Open Air (beides 2018) und 2019 totally random-mäßig beim Rock Hard. Weiter geht es daher mit ein paar weiteren witzigen Impressionen, die während der zahlreichen Events entstanden.

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Beim Wiedersehen mit 'Sexy Jexi' und meinem Tagesausflug zum Hammer Of Doom 2013, gab es ganz viel Liebe. Mindestens genauso herzlich und herzig war es auch im Folgejahr auf dem RHF sowie 2017, als ich es endlich geschafft habe, Electric Wizard live zu sehen. Dank bester Plätze in der ersten Reihe, wurde die Kölner Live Music Hall an diesem Abend zur Love Music Hall und ich völlig verzaubert von der großartigen Liz Buckingham. Zu guter Letzt gibt es noch den kompletten Mitschnitt des Blues Pills Auftritts beim RHF 2014. Neben Jex Thoth, The Devil's Blood und Blood Ceremony, eine der Bands, die ich am meisten verfolgt und auf der Bühne bewundern durfte. Leider finde ich vom RHF 2014 kein gutes Video der jungen Schweden, dort wäre ich sogar selbst bei Abrocken zu sehen. 
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ELECTRIC WIZARD – On Tour In Europe With ANGEL WITCH

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Alan French, Angel Witch, Barry Clements, Bill Steer, Black Sabbath, Clayton Burgess, Debut Album, Deep Purple, Demon Lung, Diamond Head, Electric Wizard, Enforcer, Europan Tourdates, Grand Magus, Hunting Across Europe, Iron Maiden, Jimmy Martin, Judas Priest, Justin Oborn, Kevin Heybourne, Lee Dorrian, Legend, Liz Buckingham, Lords of Putrefaction, Lucifer, Mark Greening, Metal Blade Records, NWOBHM, Occult Rock Magazine, Orange Goblin, Our Haunted Kingdom, Pagan Altar, Pink Faries, Quartz, Queen Of Spades Photography, Rise Above Records, Rob Downing, Robin Trower, Sadio Witch, Satan, Satyr IX Productions / Witchfinder Records, Saxon, Simon Poole, Spinefarm Records, Steve Jones, Thy Grief Eternal, Tim Bagshaw, Time To Die, Will Palmer, Wishbone Ash, Witchfinder General, Witchfynde

Jus & Liz…and they call it puffy love!

Hailing from the coastal Southwest of the United Kingdom, Electric Wizard have consistently redefined the preconceived thresholds of a detuned guitar chord with their peerless doom metal achievements. Formed by vocalist/guitarist Justin Oborn (previously with Lords of Putrefaction), bassist Tim Bagshaw, and drummer Mark Greening, and initially known as Thy Grief Eternal (briefer still, simply Eternal), the band made their debut with 1993’s; “Demon Lung” single – a split release with Our Haunted Kingdom (who later evolved into Orange Goblin). Released by Lee Dorrian’s very own Rise Above Records, the single paved the way for Electric Wizard’s eponymous first full-length a year later. Almost a quarter of a century later, Electric Wizard has seen numerous lineup changes and released seven more studio albums, the most recent, “Time To Die”, in September of 2014.

Please insert name of band, album & song here!

Kicking off today, Electric Wizard will return to European soil and “there is a constant Electric Wizard line-up. Me and Liz, ” to quote the master himself and just to clarify this upfront. Joining in the Dorset Doomsters for all dates except for the Stockholm show tonight, will be fellow legends Angel Witch. Formed, originally under the name of Lucifer, and was initially composed of guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne, guitarist Rob Downing, drummer Steve Jones, and bassist Barry Clements. The band has regrouped and split up several times and has been going strong ever since getting back together at the dawn of the 2000s. Besides fronter Heybourne, the current incarnation features sticksman Andrew Prestidge and lowrider Will Palmer. With their self-titled debut, Angel Witch is considered as one of the most important bands from the NWOBHM-era. After missing their performance at the “Hunting Across Europe” tour in 2013, I will finally be catching up with them twice this month!

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Psychorizon – Favourite Moments Of 2016

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(Dolch), Acherontic Arts Fest, Anniversary, ArieZ, Beastmilk, Drain, Electric Wizard, Gold, Grave Pleasures, Helvete, In Solitude, Kadavar, King Dude, Linnéa Olsson, Liz Buckingham, Path Of Samsara, Psychorizon, Queen Of Spades Photography, Rock Hard Festival 2016, The Ruins Of Beverast, Thränenkind, Tribulation, TuRock, Uno Bruniusson, Urfaust, Ván Records, Völur

2016 started off with a rare moment as I had the first and unfortunately final chance the see Grave Pleasures in their best lineup, featuring Swedish guitarist Linnéa Olsson and former In Solitude drummer Uno Bruniusson. The now newly formed band was touring alongside Tribulation in January and gladly played a brilliant show at TuRock, Essen – not shying away from including several tunes from their former incarnation Beastmilk. Later this year I was lucky enough to see Tribulation again at Rock Hard Festival.

Liz Buckingham’s long-lost Swedish twin-sister – Linnéa Olsson

But before the outdoor season started, one of many indoor festivals caught my attention and had me attending – attempted pun intended – the second edition of Ván Records’ very own Acherontic Arts Festival which took place in early May. Gathering the brightest shining gems of his artist roster, Sven clearly knows his way around a brilliant billing. Urfaust, Gold, the recently disbanded Path Of Samsara, The Ruins Of Beverast, to name but a few. My personal highlights have to be King Dude, who gave me all those emotions, from goosebumps, to shivers to tears and the outstanding performance of Germany’s very own (D O L C H) – leaving me speechless and that rarely ever happens!

Feel the dagger – (D O L C H)

Partners in crime – Psychorizon & Queen Of Spades Photography

And then there was this: Rock Hard Festival – the only event I’ve been at almost every year since 2004. Second time watching Tribulation and for the first time in a while I could finally catch up with Kadavar again. Great to see these guys, that I’ve been a fan of and working with in a past life, making their way towards the big stages. This year also saw a premier, as I officially teamed up with Queen Of Spades Photography – run by my good friend and talented photographer Susan – to cover the mandatory reports. In August it was finally time to look back the first five years of Psychorizon with a little festival. Four bands from three countries gathered at a local youth club to celebrate with me and my friends, fans, readers and the audience for one night. Even though only a handful of folks actually came around to enjoy the event, there shall be more live action to go about in the future. Special thanks to those who joined the party, my catering chef Cati and all members of the most brilliant opening act ArieZ, Swiss Stoner crew Drain and of course my amazing Canadian headliner Völur. Couldn’t have done it without you, thanks so much! Spread the love and hope to see you all soon again!!!

Vocalist Nils becomes one with the music & his microphone

And last but certainly not least, another most memorable night featured Ghost Bath and Thränenkind, who played at Helvete, Oberhausen on August 28th. While the main part of the audience was eagerly waiting to see the headliner, all I wanted was to finally see the band that created my personal favourite album of the year. Due to some scheduling difficulties, bass player Matthias and vocalist Nils had to borrow some stand-in musicians and still managed to deliver a stunning show. Hope they’ll return to my area again soon!

Energetic Anarchy: Matthias the bass-machine!

This year has been a crazy ride and I’m really looking forward to all the adventures the next one will bring – hope we’ll all make it a good one.

See you all in 2017

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ELECTRIC WIZARD – Listen Kids, It’s Time To Fuckin’ Die!

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13, Antwerp, Black Mass, Black Sabbath, Clayton Burgess, Desertfest Blegium, Electric Wizard, Hellfest, It’s Psychedelic Baby, Jess Franco, Justin Oborn, Kenneth Anger, Lee Dorrian, Legalise Drugs and Murder, Lineup Chance, Liz Buckingham, Mark Greening, Occult Rock Magazine, Reverend Bizarre, Rise Above Records, Sadio Witch, Satyr IX Productions, Satyr IX Productions / Witchfinder Records, Shazzula Vultura, Sonisphere, Sourvein, Spinefarm Records, Steve Gullick, Time To Die, Witchfinder Records

Quite some months have passed since the announcement of a new sonic offering from one of the most hailed and yet quarrelsome bands around: Over two decades into their outstanding carrier, Dorset Doomsters ELECTRIC WIZARD have recently stepped away from their long-term label and partner, London-based Rise Above Records – founded and run by former CATHEDRAL mastermind Lee Dorrian, just in case someone didn’t know that – to release their latest attempt, entitled “Time To Die…” through Satyr IX Productions / Witchfinder Records on September 29, 2014. To dive into the depths of the bands’ upcoming Riff-o-Rama, Occult Rock Magazine had a little chat with the Wizard – centered around guitarist & vocalist Jus Oborn and his spouse, axegrinder Liz Buckingham.

“There is a constant ELECTRIC WIZARD line-up. Me and Liz.” Jus Oborn

Picture by Steve Gullick

When did you begin recording ‘Time to Die’ and when was it completed?

We started it in the summer of 2013 and finished it around April 2014. It took a while, but mainly because it wasn’t recorded in one go and there was a bit of a problem getting back into the studio in the middle, if that makes sense…

Not to get into details, as there has been enough talk and what not online and printed these days, is the fact that you’re releasing the new record under different terms a whole new chapter for the band or just a tiny part of the puzzle?

It can be viewed both ways. I hope it’s a new chapter for the band, but in terms of the bigger picture, it’s probably just another step on our hideous journey into hell…

It’s not a secret that the band is basically the creative outlet of Jus and Liz – the question on everyone’s lips might be: Will there ever be a constant ELECTRIC WIZARD lineup again?

There is a constant ELECTRIC WIZARD line-up. Me and Liz.

Talking about the album or rather its concept, if there is any to speak of, I noted the rather (colour) reduced cover art work: How important is the visual concept of the ongoing promotion or overall work with the band?

I always think we’ve been a very visual band, and of course the artwork is very important to the album / LP format. I mean, we’re not a singles band, we don’t release 3 minute songs, we release long, epic tunes that cover one whole side of an LP. So we always conceive the artwork to go with that concept, and we’ve almost always done it ourselves. I think it’s become almost half of what ELECTRIC WIZARD is… the visual element and the ideology and everything else that goes with the band, that’s part of the attraction, really. Something deeper than just music…

Has censorship ever been an issue for you (For example the EW/REVEREND BIZARRE Split 12” cover artwork…)?

That was censored by our label back then – I think they were worried about it getting into the shops. But, no, we haven’t had as much trouble as you might imagine really, although of course we’ve had the odd Puritan soul who complains about us. Actually, one gig we played was pulled mid-song because the town council didn’t like the video we were showing – that’s happened once or twice, more than with most bands, I guess. We’ve shown some pretty hard-core porn on stage and people being burnt alive, all sorts of horrible shit, you know, just to destroy peoples’ psyches, really. I think if you come to see ELECTRIC WIZARD you already know what you’re in for…

The most current step on the Wizard’s march of global conquest is the video for the second single “Sadio Witch“, which holds a certain resemblance towards the timeless “Black Mass” – would you like to tell us something about this certain song, why it has been chosen and how you got engaged with underground film maker Shazzula Vultura?

Obviously, we’d been meaning to put out a promo video for a long time, it just wasn’t possible with our previous label. So when the opportunity came to do it, we approached Shazzula because we liked a film she’d made a year or so ago, ‘Black Mass Rising’. She’s very influenced by Kenneth Anger and Jess Franco as well, so we very much met on the same page artistically, and it was just a case of us allowing someone else to do something for us and work with us instead of us doing everything ourselves.

The song was chosen because it was written as a single – it’s bloody 4 minutes long! But I don’t think there’s any shame in that. I am really surprised by the rules that some people put on music. A single is supposed to represent your band in usually 3 minutes, so I think we actually went too far in making it 4 minutes, haha. I think the song is perfect as a 7”, which of course it now is.

You’ve just played Desert Fest Antwerp. What are the international touring plans for ‘Time to Die’ ?

Well, the album is meant to be played live. I think that’s pretty obvious from the way it sounds, which is raw and brutal. To be honest, we are probably going to end up touring the fucking world by the end of this album’s life… I’d like to get to South America eventually, and the US tour is coming into play around April 2015, and then we’ll be back to playing in Europe, so hopefully a world tour by the end of the cycle…

Doom Metal went through several stages of development and might now be enjoying its highest point of popularity. Do you consider this to be connected to the cultural/social/political climate of the post-millennium? Is it maybe even a kind of musical/artistic counter concept to neoliberalism?

Well, I think it’s doomy times now. The world sort of feels like it’s entering the doom, and doom metal is the music for it. I think BLACK SABBATH had that period of popularity when people felt a lot of doom and gloom at the beginning of the ’70s, with the Vietnam war and the fuel crisis coming in, and there wasn’t a lot of money around in that period, it was kind of brutal. So when times are hard, people do listen to heavier styles of music… So I think the time is perfect for Electric Wizard. We are a pop band, as far as I’m concerned… we just don’t sell enough records, haha!

Final question: Is it really “time to die” yet?

Yes, I fucking hope so.

Read the entire Interview ecxlusivly on Occult Rock Magazin!

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ELECTRIC WIZARD – Part Ways With Drummer Mark Greening

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13, Antwerp, Black Mass, Clayton Burgess, Desertfest Blegium, Electric Wizard, Hellfest, It’s Psychedelic Baby, Justin Oborn, Lee Dorrian, Legalise Drugs and Murder, Lineup Chance, Liz Buckingham, Mark Greening, Rise Above Records, Satyr IX Productions, Sonisphere, Sourvein, Spinefarm Records, Witchfinder Records

After recently signing a deal with Spinefarm Records, Dorset UK-based Doom legend ELECTRIC WIZARD are once again without a drummer. As reported on Italian Webzine Doommabbestia and stated by on-again-off-again sticksman Mark Greening’s private Facebook page, he is “very gutted and sad but unfortunately I will never get to play live the New electric wizard tracks I recorded/written as Liz has sacked me from the band,gutted but electric wizard are no longer the band I once formed with Justin and Tim many moons ago more of a who can dress the most 1970s club,all I can say is at least the New album will be better than the last three.make love not war.”

The mindchild of founding member, guitarist & vocalist Justin Oborn and his spouse (former 13 and SOURVEIN member) axegrinder Liz Buckingham is not only set to work on and release a new album this very year – as reported earlier on Psychorizon – but also scheduled to play several Festivals, among those renowned events like Hellfest in Clisson, France, Sonisphere at Knebworth, UK and Desertfest Belgium in Antwerp.

At the current time the latest lineup change has been neither announced nor commented by the band through any of the available media platforms – keep checking Psychorizon’s Facebook page for further updates on this!

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ELECTRIC WIZARD on YouTube

ELECTRIC WIZARD – New Album Announced For 2014!

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Clayton Burgess, Electric Wizard, It’s Psychedelic Baby, Justin Oborn, Lee Dorrian, Legalise Drugs and Murder, Liz Buckingham, Mark Greening, Rise Above Records, Satyr IX Productions, Witchfinder Records

As vocalist & guitarist Justin Oborn revealed in an exclusive Interview with It’s Psychedelic Baby, there will be a new ELECTRIC WIZARD record coming soon! The successor of their 2012 creation “Legalise Drugs And Murder” has just been finished and needs to be mixed.

Besides Jus, the only constant member of the WIZARD is his spouse, blonde riff witch Liz Buckingham. The current incarnation also sees Mark Greening on drums and as the latest addition to the Séance, Clayton Burgess on bass. Furthermore their new mind child won’t be spawned upon us through Lee Dorrian’s Rise Above Records, but via Satyr IX Productions / Witchfinder Records.

For more information, check out the entire Interview with Jus conducted by It’s Psychedelic Baby, available to read here!

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ELECTRIC WIZARD – New 7″ and Merchandise coming up!

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7" Vinyl, Baader-Meinhoff Gang, Big Cartel, Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard, Eurohorror/Giallo Soundtracks, Glenn Charman, Justin Oborn, Legalise Drugs and Murder, Liz Buckingham, London Forum, Merchandise, Murder and Madness’, New Release, Simon Poole, Slade, T-Shirt Design

The apocalyptic first recordings from the much anticipated 8th studio LP from ELECTRIC WIZARD will be released as a vinyl only 7″ on March 31st at their forthcoming LONDON FORUM show. It is the first of a number of vinyl only releases set to promote the , as yet, untitled and unfinished LP. Recording of the new LP has already commenced but will not be completed until later this year and as a result the band have decided to release certain songs and exclusive B-sides on the vinyl format. The A-side ‘Legalise Drugs and Murder’ is a cathartic anthem for the ‘lost’ generation, a gargantuan 70s styled Doom Stomper and the perfect 7″ single. Ultra-catchy and featuring the bands trademark ‘wall of fuzz’ sound, topped with an evil, sneering vocal.

The band had a few words about the ‘controversial’ subject matter “…the new song is a definitive statement on the ELECTRIC WIZARD cult…we demand total freedom and revolution….man, things have got bad , the world is evil….” and on the development of their sound “…it has to be primal and violent, y’know cos we wanna get to people..and it had to be anthemic to inspire revolutionary thoughts. We wanted to be SLADE and SABBATH meets the Baader-Meinhoff Gang…”

The B-side is an even more twisted journey. Inspired by deranged eurohorror/giallo soundtracks of the 70s , ‘Murder and Madness’ is a claustrophobic meditation on the themes of the A-side. A paranoiac brooding number created with vicious wah guitar and discordant organ and piano that rises in intensity to a crescendo of sadism.Yet again ELECTRIC WIZARD raise the bar of Doom Metal in just two songs from super-heavy 70s glam rock stomp to a purely visceral and sadistic art rock experience.

Raise your fists with ELECTRIC WIZARD and scream “Legalise Drugs and Murder’ on March 31st….Also available soon are new t-shirt designs via the bands online shop at Big Cartel.

 

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