Wizurd Island is a Doom Rock duo from Virginia, USA whose sound features influences from 70s Hard Rock and modern Stoner to Occult atmospheres. The debut EP simply titled “EP 1” was released on July 31, 2024 and contains three tracks, all over 6 minutes long. Dirty, dark guitar riffs open the EP and the first track “The Ritual,” immediately showing the band’s musical imprinting. The rhythm section is solid and the vocals incisive, interpreting the lyrics enriched with effects and alternating with instrumental sections that combine Doom atmospheres with 70s-style Rock. Singing that develops for almost the entirety of the track, leaving no room for instrumental cues or solo inserts that, given the long duration, would have enhanced the sound. “The Eagle People” explores sounds closer to doom metal, with dark, heavy riffs in the opening and a gritty rhythm section adding power to the track. The track moves slowly, developing the central theme and then inserting the vocal, which alternates between darker and more aggressive passages. Tracing the compositional style of the previous one, it develops the entire duration of the track on lyrics and vocals, leaving no room for the instrumental part to affect the development of the track. The Ep ends with “Cemetery Church,” the longest in duration, which opens with guitar riffs halfway between Doom and Rock. The vocals are interesting and reminiscent of Monolord’s style in some of the singing and use of effects. Dark atmospheres permeate the song, which in some passages is enriched by tempo changes. With the ubiquitous singing, the track flows to the end centred on the intense interpretation of the lyrics. An EP that at times presents interesting passages and sounds that combine Doom AND Rock between the genre’s past and present. The long duration of the tracks, all over 6 minutes, however, leaves room almost solely for the interpretation of the lyrics and vocal developments, penalising the instrumental section with no solo inserts. The ideas and technique are there, but in my opinion there is a lack of those instrumental cues that would have made the difference, especially given the long duration of the tracks and the genre proposed.
Tracklist
01. The Ritual (06:19)
02. The Eagle People (06:05)
03. Cemetery Church (06:20)
Lineup
Youssef Benlamlih / Vocals, Guitar, Drums
Cassie Pruefer / Bass
