The Black Wizards – Reflections

Label: Kozmic Artifactz/Raging Planet
Releasedate: 23-08-2019

Black Wizards, a band from Portugal, just released their 3rd Album, Reflections. Embrace the psychedelic and you are in for a ride. When I started hearing this album I enjoyed it, it had all the elements that should be brought to rock and roll purely. Echoey feminine vocals, riffs and mystical aura. I thought “these guys must be awesome live”… Then it totally recalled that I’ve seen them live with Radio Moscow in March, when I was visiting my home city of Porto. Slightly embarrassing but at least I can confirm that they are proper rockers, specially when supporting a band that is incredible live as Radio Moscow. They have similarities and yet they have some very particular sound. I would say darker sound that recalls Portuguese melancholia

Frontwoman, Joana Brito, does the job remarkably as a singer and guitar. “Imposing Sun” is cute and does the intro well. We understand a bit how the album is going to be and which pace is going to have, plus the steady and fuzzy guitars by João Mendes. And then “Outlaws” comes to me as awesome reminds me of those desert rides. You might find dry areas in Portugal for sure, but I was transported to Arizona. I swear its a rattlesnake that I hear at the beginning of this song. This is the kind of song that sticks to your head.
A cowbell in “56th Floor”? Works well. The drum work by João Lugatte is impressive and there is a squeaking guitar, with a choir, that brings little pieces of soul that engage really well with the rock element of it. It’s really cool to try to listen to everything with these guys.
“Symphony of the ironic sympathy” is a classical rock ode. To send us away in a good mood and chill, they end with “Kaleidoscope eyes”, almost transition to the other side of the mirror. The album is over, now get out of your lethargic feeling and go back to work.

Desert rock scene in Portugal owes to these guys. They do a fine job bringing the psychedelic music and good old school rock and roll to the masses. I can’t say, as usual, that I’m looking forward to see them for the first time. I want to see them again, that’s for sure. And I recommend any fans of full-on classic rock and roll to give it a go.

Line up:

• João Mendes – Bass
• João Lugatte – Drums, Percussion
• Paulo Ferreira – Guitars
• Joana Brito – Vocals, Guitars

01 – Imposing Sun
02 – Outlaws
03 – 56th Floor
04 – Starlight
05 – Symphony of the ironic sympathy
06 – Soul Keeper
07 – Kaleidoscope eyes

Links:

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Bandcamp