Electric Wizard

To coincide with their upcoming headlining set at Maryland Deathfest X (and their first North American show in years), Metal Blade is releasing both 2007's Witchcult Today and 2010's Black Masses on limited edition vinyl. It also gives doom fans previously unacquainted with the legendary English band a chance to pick up what is arguably a seminal album. In comparison to their earlier work, Witchcult Today, which was recorded on '70s vintage recording equipment, showcases vocalist Jus Osborn's vocals more prominently and clearly, and tracks, like fan favourite "Torquemada '71" and "Satanic Rites of Drugula," are less psychedelic and meandering, and more straight-to-the-point, almost catchy. When remastering doom, one worries that the grainy, fuzzed-out bass and general sludge that are an integral part of the sound will be replaced with shiny, smooth production, but the band's UK label, Rise Above, and the owner (Cathedral's Lee Dorrian) knew not to mess with a sonically pristine album.