Desert Wizards are an Italian band who started off in 2007 when four friends decided to start a band that would concentrate on classic 70’s hard rock with a strong doom and psychedelic feel. After just a few months they recorded an EP, and a year later recorded their debut album. In 2010 they were signed to Black Widow who released a new version of that album, with a new title and artwork, and following on from the success of that they are now back with their second (or third – depending on how you look at it). The line-up is Marco Mambelli (vocals, guitar, bass), Anna Fabbri (piano, organ, vocals), Marco Goti (lead guitar) and Silvio Dalla Valle (drums), and together they have created a sound that is very true to the period they are influenced by indeed.
There are times when the Hammond organ is the lead, or gentle piano, or they are crunching some classic riffs and while never as heavy as Sabbath they have obviously been taking some pointers. But, there is definite prog here as well and the one cover is the closing song on the album, “Childhood’s End”, which of course originally appeared on ‘Obscured by Clouds’. Not many bands dare cover material by Floyd, and even fewer look to this album, so it is intriguing to say the least. It is also a very good version indeed, staying true to the original and giving it new life yet never moving too far away from the early Seventies.
This is avery strong album, and if you miss music from forty years ago, although even then it would have been a little dated due to the amount of Blue Cheer psychedelia contained within, then this may be for you. As the label say themselves “The music is heavy, dreamy, trippy, reflective and evocative....sit in the dark, light some candles, take a beer and get away from the world....” for more details visit www.blackwidow.it
