Let Us Prey (Reis)

Electric Wizard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 5, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Candlelight
• ASIN: B0011WMI5Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,345 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. ... U Chosen Few

2. We, The Undead

3. Master of Alchemy: House of Whipcord/The Blact Drug

4. The Outsider

5. Night of the Shape

6. Priestess of Mars

7. Mother of Serpents [*]

Editorial Reviews

Considered by many to literally be The Heaviest Band In The World, Electric Wizard is more like a cult than a band. The Wizard conjure up visions of Alistair Crowley having a black trip with HP Lovecraft, whilst gazing at the most far out biker flicks ever created. This, combined with the crustiest gravity defying Doom riffs and drones, Electric Wizard have one mission: To Destroy! Plastic Head. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I beg to differ with Nick. He just doesn't get it., December 13, 2003

By 

Billy B. Basstard "Tevin Zun" (Anywhere but there.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let Us Prey (Audio CD)

This album has gotten a bad rap for several reasons from Wizard fans. The most common reason that I hear for dislike is production: it is too clear (as compared to Dopethrone). Don't get me wrong, I love Dopethrone and it is an amazing album, but this album is on par with it in some ways. First of all, Electric Wizard took the chance to experiment on this one, and while some fail miserabley (Night of the Shape - don't even ask) some things they try work out well. On the first track "A Chosen Few", Jus Osborn experimented with textural effects, laying guitar track over guitar, and achieved a very eerie, wall-of-sound type of effect. That kind of experimentation is also attempted on various other tracks.

I will be honest, with this new, less bass heavy production, Wizard does lose some of it's heaviness. Their willingness to experiment sometimes pays off. But some tracks just can't be redeemed: the aftermenioned "Night of the Shape", and the horrible punk parody "We, the Undead". That isn't even a good joke. But the good songs outnumber the bad: "A Chosen Few", "Priestess of Mars", "The Outsider" are all execellent examples. With the first two tracks I just mentioned, Electric Wizard has written some of their best riffs, and despite the flaws, the production still complements the music very well.

What I am saying is listen to the album and make your own opinions. Don't listen to people like Nick Bobration, who just don't get it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars leaders not followers, August 2, 2003

By 

Mr. T. Newell "hairy-mac-t" (england) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Let Us Prey (+1 Bonus Track) (Audio CD)

reading earlier wizard interviews, they promised to get 'eavier with each new recording, and the lords have definately delivered with these fine masterworks. let us prey does not let down, this was the first wizard album i had heard and i didnt hesitate to go and buy the rest, and you can definately see the progression without them drifting far from what they do. it kicks off with 'u chosen few' and carries on from there with riffs to blow the pavement from the path you walk. there is one slightly slower piece on here, 'night of the shape', which to say the least is a haunting number. i think their albums definately sound fantastic if youve a good bass system on your stereo, for the full effect, but i would recommend the wizard to anyone who likes heavy music of any sort.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 - Eclectic Wizard, April 11, 2008

By 

Tom Chase (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let Us Prey (Reis) (Audio CD)

How to follow "Dopethrone"? An album widely regarded as a modern day classic in the stoner/doom genre. Electric Wizard's response, "Let Us Prey", proved to a bit of a damp squid.

It was the last release from the seminal line-up of Jus Oborn, Mark Greening and Tim Bagshaw, the trio that created the bands best albums, "Come My Fanatics" and "Dopethrone". Divisions were reported during the making of this album, and unfortunately this came through on record. "Let Us Prey" is extremely hit and miss throughout, mostly due to some unexpected and out of place experimentation. "We, The Undead" sees the band surging into relatively lightning paced punk rock, and "Night of the Shape" surprises with some moody trip-hop dirge. I appreciate some artists need to re-invent their sound from time to time, but only if that sound is tired. Electric Wizard had just perfected their super-heavy, abrasive brand of 70s doom, and these experiments were not only unnecessary, but quite out of their field. The band sounds messy and confused playing punk, and as for trip-hop...well...just a weird choice.

Frustratingly, amidst the unsuccessful experimentation is some bludgeoning classic EW. Opener "A Chosen Few" blasts in with a typically brutal lead riff, and you wouldn't be stupid to think another "Dopethrone" is on the way. One of my all-time favourite EW tracks comes after the muddled punk, the monumental "Master of Alchemy" piece. Purely instrumental, the song swaggers through two of Oborn's best ever riffs, psychedelic atmospherics and wailing solos. There's a sublime doom groove throughout both sections, making the clutter before it become even more frustrating. "The Outsider" and "Priestess of Mars" are both decent tracks, not brilliant but staple EW and enjoyable, and they keep a small level of consistency going.

So with "Let Us Prey" you get two outstanding, classic Wizard tracks - two staple, slightly stock tracks and two dreadful, out of place experiments. A true mixed bag, and a frustrating release when compared to the mighty albums that preceded it. Those new to the band are best advised with "Come My Fanatics" or "Dopethrone".