Customer Reviews

Let Us Prey

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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".

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".

This one's a bit debated amongst fans (following `Dopethrone' was never going to be easy), and for what it's worth here's my contribution: `Let Us Prey' is brilliant.

Terrorizer magazine gave it a rare 10/10 upon release, and while I wouldn't go that far I know what they heard that many others didn't. This is a kind of bite-size Wizard, with an album structure that makes the digestion of the tracks easier. It's possible to listen to this in one brief, exhilarating session without suffering the feedback-induced exhaustion of `Dopethrone'. Most fans would say that's the whole point of listening to the Wizard in the first place, but it doesn't have to be, even though aural abuse is certainly fun. The fact is, `Let Us Prey' is every bit as heavy and savage as the rest of their catalogue. The production work is especially notable, as Jus' guitar and Tim's bass lock in together to devastating effect - check out the monstrous first riff of `Master Of Alchemy' for ample proof. In fact, almost all of these riffs are monstrous. Jus does his usual ultra-distorted stoner drawl over these pounding repetitions, augmented with gutter-level psychedelic phase and flange sweeps in the background. The album in general sounds more like a jamming Wizard, although the songs are framed within the ten-minute mark to ensure the riffs don't stew themselves and become ponderous. The surprises come in the form of the shorter tracks - `We The Undead' has a punky edge that makes the band sound like it's frantically sweating along to catch up with their own tempo.

After the benchmark `Come My Fanatics...', `Let Us Prey' is their most atmospheric work, and is obviously the product of an excitingly unstable vibe. The band had just returned from a US tour that left them broke and unemployed, and they quickly recorded again, leaving us this weird, fraught album that nonetheless hits all the bases and provides us with a snapshot of the band blindly trying to re-establish their mission statement. And succeeding, naturally.

This is still essential Wizard, even by the standards of those who write this off as a `Dopethrone' addendum. It's not - it's the unnerving last gasp of the classic line-up shortly before its implosion. And then came Mark II, a very different animal that leads me to another review entirely...

At first, when I heard the songs off the album Let Us Prey, I absolutley hated it. Of course, I only heard the bad songs such as We, The Undead and Night Of The Shape. The other 4 songs outweigh the bad stuff. Electric Wizard has come out with an album that isn't anything new, and is quite good. Well, there are some things that are new, but when they do the old, it's quite awesome. A Chosen Few comes to mind. Excellent riffs, great vocal effects, and of course, violent feedback. Master Of Alchemy is perfect with it's ascending and descending riff. Very hypnotic. The Outsider is the best song on the album. Quite long and very heavy. And Priestess of Mars is somewhat different. It has a weird time signature, but after that, it's standard Wizard, which is great.

However, the 'experimental' songs really suck. We, THe Undead is Electric Wizard doing hardcore punk, which turns into a bad Black Flag song. And the other one, Night Of The Shape, sounds too much like Linkin Park. But all flaws aside, this is a solid album. It's not as heavy as Dopethrone (nothing will be), but it's still quite good. Sorry about my earlier judgements.

Unlike the other reviewers I was seriously disappointed with this CD. Incredibly boring riffage that goes absolutely nowhere, buried vocals (moreso than DOPETHRONE), lame piano, and some ridiculous swirling effects. They're either burned out or have become too lazy from smoking too much weed to care about the music. "We cane harder."--Here, here! and look what happens when that's all that matters: the music suffers. DOPETHRONE is a faaaaarrrr superior album in comparison. "Let us Prey" for a better album next time.

Ignore the reviews bashing this album.

Yes, its not typical Electric Wizard, nor is it typical doom. But you have to take into account what Electric Wizard revolves around... marijuana.

This album takes a much more psychedelic, groove, stoned out stance towards its production instead of pounding riff after riff. The vocals are muted and distorted, alot like the first track from DopeThrone.

Night of the Shape is an excellent track to get blazed to and trance out. The last track, along with Weird Tales, is one of my fave tracks by the band. The first is headbanging material, and We the Undead shows you want Electric Wizard would have been if they had kept on the same route as they were when they first started.

My only complaints is that some of the tracks feel a bit like filler, other than that, it is an excellent record that obviously shows it has had alot of work done to it.

I cant wait to see what Jus Osbourn has ready for their new release.

. . . black album . . . I'm back because ambrozon sez I hafta creative 8 billion words and never repeating phrases . . . I wonder if this is enough, I'm not sure so I'll just type my thoughts, ok ? The most modern sounding wizard record. Huge sound, like enter sandman but slower and way deeper and HEVVY ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ends with best song, Priestess of Mars

Don't skip this album just because a bunch of people disliked two songs on it. Some of the best work they have ever done is on here. A Chosen Few, Master of Alchemy, The Outsider, and Priestess of Mars are all completely devastating. This is a quality showcase of some heavy doom and is now one of my favorite albums of theirs.

It would be nice if Amazon could list the tracks correctly without all the typos...