PILGRIM – Misery Wizard
- Posted on 24-01-2012
What a pleasure it was early in 2011 to witness this three piece from Rhode Island in a live setting on a doom filled metal night at Ralph’s Diner in Worcester, MA. For the first time hearing this young outfit, Pilgrim blew my mind with their classic sensibilities and haunting melodies. Here we have their debut album “Misery Wizard”, which may seem meager in its 6 songs but when half of the tracks eclipse the 10 minute mark, you know you are in for a brooding, epic journey into doom and gloom.
Guitarist The Wizard also doubles on the vocals, and his voice is more in this eerie Slough Feg vein. Complimenting his work is bassist Count Elric The Soothsayer and drummer Krolg, Slayer Of Men- and material such as the title cut, “Masters Of The Sky” and the faster, quick hitting “Adventurer” just steamrolls with the emotional fury and low end pounding you’ve come to love from early Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, and others of that ilk. Pilgrim will extend a note for as long as they can, using feedback as their fossil fuel and often making the listener wonder when the next riff change will occur, as the 12:54 “Forsaken Man” uses variations of the famous devil’s triad part that established “Black Sabbath” as a doom institution while the rhythm section hammers home this magnificent head banging arrangement.
Anyone remember the band Winter from New York? Pilgrim have a lot of this band in them in terms of spirit and dedication based on this first record. Capturing that essence live in a studio setting isn’t easy- but “Misery Wizard” gives you a great glimpse into their effective and slower but definitely metallic endeavors.
If you are having a troubling day, Pilgrim will adequately give you a soundtrack to release all frustrations and come back a better person because of this.