THE MEZMERIST – The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty
- Posted on 02-09-2013
Shadow Kingdom’s reissue of ‘The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty’ includes both the 1983 and 1985 EPs (plus a DVD too, I think – not included in the promo). Vocals and guitar are covered by an individual calling himself The Mezmerist and drums on the 1985 EP were actually handled by the one and only Bill Ward (yes, the real Bill Ward, but funnily enough, the percussion here is nothing to write home about).
The music is psychedelic doom in the vein of Cirith Ungol or early Judas Priest/Maiden. Most striking of all are the vocals which are of the King Diamond school and sound something like John Cyriis on acid. The strident, echoing solos and space-rock feel of tracks like ‘Dead Ones Cry No More’ works a treat and there are other good moments here and there, but there are too many moments when this act just sounds like a distinctive but mediocre pub band – in particular the almost 9 minute ‘The Jam Song’.
In the last few years Shadow Kingdom Records have done an excellent job in unearthing gems from the past, but I’m afraid this is one of their more dispensable releases.
shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.com