Opium Warlords- We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky

As a member of REVEREND BIZARRE, Albert Witchfinder (that may not be his real name) became somewhat a modern doom legend regarded with the same reverence as ELECTRIC WIZARD (who incidentally released a split with them containing Bizarre's final material) and with a loyal cult following. Since the band called it quits in 2007, alongside his new band, THE PURITAN, Witchfinder's main priority is now OPIUM WARLORDS. For their sophomore album "We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky", WItchfinder strikes out alone, entasking himself with all instrumentation and his own personal interpretation of what doom is.

Kicking off with the jarring, angular feedback of the cryptically titled "Sxi-Meru", Albert WItchfinder seems to immediately set out to prove that this is no mere REVEREND BIZARRE MK2. There's barely a trace of doom in the minimal ambience on offer and "Sxi-Meru" is kept surprisingly brief for the drone genre. Next, "Slippy" introduces menacing horror b-movie organ and military drumming seeming to herald the presence of a darker force at work before going off at a wild tangent with demonic vocals and an equally sinister, frantic fairground riff punctuated by disarming sections of decidedly calmer drone and pretty, melodic guitar playing that EARTH would be proud of. Throughout "Slippy", the listener is kept on edge with frequent twists and turns proving that, while he mayno longer be a reverend, Witchfinder is as bizarre as ever. While the rest of the album is sans-lyrics, the contrast only serves to highlight the diversity on display across the five tracks that comprise "We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky"- part MAYHEM, part MR BUNGLE, part SUNN O))), all mental!  Next, "Lament For The Builders Of Khara Khoto" is somewhat more subdued but no less menacing with the first hint of heavier-than-thou doom riffing taking the fore. Guttural screams and chanting ornament the oppressive feedback while a subtle melody weaved through creates a ray of light in the darkness. "This Wind Is A Gift From A Distant Friend" provides no such respite with a slow guitar and rums drone-doom assault in the vein of BURNING WITCH before morphing into something more akin to post-metal. Final track, "Satan Knew My Secret Heart" pulls of a similar trick but, rather than having a volta in the piece, here post-metal and doom are merged seamlessly throughout giving the track a mournful, almost repentant vibe. By the time "Satan Knew My Secret Heart" abruptly cuts out, you feel spent form the cathartic, beguiling and brilliant journey that is "We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky". Albert Witchfinder has had the courage to step out on his own and it's a risk that has paid off manifold. (8/10)


"We Meditate Under The Pussy In The Sky" is out now through Svart