Judging from my Facebook feed, the reception to White Magician’s debut album, Dealers of Divinity, is mixed. Some are hailing it as the album of the year. Others have cast it aside as a throwback throwaway. As the old song goes, “Here I am stuck in the middle with you.” After a couple listens to this album, I understand both reasonings. But this review isn’t about their opinions. It’s about mine.
White Magician is the alter ego of Detroit retro revivalists, Demon Bitch. While Demon Bitch’s brand of metal is rooted in the traditional 80s vein we all know and love, White Magician takes us back to the heavy 70s. Their sound is a marriage of the psychedelic freakouts of early Blue Öyster Cult and the arcane doom of Angel Witch. This should be a match made in heavy metal heaven and on certain tracks, it is.
My choice cut is “Mad Magic II: In the Absence of Gods (Bad Magic)”. It features an unorthodox riff and piping hot soloing, characteristic of classic Buck Dharma. Other songs that utilize the BÖC formula to maximum effect is the western twanged opening title track, and the mysterious melodies of “In Memoriam: Love and Magic (Magic and Love)”. The latter starts off mid tempo, but picks up speed near the end, just like the live renditions of BÖC’s “Then Came the Last Days of May”.
While Dealers of Divinity means well, it’s not without its shortcomings. My biggest issue is the musical overambition. I have nothing against long songs. After all, I am a prog fiend. But many of these 7+ minute suites feel dragged out just for the sake of being dragged out. An example of this is the album’s longest track, “Magia Nostra”. This frantic prog rocker goes on…and on…and on, with no rhyme or reason to the endless soloing. Even Buck Dharma knows his limits folks.
Dealers of Divinity falls short of being magic, but shows serious potential throughout. With the right focus, White Magician could release the Agents of Fortune worship album we’ve all been waiting for. Until then, I’ll continue to not fear the reaper.
6 out of 10
Label: Cruz del Sur Music
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: Blue Öyster Cult, Angel Witch, Spell