Wizardthrone – Hypercube Necrodimensions (Album Review)

Someone enthusiastically hands you a cup filled with dark liquid, a mixture so potent your eyes burn as you bring it to your lips. You can’t name a single flavor, but by god it gets the job done. The same could be said for Wizardthrone, a dynamic concoction of technical-power-death-symphonic-black metal from outer space – or, as they say, from across a number of multiverses. Straddling the line between impressive musicality and pure absurdity, this c**ktail of creativity is a new supergroup drawing its members from Alestorm, Gloryhammer, Aether Realm, Nekrogoblikon, and many more big names in the metal business. And crashing down to Earth from a galaxy millions of light years away is their debut album “Hypercube Necrodimensions,” brimming over with intensity, fervor, and just the right touch of comedic value. From “Black Hole Quantum Thermodynamics” to “Beyond the Wizardthrone (Cryptopharmalogical Revelations of the Riemann Zeta Function),” Wizardthrone brings the listener headfirst into the action and out towards a sprawling field of stars. 

Metal anthems have long been entangled in the throes of science fiction, be they more serious endeavors or playful romps like those of Devin Townsend’s unforgettable “Ziltoid the Omniscient.” Wizardthrone delivers the entirety of “Hypercube Necrodimensions” with a straight face as its dueling guitars bring a dazzling, explosive energy across the “Frozen Winds of Thyraxia” and beyond. This enthralling dance between M. Archistrategos Barber and M. Xaviculus Bell offers an immersive and all-enveloping sonic experience, executed with the technical mastery of  any noteworthy tech death band, yet carrying the flourish of power metal with its aural brightness. The frost-bitten strings of “The Coalescence of Nine Stars in the System Once Known as Markarian-231” support the vocal endeavors V. Morbistopheles Jones with laser-like precision, furthering the theme of cohesion between bandmates that runs throughout the rest of the album.  There are certainly points where the quintet and their guests compete for dominance in the dense mix, occasionally muddying the overall presentation across passages and transitions, but for the most part the absolute magnitude elevates the sensation of the album’s expansive cosmic ceiling. 

The greatest success of “Hypercube Necrodimensions” is the consistent devotion to a sound that is larger than life, making it all but believable its members have assembled to tell true tales from across the cosmos. C. Hyperiax Bowes mans the keys for the album’s atmospheric development and additional effects, giving “Black Hole Quantum Thermodynamics” just the right dose of personality alongside its heaviness. The power metal flair from the keys, and splashes of dramatic narration, gives this opus more delicate fixtures amidst the percussive static. Complexity abounds on “Forbidden Equations Deep Within the Epimethean Wasteland,” painting the picture of another world that extends far beyond the sneak-peek listeners are treated to over the course of five glorious minutes. “Hypercube Necrodimensions” shifts unpredictably but steadily across its many subgenres, transitioning seamlessly from guttural aggression and into more luminous melodies for an impressive display of versatility. This multifaceted approach to atmospheric storytelling makes apparent that Wizardthrone put immense care into not just the composition of their epic arrangements, but the full artistic package. 

“Hypercube Necrodimensions” Album Artwork

Each artist brings something distinct from their respective origins, including the album’s distinguished guests. Most distinct of all is Morbistopheles (best known as Vincent Jones while out drinking with his fellow redneck Vikings), possessing the unique growl that gives Aether Realm its tremendous edge and now gives Wizardthrone its fiery overture. Having found his mettle in death-drenched melodies of his own crafting, Jones’ vocal talents translate superbly to this unique amalgamation of genres, particularly when backed by the blackened percussive violence of drummer E. Wizardthrone Brown. The power metal stylings of the axemen offset Jones’ harshness to polish off the metallic space-chrome presentation, but Wizardthrone is further proof that Jones is carving out a name for himself as one of the freshest, most unique voices in modern extreme metal, easily keeping pace with longtime superstars. As if his vocal reach weren’t impressive enough, Jones is also responsible for Wizardthrone‘s bass, fundamental in giving “Hypercube Necrodimensions” its obsidian depth. 

And thus begins the tale of Extreme Wizard Metal from across the Necrodimensions and beyond, promising a grand adventure for those brave listeners willing to suspend their disbelief just for an hour. The rip-roaring thunder of the title track just begs for a live performance, and “Hypercube Necrodimensions” is ripe with outstanding performers who are more than capable of putting on a show that is out of this world. Last on the album, but certainly not least in gradneur, is the space-opera-esque epic titled “Beyond the Wizardthrone,” Running at nearly fifteen minutes long without a second of filler, this heroic effort is a final testament to the enduring talent of each instrumentalist as both artists and storytellers. Yes, this album brings with it as much cheese as it brings finesse (if not more), but it does so with mastery over its craft and a clear desire to push the boundaries of metal ever further. If Wizardthrone elects to stay on Earth to entertain us a bit longer, it’s more than exciting to think where they will go from here – though hopefully somewhere with shorter song titles. 

Released By: Napalm Records
Release Date: July 16th, 2021
Genre: Power Death Metal

Musicians:

• V. Morbistopheles Jones / Bass, Vocals
• M. Archistrategos Barber / Guitar, Vocals
• M. Xaviculus Bell / Guitar
• C. Hyperiax Bowes / Keys, Narration 
• E. Wizardthrone Brown / Drums

“Hypercube Necrodimensions” Track-listing:

1. Black Hole Quantum Thermodynamics
2. Frozen Winds of Thyraxia
3. Incantation of the Red Order
4. Forbidden Equations Deep Within the Epimethean Wasteland
5. The Coalescence of Nine Stars in the System Once Known as Markarian-231
6. Of Tesseractual Gateways and the Grand Duplicity of Xhul
7. Hypercube Necrodimensions
8. Beyond the Wizardthrone (Cryptopharmalogical Revelations of the Riemann Zeta Function)