Band:	Merlin
Album:	The Wizard
Style:	Psychedelic rock, Stoner metal
Release date:	January 26, 2018
A review by:	RaduP

01. Abyss
02. Gravelord
03. Sage's Crystal Staff
04. Golem
05. Iron Borne
06. Tarantula Hawk
07. The Wizard Suite

So how do you take a genre that's been done to death like stoner metal and make it more exciting? Well, add a saxophone, obviously!

Merlin have been going on for a while, this being their 4th record, and they would've been lost for me in a sea of stoner bands that are good but completely lacking anything of their own had it not been for this record. With the recent addition of Stu Kersting, Merlin have extended their sonic palette with the sax. And damn, does it work so well.

You can tell that the saxophone isn't just a gimmick here, as the band works to cleverly incorporate it in such a way that it builds harmoniously along with the guitars and the rest of the instruments. One just needs to listen to the jam that is "Abyss" to hear how much more this adds to the song and its sense of groove. That being said, I do wish the guitars were a bit heavier during the riffy grooves in order to pack a harder punch, but other times they blend much more seamlessly, like on "Sage's Crystal Staff".

While there is a slight sense that the horns overpower the other instruments in some sections, this isn't an issue all throughout; there's fuzz and bass and some keyboard textures galore. Not all tracks have horns, as Stu plays guitar as well, and the band also has a new bassist for this album and both of their presences can be felt. The Wizard culminates with a 12-minute-long suite that brings together everything that makes this album great. I can't look at the performance or the songwriting or the production and say that it is top-notch, but it's great for what it is.

The Wizard is indeed one of the most exciting stoner metal albums I have heard recently and Merlin make a decent effort in crafting some tasty jams. Awaken the wizard.