Review by Jeger on November 10, 2024.

To tread unflinchingly into musical horizons anew and to embrace the obscurity of cross-genre extreme metal has not necessarily been my modus operandi over the years. I’ve dedicated my craft mainly to the art of black metal with some leanings into the realm of death and thrash metals, but every now and again, I get a promo in my inbox that just cannot be ignored and must be explored. This time around, I’ve been introduced to one Bram the Bard and his project, Wizard Tattoo - a multi-faceted representation of varying influences ranging from doom/stoner to a little prog and even some psychedelic black metal - equipped with epic acoustic sensibilities. Like DC Comics’s Lobo or some lost ’70s Marvel fantasy brought to life. On December 6, 2024, Wizard Tattoo will release Living Just For Knife Fighting via Garage Fire Recordings. 

A journey! One that begins under the desert moon by bonfire’s glow and to an outlaw soliloquy set to acoustic guitar, fiddle, and Fausto Auerlius’s rustic vocals during 'Living Just For Dying' - a lulling mood-setter and a foreshadowing of epic adventures to come. One would expect a follow-up banger, but not this time. Once again, a dreamlike, almost tribal number in the following track, 'The Wizard Who Loved Me', set to more acoustics, bongos, and the mystifying crash of a gong. Soulful yet elegant vocals contributed by Djinnifer provide a most sentimental vibe before Bram reaches into his musical utility belt and produces 'Tomorrow Dies'. Like a fantasy-driven rendition of some lost Nachtmystium deep cut: blackened and psychedelic yet gargantuan and wicked! Rip a bong load to this one, let your eyelids droop, and just groove… The melody and the rhythm; a blessed union indeed. 

Living Just For Knife Fighting is the combination of two previously released EP recordings plus a few covers: 'In The Meantime' by Helmet, 'Dirty Black Summer' by Danzig, and 'Orgasmatron' by Motörhead, but before you reach the point of homage, you’re met with the gravitational 'Varsak Of Man', the Country Western 'My Second Knife Fight' and a thought-provoking, visuals-inducing closing instrumental in 'Edge Of Reprisal' to culminate what’s been a very unique expedition. 

A record to put on and just daydream or trip on mushrooms to is Living Just For Knife Fighting. The talent speaks for itself and the imagination? Like a Mastodon rendezvous with The Lizard King out in the great expanse of the Western Desert of North America; a trip back through time and into a world of music that I guarantee you’ve never experienced before. Is this trio bound for mainstream notoriety? More like a cult legend, and I’d wager that Wizard Tattoo aim to keep it that way. Take a risk! You’ll be happy you did. It’s projects such as this one that keep shit interesting. Innovative like Crystal Pepsi and yet classic like an old pair of Doc Martens. A sonic Tarantino flick with all the appropriate swagger. Living Just For Knife Fighting - a purist’s delight but also a whole lot of something for the fantasy dork in all of us. Music that Brodie from Mallrats would listen to. Care for a chocolate-covered pretzel? Snoogins…

Rating: 8 out of 10