''We Live'' is the fifth studio album by English

doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...

band

Electric Wizard Electric Wizard are an English doom metal band from Dorset. The band formed in 1993 and have recorded nine studio albums, two of which have been considered genre landmarks: ''Come My Fanatics…'' (1997) and ''Dopethrone'' (2000). Electric Wiz ...

, released in 2004. It is the first recorded material with the band's second line-up. Due to the addition of second guitarist Liz Buckingham, the songs are more complex than their previous work. They are named "The Electric Wizard" for the first time on the album cover, and "Electric Wizard II" in the booklet. The booklet also contains the statement: "My enemies, I fear not...but God protect me from my friends".

History

In August 2003, vocalist-guitarist

Jus Oborn Justin Oborn is a British musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist and lyricist of Electric Wizard, an English doom metal band from Dorset, which Oborn co-founded in 1993. Prior to forming Electric Wizard, he was a m ...

revealed Electric Wizard's new line-up – drummer Justin Greaves, second-guitarist Liz Buckingham (of 13 and

Sourvein Sourvein is an American sludge metal band that formed in Cape Fear, North Carolina during 1993. The band has released four full-length albums, three EPs, and various 7" splits. Discography *Split with Buzzoven (Mudflap, 1995) *''He's No Good ...

), and bassist Rob Al-Issa This new line-up recorded the album in July 2003, just days after Buckingham began rehearsing with the band. As Oborn explained, the addition of Buckingham was crucial given the departure of his previous writing partner,

Tim Bagshaw Electric Wizard are an English doom metal band from Dorset. The band formed in 1993 and have recorded nine studio albums, two of which have been considered genre landmarks: ''Come My Fanatics…'' (1997) and ''Dopethrone'' (2000). Electric Wiz ...

Album information

For this release, Electric Wizard continued to be inspired by horror movies. "

Eko Eko Azarak ''Eko Eko Azarak'' is the opening phrase from a Wiccan chant. It is also known as the "Witch's chant", the "Witch's rune", or the "''Eko Eko'' chant". The following form was used by Gerald Gardner, considered as the founder of Wicca as an organize ...

" is the title of the first in a series of Japanese horror movies directed by Shimako Sato, while "Tutti I Colori Del Buio" and "Living Dead at Manchester Morgue" are named after a 1972

Sergio Martino Sergio Martino (born 19 July 1938) is an Italian film director and producer, notable for his contributions to the giallo genre. Martino is the brother of the late producer Luciano Martino (who died in 2013). They collaborated frequently in their ...

movie and a 1974

Jorge Grau Jorge Grau (born Jorge Grau Solá, 27 October 1930 – 26 December 2018) was a Spanish director, scriptwriter, playwright and painter. His 1965 film '' Acteón'' was entered into the 4th Moscow International Film Festival. In 1973, he directed ...

horror movie, respectively. Furthermore, the track "We Live" samples dialog from

Don Sharp Donald Herman Sharp (19 April 192114 December 2011) was an Australian film director. His best known films were made for Hammer Film Productions, Hammer in the 1960s, and included ''The Kiss of the Vampire'' (1963) and ''Rasputin, the Mad Monk' ...

's 1973 horror film ''

Psychomania ''Psychomania'' (originally released in the United States as ''The Death Wheelers'') is a 1973 British outlaw biker horror film starring Nicky Henson, Beryl Reid, George Sanders (in his final film) and Robert Hardy. Plot Tom Latham, an amiab ...

''.

Critical reception

Upon release, ''We Live'' received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with Eduardo Rivadavia of

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

writing "2004's We Live witnessed the birth of Electric Wizard Mark II, as lone remaining founding member

– tired of years of internal strife – decided to "upgrade" the

stalwarts from a power trio to a twin-guitar quartet. However, with or without the cosmetic improvement brought on by the addition of second guitarist Liz Buckingham, it's important to point out that this incarnation of Electric Wizard has little in common with the original article of ten years prior."

Track listing

CD

2006 reissue bonus track

12" vinyl

Disc 1

;Side one ;Side two

Disc 2

;Side one ;Side two

Personnel

* Jus Oborn - guitar, vocals * Liz Buckingham - guitar * Rob Al-Issa - bass * Justin Greaves - drums * Tony R. - artwork * All lyrics - Jus Oborn * All music - Electric Wizard

Release history

References

{{Authority control 2004 albums Electric Wizard albums Rise Above Records albums Candlelight Records albums JVC Records albums