Review: HAZEMAZE - Blinded by the Wicked

Stockholm, Sweden’s fuzzy Doom Rock trio HAZEMAZE is back at last! Blinded by the Wicked, their third full-length album, has just been released through Heavy Psych Sounds Records. The band’s previous release came in September 2020 when they put out a great EP as a tribute to Black Sabbath’s Paranoid record titled The Paranoid Sessions (which I reviewed here). This time, they return with another classic Doom-sounding record with their distinctive brand of occult rock, lyrics about the lord of darkness and the dangers of forsaking your soul.

The dark ritual begins with “In the Night of the Light, for the Dark”, which was also the album’s first single. Thick and heavy, a tremendous song with strong Sabbathian influences. “Devil’s Spawn” follows, a slower-paced number with a good dose of psych and stoner featuring hypnotic synths. “Ethereal Disillusion”, third track and third single as well, gets my vote for best song of the record. With addictive riffs, bleak lyrics, and a really cool video which you can watch on Heavy Psych Sounds’ YouTube channel. Let’s all chant together now: “Death! Death! Death!”. “Sectatores Et Principes” is a gorgeous, gentle instrumental interlude reminiscent of Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan” at times. “Ceremonial Aspersion”, which was the second single, is another highlight of the album, relentless and full of entrancing synth goodness. “Divine Harlotry” wins the prize for most original title for a song; a solid track with spoken parts that’s ominous and fiery. “Luciferian Rite” is self-explanatory with its title and features more quality Sabbath worship. A gem of a song. The ritual concludes with “Malevolent Inveigler”, the LP’s longest cut and a memorable one at that, with its evil opening riff that will stick with you long after the song ends. It references the album’s title and is a true Doom track in every sense of the word.

I have loved this band ever since the first song I ever heard from them (a track titled “Doom” taken from their Live at Copperfields album released in 2017). Blinded by the Wicked solidifies their place into the pantheon of all-time great Doom bands. It’s HAZEMAZE’s most polished effort yet, and it’s also their heaviest and most evil record. I’d argue that it’s also their best, and it’s not recency bias talking, it’s that good. If you’re into Sabbath worship, enjoy bleak albums, and favor more traditional Doom-sounding bands, then Blinded by the Wicked will seep into your soul and never let go. I give it my highest possible recommendation. 

Heavy Psych Sounds Records’ Bandcamp page for Blinded by the Wicked: https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hazemaze-blinded-by-the-wicked

HAZEMAZE’s Bandcamp page: https://hazemazeband.bandcamp.com/

Video for “Ethereal Disillusion” on YouTube