I want to meet the people who feel as though metal should be a genre that’s dead serious all the time without exception. There is always plenty to be said about a creation that takes itself seriously and is able to throw down a performance with real weight, but what can be more infectious than a band doing their own thing and doing it exceedingly well while, most importantly, having an unmistakably fun time while doing so to the point that it’s utterly infectious? Such is an experience that’s few and far between in the underground for a vast number of reasons, and Bog Wizard demands to be hailed as one of the finest of such. Having been quite active in the game for seven years now, it’s with their forthcoming slab of intoxicating heaviness that the trio furthers their reputation as well as the themes they’ve explored deeply across their discography.

The realms of fantasy have always played an important role in what Bog Wizard brings to the table as was evident in even their very first offerings, and it’s with time that their knowledge and finesse with the sound that Bog Wizard has truly become a force that’s not to be underestimated lest their thick soundwaves crush you with overwhelming might. On top of all this, Bog Wizard has always made it damn clear they truly enjoy every facet of what they’re doing. They take obvious excitement in experimenting with their craft while allowing a frenetic energy to bleed through every moment of their creations even as the material in question can often be slow, methodical, stank-face-inducing, and outright menacing for all that it brings to the table. While it can be all too easy to keep your brow furrowed the entire time to add an air of dominance, there’s something powerful about a band that revels in its own ridiculousness without ever losing sight of their own might to a point that’s exhilarating to experience. Bog Wizard has never been a stranger to that, but it’s their newest offering, “Satanik Panik”, that takes that concept to arguably the furthest extent for the band yet.

Just from the album title and its cover art, you should be able to tell what kind of record this is. Even then, I implore you to not let your expectations rule you as what Bog Wizard has crafted here is most certainly tremendously represented by the art, yet Bog Wizard has not lost so much as an iota of its immensity. Embodying the sheer menace and ridiculousness that a property like that of Dungeons & Dragons has become known for over the decades along with its wild societal impact, the seven tracks of “Satanik Panik” are almost maddening with their high levels of intoxication. This is a record that takes its time, knows precise when to strike, and pulls it all off with such color, personality, and joy that one cannot help but become sucked into the cackling whirlwind that Bog Wizard commands with deadly force. More than capable of trudging riffs as well as pummeling rhythm whose hooks dig ever so deep, “Satanik Panik” is anything but a stagnant, one-dimensional creation that lacks imagination. Bog Wizard has been growing in power since they first came around in 2018 and while my favorite performance of theirs is still the supreme “A Frog in the Bog” by a wide margin, there’s no way for me to deny the magnitude of excellence that’s thrown down in virtually every given minute of “Satanik Panik”. And none of this is even taking into consideration the fascinating Ferngully cover!

It can be immensely difficult for any band to make their growth seem so natural and engaging in practically every aspect both in the studio and on stage, yet that hasn’t given Bog Wizard any pause whatsoever. Time has only been a boon to this trio out of Michigan who is still carving out their own corner of the fantastical underground in a way that’s beyond satisfying to watch unfold with practically every track of “Satanik Panik” cementing Bog Wizard’s reputation as a band that’s not to be denied. To do so would be to miss out on one hell of a good time.

“Satanik Panik” releases on October 31st!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Satanik Panik” on Bandcamp here, or via YouTube below.

LIKE Bog Wizard on Facebook here.

FOLLOW Bog Wizard on Instagram here.