Mountain Wizard Death Cult @ House of Music & Booze

It’s easy to see why this Sydney four-piece has gathered a loyal following. 

Review by Natasha Christian & photos by James Gough.

Mountain Wizard Death Cult started in 2018, a year before the covid pandemic. Their first single Eye of The Sun was released months before everything went into lockdown which meant they were one of many killer new bands that couldn’t tour. 

What happens to new bands that can’t tour? In most cases, they die. 

But Mountain Wizard didn’t only keep their cult following alive, with a bit of hard work it thrived. 

Each year of the pandemic we got new music in EP Thrones of Putrid Light, and singles Wretch and Initiation. At the same time vocalist JJ Brady put his artistic talents to work and designed MWDC’s merch - some of the best I’ve seen since I Killed The Prom Queen said goodbye a few years back ( … must be something about bands with JJ’s in them … ). 

So while many bands struggled to keep their fans interested during this void in time, MWDC kept their audience fed and watered with a few creative, well-timed flicks of the wand. 

And six years later, by the time they’re ready to release their debut album - the aptly named Liminal - MWDC’s following has grown to a pretty decent size. 

On Saturday, the band took the stage at Sydney’s newest live music venue House of Music & Booze alongside Flaming Wrekage, Burden Man and Iron Blanket. 

Iron Blanket were up first with their heavy stoner-rock worship. With big, bold Led Zeppelin hair and Black Sabbath-inspired riffs and vocals, they were a solid choice to get this house feeling holy. 

Next on stage were dark metallers Burden Man, who joined the bill at the last hour as KVLL couldn’t make it. It was great to see them on a lineup with MWDC again. I love Burden Man more than anyone, but my opinion is incredibly biased so I’m not able to give them a genuine review. I will say that I heard multiple people in the audience refer to them as “Sydney’s best band” … that might be blowing smoke, but it could also be true, so do with that what you will. 

This show was particularly special for Burden Man as they not only debuted a new Nick Cave X Dirty Three-sounding 13-minute song (which is yet to have a name), but they also introduced Troy Koglin on bass and synth. He will be joining the band for their Australian tour with Esoteric next month. Koglin is also the mastermind behind local industrial project Cheap Coffins - I strongly urge you to check that out too, it’s brilliant. 

Up next was Flaming Wrekage who broke up the doom and gloom and got some horns up with their crushing set full of heavy hitters from Cathedral of Bones. Frontman and guitarist Dave Lupton barked at the audience while delivering some wicked riffs. Check out the video for The Voiceless here and you’ll see what I mean. 

By the time Mountain Wizard Death Cult took the stage, the room was full of fans ready to drink the doom juice. JJ Brady looked very much the part with his black cowboy hat and arms stretched wide as he welcomed the audience to their Initiation. The guy is an absolute showman.

“I’m the wretch you seek, I’m the wretch you need” he screams during Wretch as Chris Chaplin’s sludgy guitar riffs and Anthony Langton’s energetic bass tone fills the room. It’s an ‘oldie’ but a goodie, give it a listen here. 

The groove is turned up with Thrones, Putrid Light and the one that started it all Eye Of The Sun. It’s always fun to watch Chap and Langton jam on these. 

MWDC farewell their following with a new 8-minute sonic journey Orbital, their single that’s been teasing Liminal for the last few weeks. It’s been a while since I’ve seen MWDC live and drummer Lachlan Livingston Wink has clearly stepped it up a notch, it’s great to see how far he’s come as a performer. 

Orbital is slower-paced and more atmospheric than past releases but if it’s anything to go by, Mountain Wizard’s next offering is going to be an impressive one. 

If you’re willing to sacrifice some of your hard-earned cash to see this tour, you won’t be disappointed.

Mountain Wizard Death Cult is touring in May, watch new single Orbital here.