Welcome to Infernal Visions, a column where I review an album and pull a tarot card, oracle, or rune called forth by said album, sharing my interpretation of the card and how I feel it relates to the music. Let us bring together distortion and divinity. This week’s calling is sludge/stoner metal album Transilvanian Munchies by Bong Wizard (out now) and Versatility.
The Call: Bong Wizard – Transilvanian Munchies
Drenched in riffs, fuzz, and harsh vocals drifting into the ether above the smoky haze, sludge/stoner/doom trio Bong Wizard’s third album is heavy yet playful. Each song title on Transilvanian Munchies twists a classic black metal song title into something cannabis-fueled. The music leans a bit further into the dark compared to traditional stoner metal with screamed vocals, distortion, down-tuning, and more. Combined with the fun song titles, the nod to black metal is appreciated and a welcomed unexpected twist.
“Bongblåst” kicks things off with marching riffs and a meditative tempo laced with cathartically screamed vocals, dragged out to match the pace. The song ends with an epic guitar and rhythm solo that picks up the energy and absolutely rips. A title track appears halfway through the release and is the longest, spanning just under seven minutes. This piece features more distortion and fuzz with its groove-heavy noise. There are instrumental segments that build while strongly displaying the rhythm section. The instrumental sections throughout Transilvanian Munchies are some of my favorites on the album. The technical skill and obvious fun that was had while recording is on full display and makes me want to see Bong Wizard live in a smoke-filled dive. “Bluntlust” features clean classic rock vocals to kick off the track before slowing things back down and re-welcoming harsh vocals. It continues to waver between the two styles and features a soaring guitar solo, easily making it one of my favorites on the album. Ending with an ominous instrumental track, “I Am the Bong Wizards,” begins with a gentle guitar strum with tones that ring out as cymbals ebb and flow in the background. Another guitar is introduced with wavering wah pedal infused noodling. It feels improvisational and again showcases the skills in this proudly and aptly named song.
Transilvanian Munchies is a fun listen and offers something heavy without taking itself too seriously. There is not an emotional weight but a welcomed weight of black and doom metal. You will walk away from this album feeling a catharsis and satisfaction, not pulled down by tense subject matter that sometimes accompanies darker releases. I love a stoner metal album and this one offers something different and something for everyone to enjoy, whether with a cannabis-related treat or without. Get munching.
The Card: Versatility
Let’s talk about oracle decks! Oracle decks are vastly different from tarot decks. No two oracle sets are alike, unless maybe they are created by the same person. There are many beautiful decks and they vary in themes and meanings. They can range from smaller sets of cards to over a hundred. While tarot decks follow the same structure (78 cards, universally recognized suits and cards), oracle decks have no standardization with varying intention and design. For beginners, oracle decks are a wonderful first divination tool since there is so much flexibility and you can find something very personal that connects to you and what you are looking for. Oracles are used in the same way as tarot—you can create a spread, pull a card to answer a question, or use it as a prompt to journal and reflect.
I did intentionally pick out this card… I had to. As soon as I listened to this album, the image of this card popped into my mind and of course it is very fitting for obvious reasons. Versatility urges us to be flexible and open-minded, to go along with what is being presented to us rather than trying to force something or resist. This card indicates a time to step back, breathe, clear our minds, and open ourselves up to change and new experiences without preconceived notions or expectations. Cannabis is the image on this card because it teaches us to find multiple uses and benefits within a single thing. Oftentimes we can get stuck in a pattern and see only one path. This card encourages us to step back and illuminate all routes and opportunities. Versatility also relates to Transilvanian Munchies through the song titles and looking at classic black metal tracks a little differently. This card encourages us to think outside the box and Bong Wizard are certainly a band that thinks creatively. This is also their first release with their new drummer and this shift made the band approach the record with a different mindset from past releases. While I did purposefully pair this card with this release, it still feels cosmically aligned.
Blessed be.
–Angela
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