“Before a mighty Emperor thereupon came”
The narrator of I Am The Black Wizards has been a ruler for eternities and is so mighty that the souls and spirits of numerous obedient wizards now belong to him. Or something like that. Whatever is going on, it’s metal as fuck. And it’s black metal 101 too, an essential track from a mandatory band. Taken from their debut 1993 EP Emperor, this is absolutely caustic stuff with an unforgettable guitar melody snaking through the furnace of noise. I Am The Black Wizards was recorded again for Emperor’s debut album In The Nightside Eclipse and that version is even better than this. But this version came first so it has a special importance and its cavernous cacophony has an appeal of its own.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
Very sweet ballad.
😉
I do like the riffing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A ballad?! I think you need some time to think things over…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah just trying to be funny. Ian Gillan jokingly introduces heavy songs as ballads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe I know. He also likes calling guitarists banjo players. A weirdo. But I couldn’t resist the opportunity for a wee Foreigner reference!
LikeLike
I remember a Rick Wakeman show where he opened with a 20-minute piece. He then quipped “Well, now we’ve got the ballad out of the way.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahaha that’s awesome
LikeLiked by 1 person
I alwas loved that this was plural.
I got much amusement from it as a teen. That and My Dying Bride having a misspelling of “trun” instead of “turn” were quite the in joke talking point among my teenage friend group back in the day
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s good fun… never noticed that MDB one though! I must have had a different edition. Was that on the cover or in the lyrics?
LikeLike
Dudes just looking like they’re having SO MUCH FUN in the pic. Come on guys, you’ve got a great job where you get to play dress up and wear make up, at least smile!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I have the perfect black metal album for you…
https://images.kerrangcdn.com/images/a4228195356_10.jpg?auto=compress&fit=max&w=1200
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s much better. The chap looks like he wasn’t being forced to be in a band at gunpoint.
LikeLiked by 2 people