We Live

We Live is the fifth studio album by English doom metal band Electric Wizard, released in 2004. It is the first recorded material with the band's second line-up. Due to the addition of second guitarist Liz Buckingham, the songs are more complex than their previous work.

We Live
Studio album by
Electric Wizard
Released2004[1]
RecordedJuly 2003
Genre
Length54:59 (CD)
76:11 (LP reissue)
LabelRise Above
The Music Cartel (US)
Candlelight (US reissue)
JVC Victor (Japan)
ProducerJus Oborn
Mathieus Schneeberger
Electric Wizard chronology
Let Us Prey
(2002)		 We Live
(2004)		 Witchcult Today
(2007)

They are named "The Electric Wizard" for the first time on the album cover, and "Electric Wizard II" in the booklet. The booklet also contains the statement: "My enemies, I fear not...but God protect me from my friends".

History

In August 2003, vocalist-guitarist Jus Oborn revealed Electric Wizard's new line-up – drummer Justin Greaves, second-guitarist Liz Buckingham (of 13 and Sourvein), and bassist Rob Al-Issa[2] This new line-up recorded the album in July 2003, just days after Buckingham began rehearsing with the band. As Oborn explained, the addition of Buckingham was crucial given the departure of his previous writing partner, Tim Bagshaw:

"(The addition of) Liz was the most important element...because Tim had left the band and we were writing partners so to speak. So when Liz came aboard we were writing partners again. Our styles were very similar. We have the same sort of down-stroke pattern. And since we were writing together, Electric Wizard was happening again. I have to have a writing partner."[3]

Album information

For this release, Electric Wizard continued to be inspired by horror movies. "Eko Eko Azarak" is the title of the first in a series of Japanese horror movies directed by Shimako Sato, while "Tutti I Colori Del Buio" and "Living Dead at Manchester Morgue" are named after a 1972 Sergio Martino movie and a 1974 Jorge Grau horror movie, respectively. Furthermore, the track "We Live" samples dialog from Don Sharp's 1973 horror film Psychomania.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
MP3.com(Average)[4]

Upon release, We Live received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic writing "2004's We Live witnessed the birth of Electric Wizard Mark II, as lone remaining founding member Jus Oborn – tired of years of internal strife – decided to "upgrade" the doom metal stalwarts from a power trio to a twin-guitar quartet. However, with or without the cosmetic improvement brought on by the addition of second guitarist Liz Buckingham, it's important to point out that this incarnation of Electric Wizard has little in common with the original article of ten years prior."[5]

Track listing

CD
No.TitleLength
1."Eko Eko Azarak
  • I. "Invocation"
  • II. "Ritual"
10:35
2."We Live"7:46
3."Flower of Evil" (a.k.a. "Malfiore")7:29
4."Another Perfect Day?"7:51
5."The Sun Has Turned to Black"6:16
6."Saturn's Children"15:01
Total length:54:59

2006 reissue bonus track
No.TitleLength
7."The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue"4:58
Total length:60:39

Disc 1
Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Eko Eko Azarak
  • I. "Invocation"
  • II. "Ritual"
10:35
2."We Live"7:46
Side two
No.TitleLength
3."Flower of Evil" (a.k.a. "Malfiore")7:29
4."Another Perfect Day?"7:51

Disc 2
Side one
No.TitleLength
5."The Sun Has Turned to Black"6:16
6."Saturn's Children"15:01
Side two
No.TitleLength
7."Tutti i colori del buio" (not present on the CD version)16:13

Personnel
  • Jus Oborn - guitar, vocals
  • Liz Buckingham - guitar
  • Rob Al-Issa - bass
  • Justin Greaves - drums
  • Tony R. - artwork
  • All lyrics - Jus Oborn
  • All music - Electric Wizard

Release history
Year
Label
Format
Country
Out of Print?
Notes
2004
Rise Above
CD
U.K.
Yes
2004
Rise Above
2LP
U.K.
Yes
Includes bonus track; limited 1000 copies on purple vinyl
2004
The Music Cartel
CD
U.S.
Yes
2004
JVC Victor
CD
Japan
Yes
2006
Rise Above
2LP+7"
U.K.
Yes
Includes 2 bonus tracks, 1 on a bonus 7";
limited 1000 copies (500 green, 500 black)
2006
Rise Above
DigiCD
U.K.
No
Remastered version; includes bonus track
2008
Candlelight
DigiCD
U.S.
No
Remastered version; includes bonus track

References
  1. "We Live - Electric Wizard". Allmusic.
  2. "MusicMight :: Artists :: ELECTRIC WIZARD". Musicmight.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  3. Bugbee, Tim. "Electric Wizard: Interview". Prefix. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  4. "We Live". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2006.
  5. "We Live - Electric Wizard - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
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