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There's been a trend of bands trying to recapture that '70s Metal sound and update it for the modern era lately, with bands like Mausoleum Gate and Spellbook being among the more prominent examples. Sadly, despite their good intentions, I find these acts and more tend to instead show how poorly certain aspects of the sound have aged. Of course, there are bands out there that are able to do the style justice, and with their debut album, Dealers of Divinity, White Magician have made it clear that they are one of those acts.

If the album's title and cover didn't give it away, White Magician are very into Blue Oyster Cult with the psychedelic leanings and even a freaking cowbell(!) on some tracks, but they also throw in some Mercyful Fate in the lead work, albeit much less evil than that'd imply. The songs are all lengthy, intricate, and dripping with classic occult atmosphere, all backed by some stellar musicianship and killer guitar work. The production is a bit rough, but it really adds to the strange, mystical vibe the album is going for, especially with the echoey quality it gives to the vocals. The Great Kaiser has a strong voice that fits the music perfectly, though I will say that he can sometimes cram too many lyrics into a vocal line and distract from the rest of the music. Still, it's no small feat to take a sound that technically predates Metal as we know it and make it sound equal parts modern and vintage without coming off as dated or trendy in the slightest, and that alone makes Dealers of Divinity an excellent debut.