Putting the dark in Dark Mofo

ELECTRIC Wizard will bring their downtuned guitars and stoner rock riffs to Hobart in June, with the British doom metal innovators the first act announced for this winter’s Dark Mofo festival.

The group’s Australian-exclusive performance at the Odeon Theatre on June 21 looks certain to be a highlight of Dark Mofo 2018, which will run from June 15-24 and feature a packed program of concerts, late-night parties, arts exhibitions and installations, and returning Dark Mofo favourites including the Winter Feast and the Nude Solstice Swim.

Heavily influenced by Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard — Justin Oborn (guitar, vocals), Liz Buckingham (guitar), Clayton Burgess (bass) and Simon Poole (drums) — formed in Dorset, England in 1993, combining elements of early black metal, Detroit garage, acid rock, hardcore punk and even electronic music into their sound.

Two of the band’s nine albums — Come My Fanatics ... (1997) and Dopethrone (2000) — are now considered major milestones of the doom metal genre.

Their latest release, last year’s Wizard Bloody Wizard, has been described as a “21st century funeral boogie”.

Electric Wizard follows in the heavy footsteps of previous international Dark Mofo musical acts such as Ulver (Norway), Cult of Fire (Czech Republic), Sunn O))) (USA) and Lustmord (Britain).

Since starting in 2013, Dark Mofo — Mona’s winter solstice festival — has grown to become Tasmania’s biggest annual cultural event, attracting more than 420,000 people to events across Hobart and beyond over the past five years.

Dark Mofo 2018 pre-sale registrations open today, before tickets go on sale on April 9 — three days after the full program is announced on April 6. Go to www.darkmofo.net.au/ subscribe to sign up.