Below is a review that Performer Magazine wrote of the Wizard Smoke, Predator and Death Of Kings performance that happened on Saturday, April 30th, 2011.
"The Performer sponsored LP release show for Wizard Smoke’s new album, The Speed of Smoke, began with a scream and a crash and didn’t let up until the last reverb on the last note.
In their current incarnation as a threepiece, two guitarists and a drummer compose opener Death of Kings. Far from sparse, though, their sound filled an initially empty room and seemed
to literally pull people from the ether to fill the space. With singer Matt Matson’s guitar tuned down an octave and riffs echoing and dueling each other, you could swear some invisible demon bassist was throwing down with the three men on stage.
Contrasting with DoK’s classic death metal homage, Predator took the stage and belted out a punk-metal mélange, setting as many asses shaking as heads banging. Brannon Greene (guitar) and Mike Beavers (bass) pulled double duty as vocalists for the band. Joining Greene and Beavers was Greg King on drums and a mysterious, new nameless guitarist filling out the former trio, creating a sound both rich and driving.
Finally, the men of the hour took the stage. Following the night’s trend of adding band members with each successive act, Wizard Smoke features two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, a laptop / mixer guru and a singer with two mics. Their sound hits you full on. Their first note managed to startle a room full of jaded metal heads. From standing around drinking, smoking and yelling in each other’s ears, the packed Drunken Unicorn crowd seemed to jump in unison. And then it was on. Several people had to leave the room to catch a breath during the set, before returning for more delicious ear bleeding.
All in all, the night was a tribute to metal’s past and a glimpse at its future. A bricolage of influences and genres tied these three variant bands together for one hell of a show." - Amelia Shackelford
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