In the 1970s era of rock’s theatrical excesses, SORCERY delivered next level performances in which a battle ensued on stage between illusionists portraying Merlin versus Satan. While Alice Cooper and KISS brought costumes, gore and flashpots to the mainstream, these Los Angeles hard rockers integrated live magic, theatrical drama and fourth wall breaking performance for new heights in musical storytelling.
While Sorcery consists of professional musicians ― the core group being guitarist Richard (Smokey) Taylor, vocalist Greg Magie and bassist Richie King ― two magicians also perform on stage when they play live. The band’s nearly immediate local popularity also made them in demand for film and TV. Enter: “Stunt Rock”.
Way before Jackass, before Crocodile Dundee, contemporaneous with Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park and as timeless as classic Heavy Metal, there was Stunt Rock.
The 1978 low budget, high concept B-movie integrated hard rock, magic, dangerous stunts and an early form of mockumentary filmmaking into an epic feature film about an Australian stunt man reunited with his American cousin (and Sorcery member) in L.A., and all Hell breaks loose.
Sorcery composed the soundtrack ― which also served as the band’s debut album ― and were shown performing songs throughout the film. The drums on the album are performed by Joe Porcaro – yes, the father of Toto musicians Jeff, Mike and Steve.
Now SORCERY’s ‘Stunt Rock Soundtrack‘ has been remastered, and it’s a must listen for fans of pure, unadulterated rock n’ roll, a crazy mix of hard rock, classic metal, and proto party glam-metal.
The Stunt Rock soundtrack highlights the sweet spot between the playful, campy occult imagery of the 70s before Satanic Panic and the religious right’s kayfabe outrage pushed bands to tone things down in favor of glam pomp.
What you get here is pure wild heavy metal / hard rock that sounds something like Sin After Sin era Judas Priest with Robert Plant on vocals, crossed with the melodrama of Alice Cooper and The Who’s rock operas.
This is surely one of the main albums many future NWOBHM legends must’ve been copping riffs from.
The songs are taut, quickly shifting from part to part, motif to overture. The tunes are infinitely catchy and laden with attention grabbing titles like “Talking To The Devil”, “Mark of The Beast”, “Stuntrocker” and “Burned Alive” – which, in 1978 resulted menacing, now 2022 put a big smile on your face.
On the surface, the film Stunt Rock seems campy and crazy enough to be embraced even if the music weren’t all that exciting, but Sorcery proves that their work deserves to be seriously appreciated in the canon of classic rock.
Sorcery was founded in 1975, and recently reformed after inking the contract in 2021 with RidingEasy Records for this album reissue, of course, also available on LP and cassette!
So, rest assured, fans will have the opportunity to hear these songs live, potentially accompanied by magicians as well for the full effect.
Love this stuff… when I was a kid played the vinyl LP to death. Scary thing, and fun!
While they were overlooked in their heyday, Sorcery’s ‘Stunt Rock Soundtrack’ album stands the test of time: this is real, true rock n’ roll.
01 – Sacrifice
02 – Wizard’s Council
03 – Talking to the Devil
04 – Burned Alive
05 – Book of Magic
06 – Stuntrocker
07 – Mark of the Beast
08 – The Bird Song
09 – Wicked City
10 – Woman
11 – Power Mad
Greg Magie – lead and backing vocals
Richard (Smokey) Taylor – guitars
Richie King – bass, vocals
Perry (Pere) Morris – drums
Joe Porcaro – drums, percussion
Doug Loch – keyboards