Force Majeure and the Acts Of God

The Black Wizards - the Porto-based trio of Joana Brito (guitar/vocals), José Gomes (bass/vocals) and Helena Peixoto (drums) - release their new album Force Majeure and The Acts of God, via Hassle Records.  

There’s a dark humour to Force Majeure and The Acts of God; named after the legal phrase used to describe uncontrollable circumstances, the title reflects the chaos surrounding the record’s creation, while hinting at the band’s own sense of mischief and defiance.  

Written as political landscapes across the world spiral into disarray, the album channels frustration and urgency without sinking into hopelessness. While compiling lyrics, frontwoman Joana Brito drew inspiration from books on politics, gender and toxic masculinity, ideas that surface in songs taking aim at hollow leadership and social division. “Killing The Buzz” in particular cuts through political spectacle with sharp humour and punk energy.  

Musically, Force Majeure and The Acts of God marks a decisive shift for the band. Moving beyond the sprawling haze of their earlier heavy psych sound, The Black Wizards lean into something leaner, rawer and more immediate. There’s garage rock swagger, wiry proto-punk tension and relentless rhythmic drive throughout, led by Brito’s jagged, commanding vocals, José Gomes’ gravelly replies and Helena Peixoto’s forceful drumming. Recorded in an intense five-day session with Cooper Crain in Porto, the album thrives on urgency, rough edges and volatile live energy.