Crumb-wich Cakes

Horror films and metal share a lot of fans. Both portray a similar outlook on life. I definitely saw a lot of kids I usually see at metal shows at the midnight screening of Zombie a few weeks ago.
Electric Wizard is a band that successfully marries both 1970's horror, and doom metal. They are as English as the Hammer Horror films that inspire them.

They record their albums analog and live instead of one instrument at a time. If they want the song to sound better, they have to give a better performance in the studio. I have nothing but respect for anyone who refuses to take the easy way out. They even recorded Witchcult Today using vintage audio equipment from the 1970's.

Between their albums Come My Fanatics... and Dopethrone, the band really hit a rough patch!

Founding member Jus Oborn, drummer Mark Greening, and bassist Tim Bagshaw were all arrested on various, separate charges. Then Oborn suffered a collapsed eardrum in the middle of a show and had to have several corrective surgeries. Later he accidentally severed his fingertip while installing some flooring. And then, Greening broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident. Geez Louise! Somebody really had it out for these guys! I'm glad everyone seems to be okay now.

To honor a band that is awesomely inspired by horror, and never takes the easy way out, I give you:

Electric Wizard:
Crumb-wich Cakes

Makes 18

Metal Constituents:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

For the Crumb Topping:

• 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled

For the glaze:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 1/2 Tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon melted butter
• black food coloring

Merciless Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a cupcake tin with baking cups, and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together.
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Add sour cream and vanilla, beat well.
6. Add flour mixture in two parts. Beat until just combined, do not over mix.
7. Set batter aside.
8. To make the crumb topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
9. Add melted butter, and stir with a spatula until large crumbs form.
10. Fill each baking cup with just enough batter to cover the bottom of each.
11. Sprinkle crumb topping on top.
12. Add more batter to each cup, filling about 2/3 full.
13. Sprinkle another layer of crumbs on top of each batter-filled baking cup.
14. Bake for 20-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into one cupcake comes out clean.
15. Allow cakes to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
16. To make the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and butter.
17. Add black food coloring, and continue to whisk.
18. Drizzle black sugar glaze all over each completely cooled cake either at random, or in the shape of various witchcraft symbols. Be careful when deciding which symbols to use, you don't want to accidentally open the gates to dessert hell.
19. Cakes of Crumb-wich Rise.

Here is some footage of Electric Wizard playing "Dunwich."
Enjoy!