DEMONS & WIZARDS: Touched By The Crimson King

Cover	Release	Style
	2005-06-27	epic heavy metal
	Label
	SPV / Steamhammer
	Website
	www.demons-wizards.com
	Contact

	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	49:24	SPV 085-99492 CD
	Review by	Rating
	Vera	9/10
nederlands	Review
When two giants from the metal world decided to join forces, a thrill of joy and great expectations ran through this metal world. Thus happened in 2000 when Iced Earth mastermind Jon Schaffer and Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kürsch released a first album under the moniker Demons & Wizards (for some of you this name will remind you of Uriah Heep). The album hit the crowd like a shell and at that time we could not presume it would take five years before this ‘project’ would get a sequel. But that is no wonder, because both musicians are very busy with their respectively main bands. And I can immediately assure you: it was worth waiting for! The album starts in a fiery way with the vigorous ‘Crimson King’. An epic grandeur shines from the sublime vocals and the recognizable, but oh so sonorous guitar skills. It is promptly clear that two great musicians came to lonesome heights together here. ‘Beneath These Waves’ continues with maximum velocity, although it ends in a reflective way with polyphonic vocals. And a world singer he is, Hansi Kürsch, that becomes even more obvious later on in the slower tracks. ‘Terror Train’ is the one with the heaviest chopping riffs. But one of the biggest trumps of the album is its diversity. A nice example of a mellow track is ‘Seize The Day’. But further on there is so much more to enjoy! I think about the fragile ‘Down Where I Am’ and the acoustic guitar trappings of ‘Wicked Witch’. This is pure top class! The other songs have their grave, quiescent excerpts as well as wild outbursts and the bit longer track ‘Dorian’ can be called an instant classic track. This combination of a certain rawness and atmospheric moods has been worked out in an outstanding way. Another track that hooked me, is ‘Love’s Tragedy Asunder’. You will soon hum the chorus spontaneously. No weak moment can be found on ‘Touched By The Crimson King’. On the debut album, they covered ‘White Room’ from Cream. Also this time the album ends with a remarkable cover. They chose for the Led Zeppelin classic track ‘Immigrant Song’ and they do it well. The album was produced in the MorrisSound Studios and Jim Morris himself played some guitar solos on it. Fans of Blind Guardian and Iced Earth can buy this album blind, for it is an evidence that there are some elements of both main bands to be found in the music of Demons & Wizards. But to be honest, this album should not be missing in any metal collection! The limited edition is a digi pack with different artwork and 4 bonus tracks.
Musicians
Hansi Kürsch: vocals Jon Schaffer: guitars, bass Jim Morris: guitar solos Rubin Drake: bass Bobby Jarzombek: drums
Tracklist
Crimson King (5’47’’) Beneath These Waves (5’12’’) Terror Train (4’47’’) Seize The Day (5’22’’) The Gunslinger (5’16’’) Love’s Tragedy Asunder (5’28’’) Wicked Witch (3’32’’) Dorian (6’37’’) Down Where I Am (4’54’’) Immigrant Song (2’29’’)
Discography
Demons & Wizards (2002) Touched By The Crimson King (2005)


Beekstraat 1 - B-2640 Mortsel - Belgium