Demons and Wizards (Demons and Wizards album)

Demons and Wizards
Studio album by Demons and Wizards
Released	February 8, 2000
Recorded	Mid - Late 1999
Genre	Progressive Metal, Power metal
Length	57:43
Label	Steamhammer/SPV
Demons and Wizards chronology
Demons and Wizards (2000) Touched by the Crimson King (2005)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Metal-Rules.com	[2]

Demons and Wizards is the self-titled debut album of power metal / heavy metal band Demons and Wizards (a side-project of the metal bands Blind Guardian and Iced Earth).^[3] It was released in February 2000. A limited edition version of the album contains a remake of the classic Cream song "White Room." The Japanese release also features "White Room," but includes an alternate mix of "The Whistler" as an exclusive bonus track. The Argentinian release included "White Room," along with the demos of "Heaven Denies," "The Whistler," and "Tear Down the Wall." The album was recorded with the help of Jim Morris, who plays lead guitar on almost all tracks, and by Mark Prator on drums.

Track listings

Standard Issue

• Distributed in Europe and North America by SPV and in Japan by Victor Entertainment.

1. "Rites of Passage" – 0:54
2. "Heaven Denies" – 5:20
3. "Poor Man's Crusade" – 4:01
4. "Fiddler on the Green" – 5:56
5. "Blood on My Hands" – 4:44
6. "Path of Glory" – 4:58
7. "Winter of Souls" – 5:47
8. "The Whistler" – 5:15
9. "Tear Down the Wall" – 4:48
10. "Gallows Pole" – 5:22
11. "My Last Sunrise" – 4:43
12. "Chant" – 0:54
13. "White Room (Cream Cover)" – 5:01 (Bonus track for limited edition, vinyl, and Japanese releases)
14. "The Whistler" (alternate version) – 5:21 (Bonus track for Japanese release only)

Argentinian release

• Distributed in Argentina by NEMS Enterprises.

1. "Rites of Passage" – 0:54
2. "Heaven Denies" – 5:20
3. "Poor Man's Crusade" – 4:01
4. "Fiddler on the Green" – 5:56
5. "Blood On My Hands" – 4:46
6. "Path of Glory" – 4:58
7. "Winter of Souls" – 5:47
8. "The Whistler" – 5:15
9. "Tear Down the Wall" – 4:47
10. "Gallows Pole" – 5:22
11. "My Last Sunrise" – 4:43
12. "Chant" – 0:54
13. "White Room (Cream Cover)" – 5:10
14. "Heaven Denies" (demo version) – 5:09
15. "The Whistler" (demo version) – 5:21
16. "Tear Down the Wall" (demo version) – 4:46

Songwriters

All music and lyrics written by Schaffer/Kürsch

Lyrical content

• "Heaven Denies" is based on Milton's Paradise Lost, about the downfall of Lucifer.
• "Poor Man's Crusade" is about the Crusades in a bit of a mocking tone.
• "Fiddler on the Green" is about two car accidents which Kursch witnessed.^[4]
• "Winter of Souls" is about King Arthur and Mordred.^[4]
• "Blood on My Hands" is based on Wagner's version of Siegfried's story, as told in the Ring cycle.
• "The Whistler" is based on the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Members

• Hansi Kürsch - vocals and lyrics
• Jon Schaffer - lead, rhythm, and bass guitars; music composition
• Jim Morris - additional lead guitars
• Mark Prator - drums

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Metal-Rules.com review
3. Colin Larkin The Encyclopedia of Popular Music vol.4 - 2006 p446 "The triple live album Alive In Athens followed shortly afterwards, and in the same year Schaffer worked on his Demons And Wizards project with Hansi Kiirsch of German power metallers Blind Guardian. By the end of 2000, Iced Earth was ..."
4. Chronicles of Chaos talks to Jon Schaffer and Hansi Kursch of Demons & Wizards, by Adrian Bromley, Aaron McKay and Aaron McKay. Aug. 12, 2000. Link: .

External links

• Demons & Wizards' Official Site
• NEMS Enterprises
• SPV
• Victor Entertainment