Demons & Wizards (Demons & Wizards album)
Demons & Wizards is the self-titled debut album of the power metal supergroup Demons & Wizards (a side-project of Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian and Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth),[3] released in February 2000. The album was recorded with the help of Jim Morris, who plays lead guitar on almost all tracks, and by Mark Prator on drums.
| Demons & Wizards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 8, 2000 | |||
| Recorded | Mid–late 1999 | |||
| Studio | Morrisound Studios | |||
| Genre | Progressive metal, power metal | |||
| Length | 57:43 | |||
| Label | Steamhammer/SPV | |||
| Demons & Wizards chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Metal Rules | [2] |
Track listing
Standard issue
Distributed in Europe and North America by SPV and in Japan by Victor Entertainment.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rites of Passage" | (instrumental) | Jon Schaffer, Hansi Kürsch | 0:54 |
| 2. | "Heaven Denies" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:20 |
| 3. | "Poor Man's Crusade" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:02 |
| 4. | "Fiddler on the Green" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:56 |
| 5. | "Blood on My Hands" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:45 |
| 6. | "Path of Glory" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:59 |
| 7. | "Winter of Souls" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:47 |
| 8. | "The Whistler" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:15 |
| 9. | "Tear Down the Wall" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:48 |
| 10. | "Gallow's Pole" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:22 |
| 11. | "My Last Sunrise" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:44 |
| 12. | "Chant" | (instrumental) | Schaffer, Kürsch | 0:48 |
| 13. | "White Room" (Cream cover) (bonus track for limited edition, vinyl, and Japanese releases) | Pete Brown | Pete Brown, Jack Bruce | 5:01 |
| 14. | "The Whistler" (alternate version) (bonus track for Japanese release only) | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:21 |
Argentinian release
Distributed in Argentina by NEMS Enterprises.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rites of Passage" | (instrumental) | Jon Schaffer, Hansi Kürsch | 0:54 |
| 2. | "Heaven Denies" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:20 |
| 3. | "Poor Man's Crusade" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:02 |
| 4. | "Fiddler on the Green" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:56 |
| 5. | "Blood on My Hands" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:45 |
| 6. | "Path of Glory" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:59 |
| 7. | "Winter of Souls" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:47 |
| 8. | "The Whistler" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:15 |
| 9. | "Tear Down the Wall" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:48 |
| 10. | "Gallow's Pole" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:22 |
| 11. | "My Last Sunrise" | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:44 |
| 12. | "Chant" | (instrumental) | Schaffer, Kürsch | 0:48 |
| 13. | "White Room" (Cream cover) | Pete Brown | Pete Brown, Jack Bruce | 5:01 |
| 14. | "Heaven Denies" (demo version) | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:09 |
| 15. | "The Whistler" (demo version) | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 5:21 |
| 16. | "Tear Down the Wall" (demo version) | Schaffer, Kürsch | Schaffer, Kürsch | 4:46 |
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 mocking tone, in particular the popular crusades and the Crusade of the Poor.
- "Fiddler on the Green" is about two car accidents which Kürsch 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.
Personnel
- Demons & Wizards
- Hansi Kürsch - vocals and lyrics
- Jon Schaffer - lead and rhythm guitar, bass, music composition
- Guest musicians
- Jim Morris - additional lead guitars
- Mark Prator - drums
References
- AllMusic review
- Metal Rules review
- 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 & Wizards project with Hansi Kürsch of German power metallers Blind Guardian. By the end of 2000, Iced Earth was ..."
- Chronicles of Chaos talks to Jon Schaffer and Hansi Kursch of Demons & Wizards, by Adrian Bromley, Aaron McKay and Aaron McKay. August 12, 2000. Link: .
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