Demons and Wizards

'Demons & Wizards'
Studio album by Demons & Wizards
Released	February 8, 2000
Recorded	Mid - Late 1999
Genre	Power metal
Length	57:43
Label	Steamhammer/SPV
Professional reviews
Allmusic.com link Metal-Rules.com link
Demons & Wizards chronology
Demons and Wizards (2000) Touched by the Crimson King (2005)

Demons and Wizards is also a 1972 album by Uriah Heep.

Demons & Wizards is the self-titled debut album of power metal / heavy metal band Demons & Wizards 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" – 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" – 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

Lyrical content

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This album uses themes familiar to Iced Earth and Blind Guardian fans, featuring such grim and apocalyptic songs as "Heaven Denies" and "Poor Man's Crusade." "Heaven Denies" is based on Milton's Paradise Lost, about the downfall of Lucifer. "Blood on My Hands" is based on Wagner's version of Siegfried's story, as told in the ring cycle. "Winter of Souls" is about Mordred's hate for his father, King Arthur. The song "The Whistler" is inspired by the folklore tale of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, an old European story where a mysterious piper saves the city of Hamelin from a rat plague by luring them away with his music. After the mayor denies him the agreed price, the piper punished the people of the town by taking away their children. "My Last Sunrise" is about the character Nunez/Bogota from the short story The Country of the Blind by H.G. Wells. "Fiddler On The Green" is about a car accident of which Hansi is a witness; and "Path Of Glory" is about life after death. The last three songs are a musical trilogy about a deity who creates and then destroys his own universe.

Trivia

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• On the Japanese release, the first track is listed as "Rites of Passage (Intro)".
• In the booklets and inlays, "The Whistler" is referenced as "the Whistler"--with a lowercase 'T'.

Members

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

External links

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