Demons and Wizards [Bonus Tracks]

• Artist: Uriah Heep
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1996
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

This is the album that solidified Uriah Heep's reputation as a master of gothic-inflected heavy metal. From short, sharp rock songs to lengthy, musically dense epics, Demons and Wizards finds Uriah Heep covering all the bases with style and power. The album's approach is set with its leadoff track, "The Wizard": It starts as a simple acoustic tune but soon builds into a stately rocker that surges forth on a wall of sound built from thick guitar riffs, churchy organ, and operatic vocal harmonies. Other highlights include "Traveller in Time," a fantasy-themed rocker built on thick wah-wah guitar riffs, and "Circle of Hands," a stately power ballad with a gospel-meets-heavy metal feel to it. Demons and Wizards also produced a notable radio hit for the band in "Easy Livin'," a punchy little rocker whose raging blend of fuzz guitar and swirling organ made it feel like a 1970s update of classic 1960s garage rockers like the Electric Prunes or Paul Revere & the Raiders. However, the top highlight of the album is the closing medley of "Paradise" and "The Spell": The first part of the medley starts in an acoustic folk mode and slowly adds layers of organ and electric guitar until it becomes a forceful slow-tempo rocker, while the second half is a punchy, organ-led rocker that includes an instrumental midsection where choral-style harmonies fortify a killer, Pink Floyd-style guitar solo from Mick Box. All in all, Demons and Wizards works both as a showcase for Uriah Heep's instrumental firepower and an excellent display of their songwriting skills in a variety of hard rock styles. As a result, it is considered by many fans to be their finest hour and is definitely worth a spin for anyone with an interest in 1970s heavy metal. [The 1996 Castle reissue contains three bonus tracks: the single version of "Why," the previously unreleased extended version of "Why" and the previously unreleased song "Home Again to You."] ~ Donald A. Guarisco, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Wizard	Ken Hensley, Mark Clarke	Uriah Heep	(2:59)
Traveller in Time	David Byron, Mick Box, Lee Kerslake	Uriah Heep	(3:25)
Easy Livin'	Ken Hensley	Uriah Heep	(2:37)
Poet's Justice	Ken Hensley, Mick Box, Lee Kerslake	Uriah Heep	(4:15)
Circle of Hands	Ken Hensley	Uriah Heep	(6:25)
Rainbow Demon	Ken Hensley	Uriah Heep	(4:25)
All My Life	David Byron, Mick Box, Lee Kerslake	Uriah Heep	(2:44)
Paradise	Ken Hensley	Uriah Heep	(5:10)
The Spell	Ken Hensley	Uriah Heep	(7:32)
Why [Single Version][*]	David Byron, Ken Hensley, Mick Box, Paul Newton	Uriah Heep	(4:53)
Why [Extended Version][#][*]	David Byron, Ken Hensley, Mick Box, Paul Newton	Uriah Heep	(7:39)
Home Again to You [#][*]	Ken Hensley	Uriah Heep	(5:28)

Credits

Uriah Heep (Vocals), Uriah Heep (Voices), Uriah Heep (Main Performer), David Byron (Vocals), Roger Dean (Design), Roger Dean (Photography), Roger Dean (Drawing), Roger Dean (Original Cover Artwork), Ken Hensley (Guitar), Ken Hensley (Percussion), Ken Hensley (Keyboards), Ken Hensley (Vocals), Ken Hensley (Liner Notes), Mick Box (Guitar), Mick Box (Liner Notes), Gerry Bron (Producer), Mike Brown (Remastering), Peter Gallen (Engineer), Ashley Howe (Assistant Engineer), Lee Kerslake (Percussion), Lee Kerslake (Drums), Gary Thain (Bass), Gary Thain (Guitar (Bass)), Robert M. Corich (Liner Notes), Robert M. Corich (Mixing), Robert M. Corich (Remastering), Ian Herron (Mixing), Dominy Hamilton (Photography)