Touched by the Crimson King

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Touched by the Crimson King
Studio album by Demons & Wizards
Released	June 27, 2005
Recorded	Morrisound Studios
Genre	Power metal
Length	49:26
Label	Warner/Chapell & BG Publishing & Platinum Songs Unlimited
Producer	Jim Morris with Schaffer and Kürsch
Professional reviews
Allmusic.com link
Demons & Wizards chronology
Demons & Wizards (2000) Touched by the Crimson King (2005)

Touched by the Crimson King is the second album of power metal/ heavy metal band Demons & Wizards and was released in June 2005. The album contains a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song." It was also released as a limited edition digipak in Europe with an alternate cover and four bonus tracks on a second disc. For the North American release, all fourteen songs appeared on one disc, which had the limited edition cover in the form of a sleeve around the jewel case.

Track listing

Music and lyrics written by Schaffer/Kürsch, except for "Immigrant Song" written by Page/Plant.

1. "Crimson King" – 5:47
2. "Beneath These Waves" – 5:12
3. "Terror Train" – 4:46
4. "Seize the Day" – 5:22
5. "The Gunslinger" – 5:15
6. "Love's Tragedy Asunder" – 5:28
7. "Wicked Witch" – 3:32
8. "Dorian" – 6:36
9. "Down Where I Am" – 4:54
10. "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin cover) – 2:28

(Limited Edition only)

1. Lunar Lament – 4:04
2. Wicked Witch (slow version) – 3:56
3. Spatial Architects – 5:46
4. Beneath These Waves (edit) – 3:41

Lineup

• Hansi Kürsch - vocals
• Jon Schaffer - lead, rhythm, bass, and acoustic guitars

Guest Musicians

• Bobby Jarzombek - drums and percussion
• Jim Morris - guitar solos and backing vocals
• Rubin Drake - bass and fretless bass guitar
• Howard Helm - piano and backing vocals
• Kathy Helm - backing vocals
• Tori Fuson - backing vocals
• Jesse Morris - backing vocals
• Krystyna Kolaczynski - cello

Lyrical references

This section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (August 2008)

Most of the songs of the album have some relation to The Dark Tower, a series of books by Stephen King. One reference outside the lyrics to the series is the rose on the cover of the album, as roses are an important symbol in the series. Another could be the red eye in the background, which is another crucial symbol in The Dark Tower. Also inside the album art a lobster -like creature can be seen that resembles the Lobstrosities on the beach in The Drawing of the Three. Yet again is the train on the back cover taken to represent Blaine, the villain of Book Three - The Waste Lands.

• "Crimson King" is a reference the Crimson King, the main antagonist of the series. However, the song itself seems to be about Randall Flagg, one of the King's many servants. Hansi in an interview has also stated that the Crimson King is Satan.
• "The Gunslinger" is referring to Roland of Gilead, the protagonist of the piece. The song refers mainly to the plot of the final book of the series with subtle allusions to the fifth book throughout (e.g., 'come-commala', 'say thankya').
• "Terror Train" is a reference to Blaine the Mono, from the third and fourth novels of the series.
• "Beneath These Waves" was directly inspired by Moby-Dick and one's man struggle with nature and which ties in with repeated references in the Dark Tower novels drawing parallels between Roland of Gilead and Captain Ahab.
• "Wicked Witch" is Kürsch's interesting interpretation of the Wizard of Oz, which is also referenced in the fourth novel, The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass. It is also a reference to the evil witch, Rhea of the Cöos.
• "Dorian" was inspired by Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, which again bears some relation to the character of Roland of Gilead.
• "Seize The Day" details some of the tests and hardships that Roland of Gilead faces on his way to The Dark Tower, such as him reaching the western shore, and also his drifting personality that causes him to be constantly on the move. Another interpretation of this song, perhaps intentionally ambiguous, is that it talks about the hobbits Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, from The Lord of the Rings. It actually includes quotes from the story, such as "The road goes on and on", originally spoken by Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.
• “Down Where I Am” is about a baby born with Down’s Syndrome and the struggle of his father and the emotions going in and out of his mind.^[1]
• "Love's Tragedy Asunder" is about a man whose wife is terminally ill, and he assists her suicide, and ends up killing himself.^[1]
• "Lunar Lament" is about the Maia from Tolkien's The Silmarillion who travels across the sky driving the Moon Ship, following his love who guides the Sun Ship. When he approaches, her fire hurts him. It is also a reference to an obsession of Roland's, where, as someone is trying to reach the sun, Roland reaches for the Tower. The sun is also a constant symbol throughout The Dark Tower series.
• Immigrant Song is originally by Led Zeppelin.

1. ^ ^{a b} Interview with Jon Schaffer at www.metal-rules.com: http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/content/view/199/1/