WIZARD - review added 30th January 2009
Album Review: Thor (2009)
For fans of: power metal... and Manowar-esque battle rock
Wizard, founded in 1989, are often described as Germany's answer to Manowar. You can instantly hear why when the album starts. The guitars may be faster and the rhythms less pounding, but the lyrics are still rooted firmly in fantasy and mythology. Hints of Metalium creep into the performance on occasions. In all fairness Wizard have been around a lot longer so perhaps the influence flows in the other direction...
Thor is the band's eighth album. Produced by Andy Horn (Rob Rock, Halford), the sound has plenty of depth and a reasonable amount of sonic variety. This isn't stand out, groundbreaking music, but it's solid all the same. Thor is an album of sausages and potatoes. It isn't lamb shank with dauphinoise foam and a rosemary jus.
Singer Sven D’Anna has the perfect power metal voice. Being both masculine and comedically high-pitched when necessary, hearing him sing "I Am Thor" sums up his style perfectly. He isn't going to get a job with a touring opera company, but it's easy to imagine him stomping around a stage in front of 80,000 adoring fans. They'd probably be throwing virgins at him.
A deluge of fanciful guitar soloing adorns the album, as does a huge amount of Norse imagery. If Valhalla had a house band, that band would be Wizard and they would be playing this album.
Thor is a good, if silly, release. The music has all been done before and often with a considerable amount more panache. However, if you love your battle metal, power metal, or any other musical ilk that involves the wearing of leather, studs and animal pelts, or if you enjoy carrying battle axes and being served ale by wenches, this'll be right up your hovel.
Check out... The end of 'Resurrection'. An amazing guitar riff starts, then fades to nowt. Oi!
Track List:
1. Utgard (False Games)
2. Midgards Guardian
3. Asgard
4. Serpents Venom
5. Resurrection
6. The Visitor
7. What Would You Do
8. Sugared (The Beginning)
9. Stolen Hammer
10. Lightning
11. Pounding In The Night
Label: Massacre Records
Artist's websites: Wizard , MySpace
