Demons & Wizards III - A Trilogy Of Metal Greatness

March 15, 2020

When I heard two of my favorite metal heroes, Hansi Kursch of Blind Guardian and Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth, were teaming up for a supergroup called Demons & Wizards, I was more than ready for what they had to offer.
And in 2000 the release of the now classic debut album gave me a combination of Schaffer's lightning fast riffage and Kursch's soaring vocals to songs that hold up to all of the great metal music from days past. Listen to "Fiddler on the Green" for an example of their greatness.
Because of their main bands still being active, it would take five years for a follow-up. But "Touched By The Crimson King" was worth it. A worthy follow-up to the classic debut album, it had it's own collection of classic jams with the same winning formula.
Then...silence.
Iced Earth and Blind Guardian were always the priority, and new music from those two legendary metal bands would take up their time. But many wanted that third album. But we also wondered if there would even BE a new album. Demons & Wizards were, after all, technically a 'side project.' Though the music was so amazing that they felt more than just a side band.
So when the wheels began to spin and word of a new Demons & Wizards album was on the way, the power metal community rejoiced. Thus came DEMONS & WIZARDS III.
Perhaps the most varied of the three albums, it has songs that are mid tempo hard rockers, dark and ominous ("Diabolic"), to the raging speedy riffs of the first two. With touching ballads, driving headbangers (like my favorite track "Final Warning") and even jams with AC/DC vibes to them ("Midas Disease"), it has that classic metal sound that many crave in a world of pop and EDM.
For a while the original releases were out of print CD's. Now all three albums are available on digital and CD re-releases. I highly recommend them all. Treat yourself to some amazing heavy metal.
Long live Demons & Wizards...DON'T BREAK THE CIRCLE!