Demons To Haunt Me..Wizards To Protect

A surprise find is this collaboration between the lead singer of the band Blind Guardian, Hansi Kürsch, and the guitar master of the group Iced Earth, Jon Ryan Schaffer. I guess I should rephrase that; it should have been no surprise what this kind of talent could do if given the chance to work together. This album with its roots firmly planted in the metal background of this pair, touches on such a variety of music styles that make it a unique and mesmerizing experience. Their first joint effort produced a terrific album in its own right that was simply titled Demons & Wizards. I thought that album would be hard to beat and I was right. This one is just as good but when you are talking about this quality of music, I would be hard pressed to choose only one. I am glad that there is room for both on my MP3 player.

It would be hard for me to find fault with a song that is based on one of my favorite serial stories of all time and I am not going to be able to do so here. "Crimson King" pulls its inspiration from the Stephen King "Dark Tower" series. How could there be a better combination than the darkness of King's writing and the power of heavy metal? With this song the band displays all the bombastic energy you might expect with their source material. A power driven guitar with a double time drum beat that drives to a thunderous climax which also touches on the Steven King book "The Stand." A short acoustic reprieve lets you catch your breath before once again thrashing your senses with this unique version of melodic metal.

When the band kicks off with "Beneath These Waves," I instantly liked the opening riffs. It is very melodic but still carrying that metal edge. This tune is much more accessible and mainstream than the norm for the band. Not that this is a bad thing, I would love to hear more of this kind of music on our radio, but I would have to say that it is not quite that mainstream. I doubt that this story of death on the high seas will ever get any airplay.

I got my first exposure to this album with the video of "Terror Train." This demonic piece of speed metal is one of the highlights here. As harsh as it is, the high pitched voice of Kürsch offsets the brutality of the guitar. This battle of sounds is one of the reasons that I enjoy this band so much. They can blend so many different sounds and types of music without leaving the realm of heavy metal, it is a head bangers delight.

A case in point is the song "Seize The Day." Opening with a medieval baroque feel, mostly due to the vocals, this piece retains the majesty of metal while once again using vocals and a background chorus to emphasize the old world charm that they strive to promote. This is another good song that I am trying to not call a favorite since there is so many on here that fall under the same category.

"The Gunslinger" follows the formula that has worked so well this far. A mellow beginning that sounds like a European folk song, gives way to the a roaring swell of six string brilliance. The total package just makes you sit back and go WOW! Intelligent music, great interpretation of the brooding Stephen King hero, what more could you add to make this complete? Maybe four horsemen crossing the sky I guess.

The acoustic guitar and string section lull you into this piece but never fear, the roar of the electric guitar will once more devastate your senses while you listen to "Love's Tragedy Asunder." As the music switches back and forth, from tender and soothing to wickedly crunching metal, the effect becomes magnified because of the wild difference in styles. The contrasting tempos is a constant throughout the album but also one of the great things about it too.

"Wicked Witch" is the most tender song on this disc. An acoustic guitar and piano is the only accompaniment to the stirring vocal performance. Here the vocals shine high and are enhanced by the addition of a choir behind him singing in the style that echoes his vibrato style of singing. This almost sounds like something that would be sang around the campfire. A good ballad and a great change of pace that fits nicely into the overall feeling of the album.

The rest of the previous song is short lived as a rapid fire guitar kicks off the song "Dorian." This is another fine example of the beauty of combining the power of the electric guitar with the majesty of classical music styles. This piece slows down in tempo but it never strays to far from its metal roots. The feel is as if one of the great composers came down and said this is how it's done with modern instruments.

It is scary to think how well the formula that is used on almost every song on this disc works. Time and again you have the mellow start followed by the thunderous guitar intro and the juxtaposition of the two styles throughout. The do not stray from this idea with the song "Down Where I Am." I guess if it ain't broke....As the last original song on the regular release this is as fine a send off as you can expect. Rousing and stirring it leaves you wanting more. This is such a great musical form that touches something inside, just as long as those doing it have the talent to tap into that secret.

The last song on the regular release is a cover of the Led Zepplin tune "Immigrant Song." This is played exactly as the original and the only thing that differs is the vocal treatment. A good cover but I think it was totally unnecessary on this album.

The limited addition album has a few more songs to it. The first being an upbeat piece called "Lunar Lament." A true metal song that still manages to feel both heavy and melodic at the same time. It could have easily been on the disc proper. I think that the guitar work, with its controlled ferocity is the focal point of this tune. I am drawn to the continuously chugging beat that Schaffer lays down. It is as much fun as anything on the disc.

The next bonus track is a much slowed down version of "Wicked Witch." Here it sounds like a demonic lullaby. This song is good in both variations and I cannot say one is any better than the other.

Showing off their heavy side once again with the track "Spatial Architects" This one is similar to most of the other music on this disc except it is one of the few that never lets up. The story of ancient astronauts building our civilization is one that has been touched on many times before in the world of rock and roll. The difference with these guys is they provide musically the backdrop that fits perfectly for the story, but that is not unusual.

The end of the bonus disc is an edited version of the song "Beneath These Waves." There is not much to say here. Go listen to the other version for the extra 1 1/2 minutes. Maybe this one, with its shorter length could possibly get some radio play.

I really like it when I find a band that does their thing as well as these guys do. They make me want more and I am looking forward to there next release, which I hear may be followed by an American tour!