Wizard is a German

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

band, formed in 1989 by the drummer Sören "Snoppi" van Heek. The band was often called "Germany's answer to

Manowar Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy (particularly sword and sorcery) and mythology (particularly Norse mythology and Greco-Roman mythology), as well as ...

". Most of the band's lyrics are about battles, metal, war and steel. There are some exceptions, for example "''

Odin Odin (; from non, Óðinn, ) is a widely revered Æsir, god in Germanic paganism. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates him with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, v ...

''", which is a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

about

Norse mythology Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern period ...

, "'' Goochan''" which is a fantasy story about a witch (written by Volker Leson and author William B. Nuke), "''

Thor Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding æsir, god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, sacred groves ...

''" which is also about Norse mythology and "... Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes" which is about vampires and werewolves (written by Wizard and Andre Wiesler, German author). Wizard played at

Wacken Open Air Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a rock music, rock music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken, Schleswig-Holstein, Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles and su ...

2002,

Bang Your Head!!! Bang Your Head!!! is a heavy metal and hard rock festival held annually in Germany. First held in 1996 as a one-day indoor event in the Stefan-Hartmann-Halle in Tübingen with a crowd of 600 people, Bang Your Head!!! has since moved to Balingen ...

2002, Keep It True 2004, Dokk'em Open Air 2006,

Magic Circle Festival Magic Circle Festival is an annual heavy metal festival organized by Magic Circle Music and founded by Joey DeMaio of the band Manowar. The festival was first held on 6 and 7 July 2007 in Bad Arolsen, Germany. The success of the 2007 festival ...

2009 and is in the 2012 lineup of Hammerfest IV.

History

In 2003 longtime guitarist Michael Maass quit the band because of health problems. Dano Boland became a new guitarist for the band in early 2004. In 2006 the band left the label

Limb Music Limb Music is an independent record label based in Hamburg, Germany and specialized in various subgenres of heavy metal music. It was also known as LMP, which stood for Limb Music Products, later changed to Limb Music GmbH. The music publishing ...

after three albums and joined the somewhat larger label

Massacre Records Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany, that specializes in bands of the heavier genres of metal. The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. Connected to Massacre Records is the marketing and music w ...

, with a new album in mind to be released on 27 January 2007, titled '' Goochan''. On 18 May 2007, Michael Maass returned to the band after a four-year break."Wizard: Thor."The-pit.de
Accessed February 2012.

Reviews

The band's 2009 album ''Thor'' received a positive review from ''The Pit'' reviewer Frank Heise, who praised "The Visitor" as the best track on it. The band's 2011 album ''...Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes'' received a positive review from ''

SLUG Magazine ''SLUG'' – an acronym for ''SaltLakeUnderGround'', is a free monthly magazine based in Salt Lake City, Utah. SLUG Magazine features music, lifestyle, arts and events with interviews, reviews, and articles. Established in 1989, SLUG Magazine ha ...

'' reviewer Dylan Chadwick noting that "well trodden, and admittedly formulaic, it's a resoundingly competent platter of steel-willed, fist pounding heavy metal that'll satisfy the most voracious headbanger's hunger."

Band members

Current members

* Sven D'Anna – vocals (1989–present) * Sören van Heek (Snoppi) – drums (1989–present) * Michael Maass – guitars (1989–2003, 2007–present) * Arndt Ratering – bass (2013–present) * Tommy Hartung – guitars (2020–present)

Former members

* Volker Leson – bass (1989–2013) * Dano Boland – guitars (2003–2020)

Timeline

Discography

Demos

* ''Legion of Doom'' (1991)

Studio albums

* ''Son of Darkness'' (1995) * ''Battle of Metal'' (1997) * ''Bound by Metal'' (1999) * '' Head of the Deceiver'' (2001) * ''

'' (2003) * ''Magic Circle'' (2005) * '' Goochan'' (2007) * ''

'' (2009) * ''...Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes'' (2011) * ''Trail of Death'' (2013) * ''Fallen Kings'' (2017) * ''Metal in My Head'' (2021)

Compilation albums

* ''Louder Than the Dragon'' (2004)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wizard German power metal musical groups German heavy metal musical groups Massacre Records artists Former Limb Music artists