Wizard (German band)
Encyclopedia
Wizard is a German
power metal
band, formed in 1989 by the drummer Sören van Heek.
The band is often called "Germany
's answer to Manowar
". The lyrics are similar: which often are about battles, metal, war, steel and such subjects. (The exception is the album Odin
, which is a concept album
about Norse mythology
.)
In 2003 longtime guitarist Michael Maass quit the band because of health problems. They got a new guitar player in Dano Boland, early 2004.
In 2006 the band left the label Limb Music
after four albums and joined the somewhat bigger label Massacre Records
with a new album in mind to be released on January 27, 2007, titled Goochan
.
On May 18, 2007, Michael Maass returned to the band after a four-year break.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band, formed in 1989 by the drummer Sören van Heek.
The band is often called "Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's answer to Manowar
Manowar (band)
Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980 the group is known for its lyrics based on fantasy and mythological topics along with their "loud and bombastic" sound...
". The lyrics are similar: which often are about battles, metal, war, steel and such subjects. (The exception is the album Odin
Odin (album)
Odin is a concept album about Norse mythology by German power metal bandWizard.-Track listing:All songs written & arranged by: WizardAll lyrics written by: Volker Leson#"The Prophecy" - 5:19#"Betrayer" - 4:53#"Dead Hope" - 6:02...
, which is a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
about Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
.)
In 2003 longtime guitarist Michael Maass quit the band because of health problems. They got a new guitar player in Dano Boland, early 2004.
In 2006 the band left the label Limb Music
Limb Music
Limb Music is an independent record label based in Hamburg, Germany.-Artists:*Abraxas*Adagio*Archetype*Black Majesty*Burningblack*Burning Point*Casus Belli*Chinchilla*Code of Perfection*Concerto Moon*Cryonic Temple*Domain*Double Dealer*Dungeon...
after four albums and joined the somewhat bigger label Massacre Records
Massacre Records
Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany.The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. The label is specialized on bands of the harder varieties of metal...
with a new album in mind to be released on January 27, 2007, titled Goochan
Goochan
Wizards 7th studio album, released January 26 by Massacre Records. A concept album with an ownwritten story. The story is said to be about the witch Goochan, who will try to save mother earth from armies from another planet , which tries to take over this planet...
.
On May 18, 2007, Michael Maass returned to the band after a four-year break.
Members
- Sven D'Anna - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1989-) - Dano Boland -GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2004-) - Michael Maass - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1989–2003, 2007-) - Volker Leson - BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
(1989-) - Sören van Heek (Snoppi) - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1989-)
Discography
- Son of Darkness (1995)
- Battle of Metal (1997)
- Bound by Metal (1999)
- Head of the DeceiverHead of the DeceiverHead of the Deceiver is an album by Wizard, released in 2001.-Track listing:All songs written & arranged by: Wizard#"Evitum Okol" - 0:59#"Magic Potion" - 4:24#"Head of the Deceiver" - 4:50#"Collective Mind" - 4:42#"Defenders of Metal" - 4:32...
(2001) - OdinOdin (album)Odin is a concept album about Norse mythology by German power metal bandWizard.-Track listing:All songs written & arranged by: WizardAll lyrics written by: Volker Leson#"The Prophecy" - 5:19#"Betrayer" - 4:53#"Dead Hope" - 6:02...
(2003) - Magic CircleMagic Circle (album)The 6th full-length album by Wizard. The last album they did on the label Limb Music.-Track listing:All songs written & arranged by: Wizard#"Enter The Magic Circle" - 1:07#"Fire And Blood" - 5:55#"Call Of The Wild" - 4:49#"Death Is My Life" - 4:37...
(2005) - GoochanGoochanWizards 7th studio album, released January 26 by Massacre Records. A concept album with an ownwritten story. The story is said to be about the witch Goochan, who will try to save mother earth from armies from another planet , which tries to take over this planet...
(2007) - Thor (2009)
- ...Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes (2011)
External links
- Official website
- Wizard at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....