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 a symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in co ...

band, formed in 1989 by the drummer Sören "Snoppi" van Heek. The band was often called "Germany's answer to Manowar". Most of the band's lyrics are about battles, metal, war and steel. There are some exceptions, for example ''

Odin Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Em ...

'', 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 as the Nordic folklore of the modern period. The ...

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

Thor Thor (from ) is a prominent list of thunder gods, 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 g ...

'', 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 Heavy metal music, heavy metal 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 ...

2002, Bang Your Head!!! 2002, Keep It True 2004, Dokk'em Open Air 2006, Magic Circle 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, 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'' 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 Massacre Records artists Limb Music artists