Review by Rexorcist for Demons & Wizards - Demons & Wizards (1999)

For those not in the know, Demons & Wizards is a power metal supergroup formed of Hansi Kursch from Blind Guardian, several members of Iced Earth and a member of Sodom.  You'd think that a supergroup of that calibur would put out something flat-out amazing, and while they don't, they still put out something worth checking out, or maybe buying.  Their self-titled debut is that.

Right from the getgo, the album displays the same kind of power metal energy and adventurous tone you'd expect from Blind Guardian, but with the darkness of Iced Earth.  However, the first song's transition from a heavcy power metal song to a quiet requiem feels awkward as the song never goes back to the power metal, and thus is feels like two short songs.  The transition between the heavy metal "Poor Man's Crusade" and the folksy "Fiddler on the Green" is so much more natural, and "Fiddler" improves on the outro of the first song with a proper sense of melody.  The strongest aspect of the album is the medieval mood, played without ever having to be a neoclassical or symphonic band.

I couldn't help but feel like songs like "Winter of Souls" and "The Whistler" were a bit standard for the power metal scene, even though the performances were fine.  The album doesn't really offer anything new, so Demons & Wizards just ends up feeling like a band influenced by Blind Guardian rather than a band as good as them.  In the end, the album is perfectly enjoyable, but for a power metal supergroup, it offers the basics played well enough to satisfy power metal fans and nothing beyond that.  The band shows most of their talents, but not all of it.  I'd say stick with Blind Guardian unless you're specifically a Hansi Kursch fan.