Wizard

WIZARD is a synonym for heavy metal from Germany.
The band celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2014 - 25 years of metal, live shows and
a whole lot of fun!
It all began when Michael Maaß (Guitar) and Sören van Heek (drums) started playing
metal while drinking some beers in a basement more than 2 decades ago. V. Leson
(Bass) and Sven D’Anna (vocals) soon joined the band! All band members aren’t
musicians only - they are, most importantly friends.
After the releases of the legendary "Legion Of Doom" demo (1991) as well as the selffinanced
"Son Of Darkness" (1995) and "Battle Of Metal" (1997), the band received
lots of reviews, gig requests and fan mail, which led to a contract with B.O. Records in
1999, where WIZARD released their first official album "Bound By Metal".
After parting ways with B.O. Records, they signed with Music Limb Productions and
released "Head Of The Deceiver" in 2001, which was the most successful album of the
band so far. It received rave reviews and tours with bands like Paul Di'Anno, Edguy,
Paragon, Goddess Of Desire, Sacred Steel and Death SS followed, as well as highly
acclaimed shows at Germany’s Bang Your Head!!! and Wacken Open Air.
Their first concept album about Odin, the Allfather of the Norse gods, was recorded in
the fall of 2002 at Hamburg’s Powerhouse Studios with producer Piet Sielck (Iron
Savior, Heavenly, Blind Guardian, Gun Barrel, Paragon). "Odin" became a mighty and
highly acclaimed power metal epos, with smashers like the opener "The Prophecy" or
epic hymns like "Thor's Hammer".
In May 2004, Michael Maaß took a break from the band, was replaced by Dano Boland
and the band recorded and released "Magic Circle", which was a true success.
In 2006, WIZARD parted ways with LMP and signed with Massacre Records.
They began recording their next album "Goochan" with producer Dennis Ward, lovedboth by the press and the fans.
After a small headlining tour through Germany and many shows abroad (for example in
Greece, among others), Michael Maaß returned to the band and it was decided that
WIZARD will continue with two guitarists.
Their next album "Thor" (2008) was produced by Andy Horn and mixed and mastered
by Achim Köhler. Songs like "Midgards Guardian", "Resurrection" or the ballad
"Serpents Venom" lead the listener to new worlds and are the reason that there will be
a lot of headbanging!
After moving the rehearsals to a studio, WIZARD began working on a new album. The
lyrics for the band's album "... Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes" were co-written with the
German author André Wiesler, whose books - a trilogy about Hagen von Stein - left
Volker impressed. Achim Köhler was responsible for the mix and mastering. Steve
Argyle created the cover artwork.
The album was presented over the course of numerous shows in Ireland, the
Netherlands, Slovenia, Germany and the Czech Republic. Tours in the United
Kingdom, France or the United States followed.
In January/February 2013, WIZARD joined the "German Metal Attack" tour with Grave
Digger, Majesty and Gun Barrel. The album "Trail Of Death" was released in
September 2013.
It deals, as the title already suggests, with death in all its ways and the possible
afterlife. The album features serious lyrics ("Creeping Death", "Post Mortem Vivere") as
well as lyrics with a sense of humour ("Machinery Of Death").
Recorded at WIZARD's own studio and once again produced by Achim Köhler, "Trail
Of Death" turned out to be very varied: it features thrashy tunes ("War Butcher"), epic
tracks ("Angel Of The Dark"), metal tunes ("Angel Of Death") as well as WIZARD's
trademarks songs like the speedy double-bass smasher "Black Death"!
Jens Reinhold, who already worked with bands like Virgin Steele or Freedom Call,
created the album artwork, which pictures the reaper walking down a path that is
paved with dead bodies. He's holding a lantern in his hand, in which you can see a
soul burning for all eternity - a symbol for hell itself here.
During the first leg of the "German Metal Attack" tour and around the album release,
Volker Leson decided to leave the band due to health reasons. It was a shock for all
band members but there was no turning back. Arndt Ratering, a long-time friend of the
band, joined the band to help out. After the second leg of the "German Metal Attack"
tour with bassist Arndt Ratering, WIZARD decided that Arndt will be a permanent
member of the WIZARD family from then on.
2014 was a special year for WIZARD, because the band celebrated its 25th
anniversary. They decided to organize a 25th anniversary festival in their hometown,
together with Majesty and Black Abyss. It was a blast! WIZARD recorded the show and
released it on their first live DVD. They also joined a tour with Vortex and played a lot
of shows in Germany, Austria, France and the Czech Republic.
In 2015 the band was in writing mode for the next disc of steel, but they still found time
to play festival shows and appeared at the Dong Open Air, Metal Frenzy or Bäääm
Festival in Germany.
WIZARD's new album is entitled "Fallen Kings" and was recorded in the band's own
studio in fall 2016. Achim Köhler (Primal Fear, Brainstorm, Amon Amarth, Sinner) is
responsible for the album's mix and made sure that WIZARD's 11th studio album
sounds as powerful as it should be.
WIZARD recruited the Argentinean artist Aldo Requena (Black Majesty, Skiltron,
Feanor, Paragon) to create the cover artwork. Jochen van Eden (Sinneswerk) is
responsible for the band photos and the layout.
"Fallen Kings" is guided by fantasy and reality, it's by no means a concept album - it
offers pounding hymns ("We Are the Masses"), heavy metal songs ("Brothers Of
Spirit", "Wizard Until The End") as well as WIZARD's typical double-bass smashers
("Liar And Betrayer", "You're The King"), among others.
The breath of fresh air, that bassist Arndt Ratering brought in, is clearly noticeable.
"Fallen Kings" RAW - METAL - KINGS