Wizard - Thor - review
Wizard - Thor - review
Tracklist
01. Utgard (False Game)02. Midgards Guardian
03. Asgard
04. Serpents Venom
05. Resurrection
06. The Visitor
07. What Would You Do?
08. Utgard (The Beginning)
09. Stolen Hammer
10. Lightning
11. Pounding In The Night
A review by
Baz Anderson March 13, 2009
Wizard, long running German power metallers have been there and done that, and probably bought the t-shirt as well, all really without becoming a well-known giant in the genre such as bands like Gamma Ray and Blind Guardian, also from sweet sweet Deutschland. "Thor" is album number eight, and not a whole lot has changed. Wizard have always been a European power metal band, and thus have been called "cheesy" and "flower metal" and all the other generic remarks, but compared to other bands in the genre, Freedom Call and Fairyland for example, these guys, and "Thor" in particular sound as hard as a ton of bricks and just as heavy. No, Wizard have never been the cheesiest band and "Thor" probably has the least dairy product of any kind in it looking back over the band's history. These guitar riffs are thick and solid, perhaps more and more reminiscent of good ol' "Painkiller" in places as they stab the airwaves. Singer Sven D'Anna once again follows on here from previous album "Goochan" where increasing amounts of rougher, gruffer vocals were used in between the wailing, which have themselves noticeably increased in quality over the years. Wizard are once again the complete package, perhaps even more so with "Thor" as this new offering is the band's first with two guitar players. Every element of their music as precise, clean and accomplished as the next. Plenty of double bass drumming seals the album together and seals the deal for a good quality album.
European power metal, U.S. power metal, whatever. Chances are if you like power metal, you will like this album. "Thor" has the wailing vocals, the catchy choruses and of course the fantastical themes and lyrics of a concept album, but it also has the hard and heavy guitar riffs, some rougher vocals and a tough, rough and ready feel that the U.S. brings to power metal.
Overall "Thor" is a great, solid album, but for long running Wizard fans may feel slightly lacking in standout songs that latch inside your head and never want to let go. Who can forget the "Witch Of The Enchanted Forest", or the "Call Of The Wild", or even the "Magic Potion"? Indeed, there is nothing quite so catchy for Euro power fans on this release, but what "Thor" does is open itself up to a possible middle ground of power metallers who consist of both Euro and U.S. power followers. If you're already a Wizard fan, you'll like this album but it won't be your favourite. If you're new to Wizard and swing both ways when it comes to power metal, this might just be your thing.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 5 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written on 13.03.2009 by
Written on 13.03.2009 by
Member of Staff since 2006 Comments
Comments:
20
Visited by
163 users
 Posts: 1721 |
Posts: 1721
Nice, thanks for the review I'll check this album out asap. I haven't known this band yet but after reading this I think I'd like them!
----  -FOLK METAL HUNGARY-
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 Posts: 8700 |
Posts: 8700
Hm...never even heard about this band...gotta check it out 
---- My rest seems now calm and deep Finally I got my dead man sleep 
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 Posts: 3139 |
Posts: 3139
Heard about their album coming out, dunno why but I've been reluctant to get it
---- "Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought honorably. And Rhaegar died." Ser Jorah Mormont
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| Posts: 1721 |
Posts: 1721
I forgot to mention that Viking themes are always a positive thing for me Even if there's nothing folk in the music (like Stromwarrior)
---- -FOLK METAL HUNGARY-
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Posts: 106  |
Posts: 106
Yeah, I use to like viking stuff too... but come on, how could anyone manage to be inventive in the genre nowadays? Guess I'd better keep my hands off this record, so I won't be disapointed any further.
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| Posts: 8700 |
Posts: 8700
So band checked and marked as "very good one" 
---- My rest seems now calm and deep Finally I got my dead man sleep
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 Posts: 5102 |
Posts: 5102
Guess it's an album for me then since I, as you out it "swing both ways" when it comes to power metal. Liked some of their earlier works as well
----  Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
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| Posts: 1721 |
Posts: 1721
Well, I got this album and I can say it's quite good stuff though it won't be my favourite album..
---- -FOLK METAL HUNGARY-
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Posts: 670  |
Posts: 670
Need a new genre? Who wants to start an 'Organic Metal' band with me? 
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Posts: 11 |
Posts: 11
I don't like Thor.  Wizard's previous album is far more original and memorable.
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Posts: 234  |
Posts: 234
Good review and good to see you dont resort to the usual pointless name calling that a lot of "metal" fans give to Power Metal bands. I dont care about originality, if I like an album by a band then I dont mind hearing another 200 songs that are in a similar style
---- "I'm rising in power through murdering rain Stronger than Faith allows Braver than heroes vows ...My head is bloody but I am unbowed I am power..."
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| Vikingocalypse;
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 Posts: 5591 |
Posts: 5591
The review and especially the rating are spot on Baz. I'd have given an 8 instead of a 9 for performance, apart from that I'm completely with you. Personally I found Thor to be extremely disappointing though. Odin, Goochan and Magic Circle, all three of the previous albums were really fantastic power metal, Thor however is only a bit above average if you ask me...
---- BAS - Beautifully Accented Sexiness
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Posts: 208  |
Posts: 208
Haha first paragraph is awesome.
---- "Sataaaaaaaaan. Yeah yeah!" -King Diamond
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Posts: 3099
^ Holy hell you must have really loved that paragraph to warrant a septuple post!
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Posts: 21306 Written by R'Vannith on 22.10.2011 at 07:57 That first paragraph is pretty awesome I guess.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 3099 Written by Troy Killjoy on 22.10.2011 at 08:03 It's certainly true, though not something I was unaware of.
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 Posts: 64335 |
Posts: 64335
There are 2 types of PM in Europe, one as Freedom Call, Dragofource, other like this band and actually we can add also HM in this band and some bands, this PM are heaver, more serious and not so cheays, its good music.
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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