Legendary record cover artist IOANNIS (DEEP PIRPLE, URIAH HEEP, DREAM THEATER, LYNYRD SKYNYRD) will be joining forces with THE WIZARDS OF WINTER to produce cover artwork for their upcoming album, to be released later this year. Ioannis will also design merchandise and the tour art for their upcoming 2014 schedule.

Says Ioannis, "I think The Wizards of Winter is an incredibly talented group of individuals and it will be cool to work on their holiday project, so I am really looking forward to doing this."

Plans are also in discussion for additional ventures to be announced later this year.

The Wizards of Winter, the prog-metal-meets-classical rock band that has been hard at work recording their second release, are excited to be working with this iconic artist for the design of their album cover artwork. Ioannis has created the covers of over 170 albums, with his art firmly rooted in fantasy and surrealism. The currently untitled album, produced by Tommy Farese of TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA fame, promises to continue the band’s style of integrating elements of hard rock and classical influences into a distinctive blend of original compositions.

"We are honored to have the privilege to work with a creative master like Ioannis,” said Scott Kelly, leader of The Wizards of Winter. “His artwork has graced the album covers of so many of the music industry's legendary performers that he too, truly is a legend. When Ioannis contacted us and told us that he really liked our material and wanted to work together, we were really quite surprised given where the band is in its development. It is just another proof point that the Wizards are really beginning to gain some broad recognition.

After speaking with Ioannis, Steve Ratchen, one of the other co-founders of the band, and I both found that besides being a very nice and approachable guy, his artistic concepts and marketing directions appear to be exactly what we need at this time to assist us in moving to the next level. We are humbly grateful that he has chosen to work with us and greatly look forward to working with him."

For more info on Ioannis go to his official website here. For information go to TheWizardsOfWinter.com.