WIZARD - Magic Circle
August 10, 2005, 19 years ago
(Limb)
Wizard dole out power metal of the chest-beating variety very much like “true” metallers Manowar. Staccato rhythmic patterns, wild guitar solos and lyrics about our beloved musical form dominate this veteran German unit’s latest release. The suitably metallic production focuses on the aggressive rhythm section and guitar crunch, lending this the proper goat horn-raising heft the band was obviously looking for. Sven D’Anno’s vocals also prove to be a high point veering from the soaring power metal norm, due mainly to his German accent, coming across like a more polished Chris Boltendahl (Grave Digger). Too bad then that after a lot of rabble-rousing the listener is left somewhat unmoved at album’s conclusion; the redundancy of the material is hard to ignore. Many of the pieces are in place here, but one vital ingredient is lacking. Originality.
