Wizard - Odin "Limited Edition Digipak"
Vocals: Sven D'Anna
Drums: Snoppi
Guitar: Michael Maaß
Bass: Volker Leson
Overview
While most metal out there has become clouded due to the endless rambling of hiphop and the Britneys and Christinas out there, some bands stay true to their message. Wizard has never strayed from their path of spreading the True Metal message to their followers.
For over a decade, the band has stood their ground, and endured the perils of being metalheads. The fame wouldn't come on MTV, and the money wouldn't fall by the millions into their laps. But slowly, over the course of many albums, they've achieved a feat few can. They've constantly grown in their sound and remained true to their fans at the same time.
They have Piet Sielck to thank for some of that. He's produced albums for many of Europe's largest metal acts, such as Iron Savior and Blind Guardian. He's taken and refined Wizard's undeniably unique sound and given it a touch of depth, but not too far. It's Wizard, and it's Wizard at their best. The recording is clear. Each hi-hat and ride is crisp and the guitarwork sounds almost computer generated at times. I am always happy with Piet's mixing and mastering.
Sven's voice takes some getting used to, I'll admit to that. He is not for everyone. The high end of his range is used sporadically for good reason. He just can't hit the notes like Kiske or Von Maurik can. It sounds like he strains to hold them. But with numerous listens, his voice grew on me and I came to enjoy his accent and 'raw' live sound.
The biggest obvious change from previous Wizard albums upon immediate insertion of the disc is the layered choruses. Piet's mastered the ability to make Sven's voice much more enjoyable. Without cutting the high end, but layering in middle octaves of Sven and company, the choruses become instantly better than any previous Wizard album's tracks. The layering isn't as extensive as Blind Guardian's A Night at the Opera, but it's along the same lines, and in my opinion, much better even though Hansi is heralded as he is.
The guitarwork is crucial to making True Metal what it is. It's extremely simple throughout the entire disc, but manages to keep the tale of Odin alive. 16th palm mutes are abundant and in my opinion not overdone. The melodies are often held within them along the chord progressions, leaving little room for leads. But solos are just as prominent when they appear. Michael can play as good as any other in the metal genre today. He has to. Wizard decided to drop the second guitar some time ago, leaving he and Volker on bass to fill the gap. It's not noticable at all though as the distorted bass covers the missing instrument perfectly. There is some guitar layering on the disc but does not detract from the overall simplicity of the music.
Power metal often has their drummers overlooked, with criticism along the lines of having too simple basswork. Each and every song on this disc has as many bass kicks as palm mutes so be ready for a barrage of double kick insanity. Snoppi's endurance must be enormous as tracks like Powergod sustain some of the fastest, and longest, bass kill rolls in my CD collection. He effectively uses everything on his set, but not to any godlike level. They're mostly used inside fills. There are no solos, but in a disc like this they would feel out of place.
The disc itself was originally released in the "Limited Edition Digipak CD" format, with 4000 copies released. I was lucky enough to purchase this version in the United States through [url]www.theendrecords.com[/url] . At this time, those copies are sold out from most places and the normal release can still be purchased worldwide. The Limited Edition comes with track 13 "Ultimate War" and track 14 "Golden Dawn", a Quicktime formatted Music Video showing live and backstage footage, a 24-page color booklet with addition photos and personal liner notes by the band, and a mini-poster of the album cover for your wall. (Track 14 "Golden Dawn" is available online for download by the band.)
The tale of Odin is an old and good one, alive in many contemporary forms today. For an overview of the what tale the disc tells, you may go [url=http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/v_loki.htm]here[/url]. The lyrics are extremely simple in Wizard's traditional fashion.
Quote:
Smashing and crushing, a weapon full of power. The time will come: the giants last hour! FIGHTING GIANTS KILL THEM ALL! DEFENDER OF THE GOLDEN HALL!
This is your eternal pain, this is your punishment. Revenge of the gods. Pain without end. Chained to a rock until the end of time 'til the beginning of the end. Torture and pain: his destiny's end for all eternity. Torture and pain, this is Lokis punishment.
|
The tale is told well. If it were not for the speed and energy of the music behind them, I don't see the lyrics working at all. They're flat and boring alone, but mixed with Sven and company, they do a superb job and describe the people and places accurately.
The bonus goodies in the Digipak are worth the extra $1. Ultimate War should be included on the normal release, portraying the final scene, the picture of the players so to speak.
Ultimate war! Einheriers will fight, giants will die! Odin will ride, ripping the sky! Golden Dawn is a typical Wizard ballad. I enjoy it tremendously as the album closer, but it's far too simple to compare to any other metal ballad out there. The keyboards and pianos show Sven is not scared to write something softer or sing with the sadder emotions.
This is Wizard's best work to date. The songs are much more complex in arrangement and vocally, but still manage to say "We are Wizard" in every way. Head of the Deceiver, Wizard's previous release, was their small step into the German spotlight. Odin, on the other hand, is the giant leap they were looking for. The music is distributed worldwide through Limb Records, which in my opinion, is one of the finer labels out there. They offer samples of all their bands' works, and distribute Promo discs occasionally to share the metal to the world for free. Because of Limb and Piet's work behind the scenes, Odin is Wizard's best work to date. They appear in and/or headline many of Europe's metal shows and have even reached me, in the United States. I look forward to their next release, unable to imagine how it could top Odin.
Tracklist
01. The Prophecy [url=http://www.legion-of-doom.de/music/odin/the_Prophecy.mp3]Full Song[/url]
02. Betrayer [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/02%20-%20Betrayer.mp3]Sample[/url]
03. Dead Hope [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/03%20-%20Dead%20Hope.mp3]Sample[/url]
04. Dark God [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/04%20-%20Dark%20God.mp3]Sample[/url]
05. Loki's Punishment [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/05%20-%20Loki´s%20Punishment.mp3]Sample[/url]
06. Beginning Of The End [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/06%20-%20Beginning%20Of%20The%20End.mp3]Sample[/url]
07. Thor's Hammer [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/07%20-%20Thor´s%20Hammer.mp3]Sample[/url]
08. Hall Of Odin [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/08%20-%20Hall%20Of%20Odin.mp3]Sample[/url]
09. The Powergod [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/09%20-%20The%20Powergod.mp3]Sample[/url]
10. March Of The Einheriers [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/10%20-%20March%20Of%20The%20Einheriers.mp3]Sample[/url]
11. End Of All [url=http://www.limb-music.de/atomatrix/mp3/wizard/Odin/11%20-%20End%20Of%20All.mp3]Sample[/url]
12. Ultimate War (bonus track)
13. Golden Dawn (bonus track) [url=http://www.legion-of-doom.de/music/odin/Wizard_Golden_Dawn.mp3]Full Song[/url]
Score: 4 thumbs out of 5 :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :upset:
The music is simple. The lyrics are simple. But man, does it ROCK. True Metalheads, or Power Metal fans should pick this up if looking for something intense but still able to sing along to.
