I have been a very big fan of WIZARD for years and I was disappointed with their 2007 "Goochan" release. Since then they have put out two killer albums, "Thor" and this new one. So I think it is safe to say WIZARD is back! The German power metal force has long been a source of great heavy metal and that has never been more so than now. "Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes" is a killer new album. WIZARD has gone back to their glory days of speed metal oriented music complete with epic power metal choruses and their thrash like trademarks.  Their newest album is based on the books by Andre Wiesler, a well known German author. Andre was contacted by Bass player Volker Leson. The conversation went so well that the author agreed to help the band write the lyrics to their new album having to do with vampires, werewolves, and witches. The result is a stunning heavy metal album.

WIZARD found the perfect topics to write about. Nothing screams metal more than Vampires witches and werewolves; perhaps gothic metal does so, but not as well as what has been captured here. The guitar riffs are very heavy and leave no doubt that the album is meant to pound you into submission. The band has a very long and storied career spanning over 20 years and they have shown no sign of letting up. It amazes me how fresh the band sounds over two decades into their career. Especially considering they are almost the same line up now as back in 1989. Four out of the current five members are founders. That is impressive in this day and age. I cannot think of any true metal band that's been around this long and still has so many of the original members left. The result of playing together for so long has rewarded their fans with an extremely tight release. This may not be their best album ever, but it most certainly is close.

WIZARD has always done a great job with their lyrics. You have the Norse mythology and the war/battle metal themes and now the current album is about the classic Universal (studios) Monsters. Sven D'Anna's vocals are gritty and raw. He doesn't have the clean high pitched vocals that newer power metal bands like DRAGONFORCE and RHAPSODY OF FIRE have, but they suit the band. There truly is no weak point on this album. Everything is top notch. The drumming is solid and the solos are very melodic. I can tell a lot of care went into the recording process. I am impressed with how good their English is as well. It is amazing considering they are a German and not an English band. Any fan of old school true power metal will most likely love this album. I cannot imagine a fan of this genre being disappointed.

I have to highly recommend "Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes" to all lovers of old school power metal. Be advised that this is a very heavy album, and not for the faint of heart. There are no keyboards here. It's great to see that WIZARD still has what it takes. In 2007 I had some doubt, but now the doubt is all gone and the band is stronger than ever before.