Uriah Heep - Demons & Wizards
Sanctuary/Castle

By MuzikMan (more articles from this author) 2002-05-30

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Artist: Uriah Heep (www.uriah-heep.com)
Title: Demons & Wizards
Label: Sanctuary/Castle (www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com)
Genre: Progressive Rock

At this point in their career Uriah Heep had gone relatively unnoticed and unappreciated by the music buying masses, and they were unfairly criticized by the so called critics. This album became their stepping stone to rock and roll immortality. "Demons And Wizards" showed the world just what they were capable of and then some. They found the right mixture of progressive rock to hang on to their core audience and just enough mainstream sound to have a hit single to put them over the top to get them the exposure to a new audience that they so desperately needed. This album offered an awesome combination that proved unequivocally that they were here to stay, and it allowed them to dig in their heels to become on of the best rock bands in the world. They already were one of the best; it just took this album for more people to notice.

"The Wizard" starts things off with a nice rhythmic acoustic guitar that works its way up to full fledged rocker complete with swirling organ, pumping rhythm section, and big fat power chords on lead guitar. UH sounded metal, gothic, and progressive all in one fell swoop on this track. It was an exciting blood pumping start, and the energy would be maintained steadily throughout the recording session. "Easy Livin" was the first big hit single that raised some eyebrows and turned some heads. UH was on their way. "Circle Of Hands" and "Paradise/The Spell" are both prog-rock classics given a new sound that's fresh and full of vibrancy. This is an extraordinary remaster by Castle and Sanctuary Records that to date has no equal. It's such a nice tribute to the band and befitting their crowning achievement. I think there were many more albums before this one that deserved as much attention, although it's hard to argue just how important this release was to the group's place in history and their continuing popularity. I listened very closely several times to this and I don't remember it sounding so good. I had the vinyl version back in the seventies and enjoyed it; this goes beyond anything I could have hoped for. No doubt this has to fall into the top 100 rock and roll albums of all time.

1. The Wizard (Clarke/Hensley) - 2:59
2. Traveller in Time (Box/Byron/Kerslake) - 3:26
3. Easy Livin' (Hensley) - 2:37
4. Poet's Justice (Box/Hensley/Kerslake) - 4:14
5. Circle of Hands (Hensley) - 6:27
6. Rainbow Demon (Hensley) - 4:30
7. All My Life (Box/Byron/Kerslake) - 2:46
8. Paradise/The Spell (Hensley) - 12:41

Credits:
David Byron - Vocals
Ken Hensley - Keyboards, Vocals
Mick Box - Guitar
Lee Kerslake - Drums
Gary Thain - Bass

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