![]() The album also served as partial inspiration for Hansi Kürsch and Jon Schaffer's side project Demons and Wizards. ![]() Martin Popoff in his Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal described the album as "a sullen, solitary, contemplative sort of record, existing in a hazy flux on the more mystical side of early heavy metal" and praised the new rhythm section and especially Byron's performance, which demonstrated his "capable helmsmanship of both the most subtle of contemplative bits and the loudest of rock roars." According to AllMusic, the album "solidified Uriah Heep's reputation as a master of gothic-inflected heavy metal". The first side of Demons and Wizards is simply odds-on the finest high energy workout of the year, tying nose and nose with the Blue Öyster Cult.they may have started out as a thoroughly dispensable neo- Cream & Blooze outfit, but at this point Uriah Heep are shaping up into one hell of a first-rate modern rock band". Mike Saunders wrote: "These guys are good. Rolling Stone, which printed an infamously negative review of the band's debut album, ran a positive assessment of Demons and Wizards. Reception Professional ratings Review scores In 2017, Sanctuary Records released a two-disc deluxe edition. ĭemons and Wizards was remastered and reissued by Castle Communications in 1996 with three bonus tracks, and again in 2003 in an expanded deluxe edition. "Easy Livin'" was also a mega-hit in the Netherlands and Germany, countries which were becoming strong markets for the band. 39, making it Heep's first and only American Top 40 hit. The latter, a defiant rocker, according to Blows, was "tailor-made for Byron's extrovert showmanship" and entered the US Billboard Hot 100 chart reaching No. The songs " The Wizard" and " Easy Livin'" were released as singles in the UK and North America as well as many other markets. 1 in May and remained on top of the charts for 14 weeks. The inner sleeve had pictures of the band and notes by Hensley, while the liner featured printed lyrics. The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front of which was designed by Roger Dean. ![]() It was the first album to feature that lineup and there was a magic in that combination of people that created so much energy and enthusiasm". We all wanted the same thing, were all willing to make the same sacrifices to achieve it and we were all very committed. ![]() Hensley recalled: "The band was really focused at that time. While the album title and Roger Dean's cover art both suggested medieval fantasy, Hensley's notes declared the album to be "just a collection of our songs that we had a good time recording". Thus the "classic" Uriah Heep lineup was formed, and according to biographer Kirk Blows, "everything just clicked into place". Another addition, of drummer Lee Kerslake (a former bandmate of Ken Hensley's in the Gods and Toe Fat), solidified the rhythm section. "Gary just had a style about him, it was incredible because every bass player in the world that I've ever known has always loved his style, with those melodic bass lines," lead guitarist Mick Box commented later. New Zealander Gary Thain, at the time a member of Keef Hartley Band, joined Uriah Heep as a permanent member halfway through another American tour. Official Bootleg Series Vol.Demons and Wizards is the fourth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released by Bronze Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US. Released: 5 February 2002 (recorded 2001).King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Uriah Heep in concert 1974 With Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep became one of the top heavy metal and hard rock bands of the 1970s. In the late 1970s the band had massive success in Germany, where the " Lady in Black" single was a big hit. 7 in 1975) while of the fifteen Billboard 200 Uriah Heep albums Demons and Wizards was the most successful (No. Twelve of the band's albums have made it to the UK Albums Chart ( Return to Fantasy reached No. Uriah Heep's progressive/ art rock/ heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always featured massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and (in the early years) David Byron's operatic vocals. The band's best selling album is Sweet Freedom, which was released in 1973 and its worldwide sales are more than 6 million copies. Over the years, the British hard rock band Uriah Heep has released 25 studio albums (of original material), 20 live albums, 41 compilation albums, 27 UK singles (33 worldwide) and 17 videos.
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