Release Date: February 21, 2020
Origin: United States/Germany
Personnel: Hansi Kursch-vox, Jon Schaffer-guitar, Jake Dreyer-guitar, Ruben Drake-bass, Brent Smedley-drums
Album number two in the year-end countdown is yet another supergroup. This is the third collaboration album from the masterminds of Iced Earth (Schaffer) and Blind Guardian (Kursch) and it continues the trend of outstanding traditional/power metal these guys have laid down in the past. This side project’s output is starting to outpace both guys’ main gigs in terms of quality of late, in my opinion. Both Iced Earth and Blind Guardian seem to be stuck in creative ruts. Maybe they are just saving their best ideas for Demons and Wizards. Maybe these guys just click creatively. I don’t know the answer, but I really hope to see more output in the future from this entity.
4 flip flops out of 5
The list so far:
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero
DISPATCHES FROM THE VOID 