SCHAFFER/BARLOW PROJECT, featuring ICED EARTH founder, songwriter, guitarist and producer Jon Schaffer, and former ICED EARTH vocalist Matt Barlow – have released a lyric video for “We Three Kings”, from the upcoming Winter Nights album.
A message states: “We are pleased to unveil the lyric video for the song ‘We Three Kings’ from the album Winter Nights. The Kickstarter campaign for the Schaffer / Barlow Project was hugely successful and we appreciate your support. If you missed backing the campaign and you would like to get a physical copy of the album we have a pre-order for limited vinyl and a handful of signed CDs available aticedearthmerch.com.”
Metal super act, DEMONS & WIZARDS will release their highly anticipated new studio album, “III”, on February 21st, 2020 via Century Media Records. The band has just released a new single ‘Midas Disease’, which can be listened below:
Hansi Kürsch states: “Meanwhile, you all should have heard the epic ‘Diabolic’ and as second impression of “III” we offer you the complete opposite now: The four and a half minutes of ‘Midas Disease’! The song reminds me of one of these good old hard rock bands, playing on and on for more than 40 years, I guess you’ll know whom I refer to once you hear it. ‘Midas Disease’ has a cunning vibe, which I absolutely love. It is pure honesty.”
Jon Schaffer adds: “I had a working title of ‘Unbroken’ for this song, and when I sent it to Hansi, he instantly liked it. We both feel it added a totally different dimension to an already very diverse album. It’s straight-up fists in the air hard rock/heavy metal song, which was certainly inspired by the riffing and rhythmic abilities of Malcolm Young and I personally dedicate it to his memory. You are missed Sir Malcolm!”
DEMONS & WIZARDS is one of the most legendary collaborations in the history of heavy metal, uniting the talents of Jon Schaffer(Iced Earth) and Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) who are friends for nearly three decades.
DEMONS & WIZARDS musically embodies both musician’s stylistic trademarks and has resulted so far in two hugely celebrated studio albums, “Demons & Wizards” and “Touched by the Crimson King”. Both records have been reissued in 2019 on time with the group’s extremely successful return to the world’s stages. Throughout the year, DEMONS & WIZARDS presented an impressive stage production and intense sets, toured North America for the first time, performed at renowned festivals such as Wacken Open Air (DE), Hellfest (F), Sweden Rock (SE), GMM (BE), Barcelona Rock Fest (ES), Copenhell (DK), Chania Rock (GR), Metaldays (SI), and played shows in Moscow, London and many more.
Alan Dixon from Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to Demons & Wizards’Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth) and Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardien) at the Corona Theater in Montreal, Quebec Canada on September 1 2019
Watch the interview here:
When asked about why the two Demons and Wizards albums and the band have become more popular over time with fans
“It’s a blessing for us I think it’s just an honest chemistry between Hansi and I. It goes back to a brotherhood and that happened way before we wrote songs together and that translates into the music. It somehow became this timeless thing and somehow resonated with all the fans over the years. We heard about all the love but once got the offer to headline at Wacken 2019 we were looking at each other on face time going holy shit this has got real. Then it escalated into the crazy schedule we had last year. ” Jon
When asked if they will be including Iced Earth and Blind Guardian songs in the set list
“There will be a little bit but that is more of a tribute to the two bands, just to lift up the set list a little. Though Demons and Wizards songs run through very well.” Hansi
When asked about the new upcoming Demons and Wizards album and what makes it different from an Iced Earth album
“The biggest thing is I have pretty much removed myself from the crafting of the vocal parts. The music is not going to be radically different from Iced Earth. The difference would be the way I would hear the vocal part versus the way Hansi would hear it and the way he gets inspired by the vocal melodies and lyrics from the music. Those things coming together create a unique sounding monster.” Jon
When asked how the new upcoming album sounds different from the first two albums
“First of all Jon is on fire in regards to the songwriting. This time Jon had 3 songs prepared in the last 2-3 years. The majority of songs were done in quite a short amount of time. Jon sent these songs to me and I caught his fire. There is a very organic natural output that we are going to release in February 2020.” Hansi
When asked about upcoming Blind Guardian projects
“It’s non stop we always take our time, in this case for the orchestral project, it was more than 20 years and it luckily comes to an end now. It will be released on November 8 2019. It features a completely different part of us even though the music is similar to what we did on Nightfall in Middle Earth. No heavy guitars, no drums just the orchestra and me singing.” Hansi
When asked about the re-recording of the old Iced Earth Albums
“That has been discussed but there are so many Iced Earth anniversaries coming up so I am quite busy. The main focus right now is to make the new Demons and Wizards album F*** groove. The re-records thing there are some plans that we are going to see in the coming weeks.” Jon
Tour Dates
Sep. 04 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Sep. 05 – New York, NY – The Playstation Theater
Sep. 07 – Atlanta, GA – ProgPower USA
The DEMONS & WIZARDS touring lineup is as follows:
* Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN) – Lead Vocals
* Jon Schaffer (ICED EARTH) – Guitar
* Jake Dreyer (WITHERFALL, ICED EARTH) – Lead Guitar
* Marcus Siepen (BLIND GUARDIAN) – Bass
* Fredrik Ehmke (BLIND GUARDIAN, SINBREED) – Drums
* Joost Van Den Broek (AFTER FOREVER, AYREON) – Keyboards
DEMONS & WIZARDS recently released remastered versions of its first two albums on all digital platforms. , “Demons & Wizards” (2000) and “Touched By The Crimson King” (2005) were also released as expanded deluxe editions on June 7.
Century Media Records is pleased to announce the signing of legendary metal band DEMONS & WIZARDS for a worldwide collaboration. Founded in 1999 by Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) and Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth), DEMONS & WIZARDS released two highly acclaimed albums in 1999 (“Demons & Wizards”) and 2005 (“Touched by the Crimson King”). Currently, the band is busy recording the highly anticipated yet untitled third studio album, which is scheduled to be released in early 2020.
Hansi Kürsch comments:
“It is a great pleasure and a big honor for me to finally become a full part of the Century Media family. Jon and I both feel that Century Media is the perfect match for our upcoming DEMONS & WIZARDS missions. And there will be plenty of them. Right at the moment we have not only finalized a re-boot of our first two albums, but are also working with full forces on the successor of “Touched by the Crimson King”. Good things are on its way. Expect nothing but the best and do not miss us on the road this summer, unless you want to risk another 20 years of waiting …”
Philipp Schulte (Century Media Records) adds:
“To say that we are stoked to be finally working with Hansi and Jon on a new DEMONS & WIZARDS album would be an understatement. This is a very important signing to the label: A top-tier metal band and a great addition to the label’s roster. The fans have been patiently waiting for DEMONS & WIZARDS’ return. And now the time is near! We start our cooperation by re-releasing the band’s two classic albums, before they are conquering the festival stages all across Europe. And then, in the beginning of 2020, after 15 years of waiting, DEMONS & WIZARDS will finally return with a new studio album. It is time to hoist the sails for the storm to come. Welcome aboard!”
Prior to the release of the new studio album, Century Media Records will release DEMONS & WIZARDS’ sold out first two albums as reworked special editions. Remastered by Zeuss (Iced Earth, Queensrÿche, Sanctuary), these two releases will be out on June 7th, 2019 as Limited Edition Digipak and limited Deluxe 2LP releases with bonus material and liner notes by both members.
Already on March 29th, 2019, the digital standard versions of the remastered albums will be made available in order to promote the band’s festival run in Europe.
DEMONS & WIZARDS live:
31.05.2019 Garage, Saarbrücken (DE)
01.06.2019 Z7, Pratteln (CH)
02.06.2019 Batschkapp, Frankfurt (DE)
19.06.2019 Copenhell Festival, Copenhagen (DK)
21.06.2019 Graspop Metal Meeting, Dessel (B)
21.06.2019 Hellfest, Clisson (FR)
29.06.2019 Dokk’em Open Air, Dokkum (NL)
30.06.2019 Islington Assembly Hall, London (UK)
04.07.2019 Barcelona Rock Fest, Barcelona (ES)
06.07.2019 Chania Rock Festival, Chania (GR)
21.07.2019 Metaldays, Tolmin (SVN)
01.-03.08.2019 Wacken Open Air, Wacken (DE)
05.09.2019 ProgPower, Atlanta (US)
Century Media Records is proud to announce a very special release: ICED EARTH’s mastermind Jon Schaffer has teamed up with his old pals in PURGATORY, the band that he originally founded in 1985, then later became ICED EARTH, to record five tracks that were written between 1985 and 1987, now to be released as the “Purgatory” EP on December 21st as limited Digipak CD, limited LP (with 180 gram vinyl, 4-page inlay and etching) and digitally. Produced and mixed by Jon Schaffer and Jim Morris and mastered by Zeuss this very fine release showcases the foundation of the invincible metal monster known as ICED EARTH. All five tracks featured on the EP offer real US metal and perfectly capture the spirit of the mid 1980’s with a powerful production, rounded up by liner notes or comments of Jon Schaffer, Gene Adam, Greg Seymour and Bill Owen and a fitting cover artwork by David Newman Stump and Roy Young, known from their excellent work on ICED EARTH’s latest album “Incorruptible”. The greatest surprise might be Gene Adam, ICED EARTH’s original singer who sang on the band’s self-titled debut album from 1990, who delivers his best vocal performance ever. The song “Dracula” can be checked out as of now. Enjoy!
Jon Schaffer’s PURGATORY is for all ICED EARTH maniacs out there, for all fans of real US metal in the vein of Omen, Liege Lord or Savage Grace, and for all metal fans in general – young and old.
“Purgatory” is dedicated to Richard Bateman, the band’s original bass player, who passed away right before the EP went into production. Rest in peace, Richard.
The vinyl version is available in the following colours:
Black vinyl: Unlimited
Transparent-blue vinyl: limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at CM Distro Europe
Transparent-orange vinyl: limited to 200 copies, available at CM Distro Europa *
Clear vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively available at Nuclear Blast
Lilac vinyl: limited to 300 copies, exclusively available in the USA
* a limited amount of 50 copies will be signed by the band and sold through band channels
“Purgatory” tracklist:
In Your Dreams (4:55)
Dracula (6:08)
In Jason’s Mind (5:03)
Jack (4:00)
Burning Oasis (5:38)
American power metallers ICED EARTH recently announced that they are in the process of setting up a new headquarters for everything concerning the band, including a new studio for future recordings. Now, the band’s main man, Jon Schaffer has decided to sell some of his electric guitars to help finance the new project.
Jon states, “I’m selling a few guitars that have been on various recordings as well as some that were bought for my personal collection. We need to raise a large amount of money to complete the vision of our new headquarters, and begin this new chapter in the bands march to independence, to thrive in the ever-changing music business. There are some pretty killer guitars in the collection, so I urge die-hard fans, and guitar collectors alike, to go to Carter Vintage Guitars and see what’s there.”
Jon Schaffer is selling 17 of his best guitars on the Carter Vintage Guitars website at fair prices and all instruments are documented with a letter from him. It is surely very difficult for any guitarist to sell their instruments, but Jon is doing it for the band’s future, which is admirable. Many fans of the band have claimed that they are ready to help by donating, however ICED EARTH has not asked for any donation yet.
