Heavy Metal finds its origins in the 1960s Britain, led by famed pioneers Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin. Wizards are machinations of fantasy fiction and, before that, old English mythology. So, wizards and Heavy Metal do seem to hail from the same island off the coast of mainland Europe.
Yet, it’d be quite strange to put forward that the two are linked in any way. Looking over the annals of Metal history, though, there are more connections than perhaps anyone would initially assume. Here, we explore some of the links that the music genre has forged with these fantastical magic-wielders.
Famed Wizards to Draw Inspiration From
It’s difficult to understate the enduring influence that J.R.R. Tolkien has on popular culture and the fantasy genre of fiction. Very much the Godfather of fantasy, his characterisation of Gandalf in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy set the mould for wizards to come.
Now, you see this long-bearded, robed, and powerful-but-chirpy wizard be the prototype. You can even see this in play in some of the most modern forms of entertainment media and their wizards. Blue Wizard is a game that is tied to the 200 spins online slot bonus available with a bingo boost and very much follows Tolkien’s template.
The Blue Wizard in the game Fire Blaze: Blue Wizard Megaways ticks all the boxes, from his bright white beard to the powerful bonuses he can unlock. It’s easily the most popular way to depict a wizard, which is why the slot is so popular and why it’s used to advertise the promotion.
In the world of Metal music, it was also Tolkien’s wizard that inspired the collaboration. In Black Sabbath’s debut album, the second track on the list is The Wizard, which was inspired by Gandalf. Furthermore, the actor who played Saruman, Christopher Lee also released his own Heavy Metal album.
Embracing The Wonders Of Wizardry
Perhaps the most recognisable and important band to emerge from the wizarding world is the still-active Wizard from Germany. They formed in 1989 and even released a studio album in 2021. There was an American band by the name of Wizard that formed in 1970, but it was very short-lived.
Germany’s Wizard, on the other hand, have been a key feature of the power Metal scene for decades. Many of their songs tie into beings of myth and legend, including wizards, vampires, witches, and Norse figures like Thor and Odin. Notably, their most recent album, Metal in My Head, was given praise for featuring uplifting anthems.
Elsewhere in the Metal scene, you can collect several all-time great songs that tie into the wizarding theme. Obviously, Black Sabbath’s 1970 instant classic The Wizard tops the list. The affection for wizards was always put on show by Electric Wizard, but especially so in their 1997 track Wizard in Black.
Alongside them, Megadeth, Legend, Emperor, Reverend Bizarre, Municipal Waste, Rhapsody, Blind Guardian, and Uriah Heep have all played into the deft art of weaving wizards into Metal tracks. So, while the being and the genre are not intrinsically tied, it’s clear that many Metal greats have found inspiration in the shape of a classic wizard.
