TOUCHED BY THE CRIMSON KING

'''Touched by the Crimson King''' is the second album of power metal/ heavy metal band Demons & Wizards and was released in June 2005. The album also contains a remake of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song". For the North American release, all fourteen songs appeared on one disc, which had alternate cover art in the form of a sleeve around the jewel case.

Contents

Track listing

Lineup

Guest Musicians

Lyrical references

Track listing

''Music and Lyrics written by Schaffer/Kürsch, except for Immigrant Song written by Page/Plant''
;Disc 1
#"Crimson King" – 5:47
#"Beneath These Waves" – 5:12
#"Terror Train" – 4:46
#"Seize The Day" – 5:22
#"The Gunslinger" – 5:15
#"Love's Tragedy Asunder" – 5:29
#"Wicked Witch" – 3:33
#"Dorian" – 6:36
#"Down Where I Am" – 4:54
#"Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin Cover) – 2:29
;Disc 2 ''(Limited Edition only)''
#Lunar Lament – 4:04
#Wicked Witch (Slow Version) – 3:56
#Spatial Architects – 5:46
#Beneath These Waves (Edit) – 3:41

Lineup

★ Hansi Kürsch - Vocals

★ Jon Schaffer - Lead, Rhythm, Bass & Acoustic Guitars

Guest Musicians

★ Bobby Jarzombek - Drums and Percussion

★ Jim Morris - Guitar solos and Backing Vocals

★ Rubin Drake - Bass & Fretless Bass Guitar

★ Howard Helm - Piano, and Backing Vocals

★ Kathy Helm - Backing Vocals

★ Tori Fuson - Backing Vocals

★ Jesse Morris - Backing Vocals

★ Krystyna Kolaczynski - Cello

Lyrical references

Most of the songs of the album have some relation to "The Dark Tower", a series of books by Stephen King. One reference outside the lyrics to the series is the rose on the cover of the album, as roses are an important symbol in the series. Another could be the red eye in the background, which is another crucial symbol in The Dark Tower. Yet again is the Train on the back cover taken to represent Blaine, the villain of Book Three - The Wastelands.

★ ''"Crimson King"'' is a reference to the Crimson King, the main antagonist of the series. However, the song itself seems to be about Randall Flagg, one of the King's many servants.

★ ''"The Gunslinger"'' is referring to Roland of Gilead, the protagonist of the piece. Throughout this piece there are references to the fifth book of the series, ''Wolves of the Calla'' (e.g., 'come-commala', 'say thankya')

★ ''"Terror Train"'' is a reference to Blaine the Mono, from the third and fourth novels of the series.

★ ''"Beneath These Waves"'' was directly inspired by Moby-Dick and one's man struggle with nature and which ties in with repeated references in the Dark Tower novels drawing parallels between Roland of Gilead and Captain Ahab.

★ ''"Wicked Witch"'' is Kürsch's interesting interpretation of the Wizard of Oz, which is also referenced in the fourth novel, ''Wizard and Glass''. It is also a reference to the evil witch, Rhea of the Cöos.

★ ''"Dorian"'' was inspired by Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, which again bears some relation to the character of Roland of Gilead.

★ ''"Seize The Day"'' details some of the tests and hardships that Roland of Gilead faces on his way to The Dark Tower, such as him reaching the western shore, and also his drifting personality that causes him to be constantly on the move. Another intrepretation of this song, perhaps intentionally ambiguous, is that it talks about the hobbits Frodo and Sam, from The Lord of the Rings. It actually includes quotes from the story, such as "The road goes on and on", originally spoken by Bilbo in The Hobbit.

★ ''"Down where I am"'' references Mordred Deschain of the Dark Tower series, born from Susannah Dean's womb. The character of Mordred from Stephen King's series is himself inspired from Mordred of the Arthurian legend.