Maximum Metal Rating Legend

WIZ Shattered Mind Therapy 2004 Arise Records - Reviewed by: IcedMojo

Track Listing1. Mr. Sandman 2. In Your Eyes 3. Super Psychic Woman 4. One Chapter OF A Fairytale 5. Sun Moon of Star 6. Down 7. Understand 8. Return OF Atlantis 9. Empty Words 10. From the Ashes incoming goods Rise

Place yourself in a world of 6 great metal bands--the power blasts of Accept, a powerful throwback sound mixed with modern metal of Iced Earth, the melodic arrangements of HammerFall, the vocal power of Rick Mythiasin (Former Vocalist of Steel Prophet) mixed with the vocal style of Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, and the ferocious in your face melodies of Slayer and what do you come up with? The answer is WIZ.

Although “Shattered Mind Therapy” is the first major label release since signing with Arise Records in May 2003, the group came together in 1996. After a few changes in line-up and a few demos, if this is any indication of things to come, it looks like metal has a new hit maker.

With Freddy Persson behind the mic, (added female vocals on “Sun Moon of Star” and “Understand”), riffs by Martin Karlsson and Jake Fredén that are to die for, crafty drum work by Stefan Lindquist and the ever important bass lines supplied by Johan Weicht, I am truly taken aback by the caliber of this debut release.

Normally, this is where I would site a few songs that all but stole this album, but see, on this one it is virtually impossible to do. Every song (with the exception of “Sun Moon of Star”) compliments the next. It's not a continuing story that I could tell--lost love is the best I figured--but this album does take the listener on a mental journey. Just listen for yourself. It is a powerful album that is worth while.

Rating: Overall, 9/10. “Sun Moon of Star” (a ballad featuring the female vocals of Heidi Lilja), I believe is just there for a filler track. The mixing by Fredrick Nordstrom is first rate. The production (WIZ) is absolutely incredible.

Extra: Freddy and Jake also formed Nostradameus in 1998 to compete in a rock competition. Nostradameus was signed by AFM Records in 1999. Although the booklet had little to it, the cover art to "Mind Shattered Therapy", supplied by Carlos del Olmo, was wonderful.


--IcedMojo 04.21.04