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...Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes is Power Metal stalwart Wizard's 9th studio album and the strongest of the last few. There's been little change in the formula of aggressive, fast music these guys have built their career on, but the songs are definitely more consistent this time around.

As is typical of Wizard albums, the first song, title track "...Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes," is not only one of the fastest, but it is the best on the album. It blazes along on a foundation of double-kick drums and features a truly singable chorus, once you master the German pronunciation, of course. The rest of the album varies between fast and mid-tempo, with the latter encompassing a more significant percentage of songs than has been true of past efforts. There are no stinkers, but there are fillers like the pseudo-ballad "Fair Maiden Mine" and the generic "Hearteater." Highlights, along with the title track, include "Taste of Fear," featuring a riff that slides back an forth between the left and right channels and, if you wear headphones while listening, will feel like it is sawing through your skull, and the closer, "Hagen Von Stein," which matches the speed and intensity of the opener, minus the catchy chorus.

There is nothing new on ...Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes, even for Wizard, but it is certainly a fun listen. The album is marked by well played, energetic Power Metal of the German (i.e. little to no keyboards) school. If you like Wizard's past albums, you are sure to like this one. It also makes a decent place to start, although Head of the Deceiver would be better.