Jon Leon - Bass, Guitars
Dylan Marks - Drum… Read Full Bio ↴White Wizzard is:
Jon Leon - Bass, Guitars
Dylan Marks - Drums
James J. La Rue - Guitars
Wyatt "Screaming Demon" Anderson - Vocals
BIO:
White Wizzard hails from Los Angeles CA. Tired of the down-tuned screamo metal that seemed to be everywhere, bass player Jon Leon formed White Wizzard in the summer of 2007. The goal was simple - to bring the songwriting, melody and good times back into metal and rock.
Over the next 5 years they released two full length albums 'Over The Top' (2010) and 'Flying Tigers' (2011) along with their debut EP ''High Speed GTO' (2007). They toured the world opening for some of the most renowned names in Heavy Metal and spearheaded the underground movement of the 'New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal'. Unfortunately the band was plagued by numerous line-up changes and found it difficult to build momentum.
Other than original founder Jon Leon the only other member that remained consistent was drummer Giovanni Dürst who joined in 2009. As a graduate of the Berklee College of Music (2006) Dürst incorporated his thrash influences utilizing his advanced double bass technique which has become an important part of the White Wizzard signature sound.
Towards the end of 2011, with multiple tours booked, and another line-up change the band desperately needed a lead guitarist. Enter Jake Dreyer who at the time was studying at Musicians Institute in Hollywood. Dreyer auditioned and two weeks later was touring the world. After being heavily influenced by Shrapnel artists Dreyer had developed a highly advanced 'shred' technique the likes of which White Wizzard had never seen.
Following those tours in the beginning of 2012 the band finalized its 'dual lead guitar' attack with the recruitment of British guitarist Will Wallner. With a more blues based melodic style influenced from guitarists such as Ritchie Blackmore, Wallner offered a much welcomed contrast to Dreyer. Together they could offer the full spectrum of styles and techniques while maintaining their own unique voice within the band. Immediately this partnership was put to test with the recording a new song called 'Torpedo Of Truth'. The song featured more lead guitar solos which was something that had been lacking on previous releases.
This set the tone for a new direction in sound and would sow the seeds for their highly anticipated third full length release. The only problem that remained was the band still hadn't found the right frontman. After returning from a successful trip to Japan they began to search for the perfect singer to complete the line-up. Will Wallner suggested Joseph Micheal who he had worked with prior to joining White Wizzard. His voice instantly grabbed the rest of the bands attention. Not only could Michael offer a powerful voice with a high range but he also had the personality and stage presence needed to front a heavy metal band.
The bands future started to look promising and they immediately toured the US and Canada in the summer of 2012. Word soon began to spread that White Wizzard were back with their strongest line-up to date. Following the tour they began working on a new album to be recorded at beginning of 2013 with long time producer Ralph Patlan. Appropriately titled 'The Devils Cut' the album features the most dynamic and diverse music the band has ever produced. Through years of struggle Jon Leon has matured and grown as a songwriter and now with a permanent line-up of talented musicians it seems his goal may finally come to fruition. 'The Devils Cut' will be released on June 25th via Century Media and Earache records.
OVER THE TOP
White Wizzard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the killing fields
You have to fight to carry on
Look to the starlight
See your destiny
Never give up the will to be
You're gonna make it ‒ You've got the fire
You've got the dreams ‒ You're burning higher
On wings of steel you soar to heights that will inspire
OVER THE TOP!
The magic in us all that will survive
The fuel that drives to keep the dream alive
Over the top
Out in the cold night
And on the darkest day
You have to fight against the grain
Look deep inside you
Find out what is real
Honesty and truth will be revealed
On the horizon
In the killing fields
You have to fight to carry on
Look to the starlight
See your destiny
Never give up the will to be
You're gonna make it ‒ You've got the fire
Flames of your destiny ‒ Burning with desire
You've got the dreams ‒ You're burning higher
On wings of steel you soar to heights that will inspire
OVER THE TOP!
The magic in us all that will survive
The fuel that drives to keep the dream alive
Over the top
The lyrics to White Wizzard's song "Over the Top" are about perseverance and fighting to achieve one's dreams, even when facing difficult challenges. The song speaks of the need to look towards the future and see one's destiny, and to never give up the will to succeed. The imagery in the lyrics is that of war and battle, with references to "killing fields" and fighting against the grain. However, the song also speaks of the power of magic and the strength of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
The chorus of the song, with its repetition of the phrase "Over the Top," is a call to action, urging the listener to rise above their struggles and strive towards their goals. The lyrics speak of the flame of destiny burning within each person, driving them towards success. The song also speaks of the power of honesty and truth to reveal one's path to success.
Overall, "Over the Top" is a powerful anthem of hope, urging listeners to persevere in the face of hardship and strive towards their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
On the horizon
The future is uncertain and the path forward may not be clear.
In the killing fields
The road ahead may be difficult, dangerous or filled with obstacles.
You have to fight to carry on
In order to succeed or survive, we need to persevere and overcome challenges.
Look to the starlight
We should seek hope or guidance from something beyond ourselves.
See your destiny
Accept or embrace what the future holds.
Never give up the will to be
Don't lose the motivation or desire to achieve our goals or dreams.
You're gonna make it ‒ You've got the fire
Remain confident or passionate, because success is possible.
Flames of your destiny ‒ Burning with desire
A strong sense of purpose or ambition is driving us forward.
You've got the dreams ‒ You're burning higher
Our goals or aspirations are fueling our determination or enthusiasm.
On wings of steel you soar to heights that will inspire
With inner strength or resolve, we can achieve great things and become role models.
OVER THE TOP!
We should aim for the best or exceed expectations, pushing ourselves beyond what we thought possible.
The magic in us all that will survive
We have the ability or resilience to overcome challenges and thrive in difficult circumstances.
The fuel that drives to keep the dream alive
Our passion, ambition or motivation makes us pursue our goals and overcome obstacles on the way.
Over the top
Repeating the earlier message and emphasizing the idea of pushing ourselves beyond our limits or expectations.
Out in the cold night
Feeling alone, vulnerable, or disconnected from others or the world.
And on the darkest day
Going through tough times or facing challenges, where hope or light is scarce.
You have to fight against the grain
We need to resist conformity or adversity and stay true to our own beliefs or values.
Look deep inside you
We must turn inward and reflect on our feelings, motives or identity.
Find out what is real
We should discover or acknowledge what truly matters, valid or true.
Honesty and truth will be revealed
By being honest with ourselves, we can perceive reality more clearly and make better decisions.
Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.