Demons and Wizards

Randy Rhoads was purportedly a big fan of this tome, and you can hear the similarities in Mick Box’s strumming on the magical leadoff tune. A little subtler than their proto-metal contemporaries in Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, these Dickensian villains brought more nuanced progressive rock interplay between their instruments. Of course, “Easy Livin’,” the big single, would slot in nicely between “Highway Star” and “Supernaut” on a moonshine-running playlist, but elsewhere the poets and demons and time travelers require a wizard’s hat more than a crash helmet. The final cantrip, “The Spell,” rivals Blue Oyster Cult’s “Astronomy” for enigmatic album closers.