UMUR "Vizier of Wasteland" is the debut full-length studio album by Danish heavy metal act Zoser Mez. The album was recorded at Easy Sound Recording, Copenhagen in the Autumn of 1990 and it was released on the band´s own Zoser Records in early 1991. Zoser Mez was formed by former Mercyful Fate guitarists Hank Shermann and Michael Denner after the former left Fate and the latter left King Diamond and they decided to start working together again.

It seems that Zoser Mez was a bit of a hobby project because "Vizier of Wasteland" features no less than three different lead vocalists, two drummers, and Shermann handling the bass in addition to his guitar playing. So while the overall musical direction is hard rocking heavy metal (which at times is closer to hard rock than metal), the whole thing appears a bit patchy and directionless. There´s no mistaking the brilliant guitar riffs and lead guitar work of Shermann and Denner, and that element is pretty much this album´s only saving grace, because it really doesn´t have much else going for it.

The sound production is thin sounding and doesn´t boost the music as it should have, the tracks themselves are unremarkable and none of the three vocalists provide the music with anything but standard quality bluesy hard rock singing. Not even the inclusion of a Captain Beyond cover (the othwerwise brilliant "Mesmerization Eclipse") or the cover of Mercyful Fate´s "Desecration of Souls" (which is a real horror featuring bluesy hard rock vocals) can save this album from complete mediocrity and bargain bin destiny (which is incidentally where I found my copy). Thankfully Shermann and Denner would soon bury this project and rejoin Mercyful Fate for their triumphant 1993 return. "Vizier of Wasteland" is best forgotten. A 2 star (40%) rating is me being nice.