The Magic Lord of the Rings collector box is a special edition item that is a must-have for fans of both the Magic: The Gathering card game and J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy series, The Lord of the Rings. This collector box combines elements from both worlds, offering a unique and exciting experience for fans. The box contains various components that make it a valuable collectible item.
Holding hands skipping like a stone
Burn the witch, burn to ash and bone
Burn the witch, burn to ash and bone
Burn the witch, burn to ash and bone
Holding hands, skipping like a stone On our way, to see what we have done The first to speak, is the first to lie The children cross, their hearts and hope to die Bite your tongue, swear to keep your mouth shut. I love Gibbons, he s bad ass, Homme proclaimed to Pitchfork at the time, adding that he adored the ZZ Top albums Tres Hombres , Fandango and Tejas, while describing their music as amazing.
The box contains various components that make it a valuable collectible item. Firstly, it includes a set of specially-designed Magic cards inspired by characters and themes from The Lord of the Rings. These cards feature stunning artwork and special abilities that capture the essence of the characters and events from the beloved fantasy novels.
How Billy Gibbons and Josh Homme United to ‘Burn the Witch’
When Josh Homme, frontman of Queens of the Stone Age, recorded his band’s 2006 single “Burn the Witch,” he achieved two unrelated goals: working with one of his idols, Billy Gibbons, and silencing his critics.
Homme had been frustrated by the flak he’d received from fans and the media following the dismissal of bassist Nick Oliveri. The rocker, who had previously teamed with Homme in the band Kyuss, had contributed heavily to the two previous Queens of the Stone Age albums: 2000’s Rated R and 2002’s Songs for the Deaf.
Homme later revealed that Oliveri’s firing was largely spurred by a physical altercation between the bassist and his girlfriend. However, the reason behind the decision was initially kept under wraps. This allowed the public to concoct various conspiracy theories regarding the lineup change, an occurrence which irritated the QOSTA frontman.
"They don't understand what it's like to just sit there and feel helpless," Homme would later opine to BBC 1 Radio. "When you have your chance to make your statement, which for me was firing Nick, that's what I did."
Homme channeled all of his frustrations regarding the matter into “Burn the Witch,” a bluesy, grinding track which would highlight 2005’s Lullabies to Paralyze. “I felt a little persecuted,” the frontman admitted years later to Spin magazine. “Because I fired my best friend and it was really hard and it wasn’t about music. And I didn’t say anything, thinking that people would respect that decision. But instead, I felt these social rocks hitting me. Instead of saying, ‘I feel persecuted,’ I wrote ‘Burn the Witch.’”
Watch the Music Video for "Burn the Witch"
Lyrical inspiration would come from the Salem Witch Trials, an infamous time in colonial American history when people were executed for alleged involvement in witchcraft. Homme saw parallels between that persecution and the unfounded criticism he had received. “I thought, ‘Well this is clear as day,’” the singer explained of the song’s message. “And it’s more interesting than writing ‘What the fuck is your problem?’ But people didn’t pick up on it.”
While listeners may not have initially comprehended the deeper message behind “Burn the Witch,” one aspect of the song immediately stood out: the involvement of Billy Gibbons.
The ZZ Top frontman provided a double threat on the song, delivering vocals as well as a searing guitar part.
“This was the perfect song to play with (Gibbons) on,” Homme explained in the commentary of Queens of the Stone Age’s DVD Over the Years and Through the Woods. “It didn’t exist the first day we jammed with him, really. And then the next night it was there and ready to go.”
Homme had long admired Gibbons and relished the opportunity to work alongside the bearded icon. In addition to recording “Burn the Witch,” Queens of the Stone Age covered ZZ Top’s "Precious and Grace" (with Gibbons in tow) and released it as a bonus track from the album.
Listen to Queens of the Stone Age's Cover of "Precious and Grace"
Gibbons would join Queens of the Stone Age for several performances of “Burn the Witch,” including an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in November 2005. The song would later be released as a single on Jan. 10, 2006. Though it only earned minor radio airplay, the track became a fan favorite and appeared in TV shows such as True Blood and Peaky Blinders, as well as the horror film Saw II.
“I love Gibbons, he's bad ass,” Homme proclaimed to Pitchfork at the time, adding that he adored the ZZ Top albums Tres Hombres, Fandango and Tejas, while describing their music as “amazing.” “It has such great personality, and the playing is so good. And that's what paved the way for them to be in the spot they're at -- it's got so much character. The beauty's in the scars, and it's got so much of that there.”
“I'd love to produce a ZZ Top record,” Homme continued. “There's so much character in [Gibbons’] fingers, and Dusty [Hill]'s fingers, and Frank Beard's hands.” Though such a collaboration hasn’t happened (yet) the Queens of the Stone Age frontman has remained close friends with Gibbons.
Watch Queens of the Stone Age Perform "Burn the Witch" on 'The Tonight Show'
Two years after “Burn the Witch,” the ZZ Top guitarist was set to contribute to Queens of the Stone Age’s 2007 LP, Era Vulgaris, however scheduling conflicts eventually made such a collaboration impossible. Still, Gibbons would later appear on the Desert Sessions, a Homme-led musical collective which released its volumes 11 and 12 in 2019.
“Billy is a piece of art, he is a classic piece of art,” Homme declared of Gibbons at that time, expressing his joy in reconvening with the rocker. The Queens of the Stone Age frontman also appeared in That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, a documentary on ZZ Top which also arrived in 2019.
"When I first met Billy it was to play together in the studio on a Queens record," Homme recalled in the film, alluding to "Burn the Witch." "He was playing and he hits this note, and his beard fell and it muted the strings. It made this harmonic. And I sort of sat there, stunned, dumbfounded. And we looked at each other, and it was like, this is the first-ever beard harmonic," Homme laughingly recalled. "Even his beard is a pretty good guitar player."
In addition to the Magic cards, the collector box also includes a set of exclusive Lord of the Rings-themed accessories. These may include collectible tokens, playmats, dice, or even a miniature replica of a famous artifact from the series. These accessories add a touch of authenticity and uniqueness to the collector box, making it a coveted item for fans and collectors alike. One of the most exciting features of the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box is the inclusion of a special edition rulebook. This rulebook combines the rules and mechanics of the Magic: The Gathering game with the lore and world-building of The Lord of the Rings. It provides players with a new and immersive gaming experience, allowing them to explore the fantastical world of Middle-earth while engaging in strategic card battles. The collector box may also include bonus content such as behind-the-scenes artwork, developer commentary, or even a code to unlock exclusive digital content related to both Magic: The Gathering and The Lord of the Rings. This bonus content enhances the overall value of the collector box and provides fans with additional insights and entertainment. Overall, the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box is a coveted item for fans of both Magic: The Gathering and The Lord of the Rings. Its unique combination of Magic cards, Lord of the Rings-themed accessories, special edition rulebook, and bonus content make it an essential addition to any collector's shelf. Whether you are a fan of one or both of these franchises, this collector box offers a one-of-a-kind experience that celebrates the magic of both worlds..
Reviews for "The Lord of the Rings Collector Box: Bringing Middle-earth to Your Doorstep"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box. The quality of the items inside was subpar and not worth the price. The cards felt cheaply made and the figures were poorly painted. Additionally, the box itself was flimsy and didn't offer much protection for the contents. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this collector box to any serious Magic or Lord of the Rings fan.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - As a fan of both Magic and Lord of the Rings, I had high hopes for the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box. However, I was let down by the lack of variety in the cards and figures included. It seemed like the box primarily focused on one aspect of the series, neglecting others. The quality of the items was decent, but nothing extraordinary. For the price, I expected a more comprehensive and exciting collection.
3. Tom - 2/5 stars - The Magic Lord of the Rings collector box fell short of my expectations. The cards and figures included were underwhelming and didn't capture the essence of either franchise effectively. The overall design of the box and its contents felt rushed and poorly thought out. I had hoped for a more immersive experience, but instead, it felt like a half-hearted attempt at cashing in on the popularity of both Magic and Lord of the Rings.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was not impressed with the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box. The cards were lackluster, and I found the artwork to be uninspiring. The figures included were also mediocre and didn't showcase the beloved characters from Lord of the Rings as well as I had hoped. Overall, I felt like this collector box missed the mark and didn't do justice to the magic of both the card game and the epic fantasy series. I would advise fans to spend their money elsewhere.