News |

Guitar World Column |

Interviews |

Pictures |

Album Reviews |

Gig Reviews |

Release Dates |

History |

Articles |

Setlists |

Upcoming |

Contact

Track Listing: Sacred Worlds (9:17) Tanelorn (Into the Void) (5:58) Road of No Release (6.30) Ride Into Obsession (4.46) Curse My Name (5:52) Valkyries (6:38) Control the Divine (5:26) War of the Thrones (piano version) (4:55) A Voice in the Dark (5:41) Wheel of Time (8:55)

I have been waiting to review and listen to this album ever since they released the first of six videos from the studio. Most fans were (at least I definitely was) disappointed with the band's earlier effort (A Twist In The Myth). This album surpasses that by a long shot. Blind Guardian fans will definitely like this album, for it has many songs that will soon be classics. This album was recorded in the band's own studio and has immense orchestral arrangements. Some songs on this album took me back to "Imaginations on the Other Side" and "Nightfall in Middle Earth". The guitar melodies are classic Blind Guardian and Hansi's vocals are brilliant. The mix is beyond awesome. Every instrument can be heard and there is no clipping at all. Yes this is the modern Blind Guardian sound but it's all good when there are quality songs backing the sound. Right from the longest song that opens this epic album, the band have proven that they are back in form. There are a few filler sections and songs here, but the rest of them have more than made up for any filler material. Another thing to note is that the guitar melodies in almost every song have the same Blind Guardian guitar tone that we have grown to love over the years. This album is slightly heavier than the past efforts. There are some songs that have too many overdubs on the vocals. I will discuss these in the song-by-song section.

1. Sacred Worlds: This song starts off with an orchestral intro that reminded me of Dream Theater's Overture (Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence Disc 2). The orchestral section lasts for about a minute and a half before the guitar and drums come in. This would have been a thrash metal song without the orchestra. The rhythm guitar tone has improved considerably. Hansi comes in with his brilliant vocals that are somewhat overshadowed in some sections by the orchestra. From this point on you start grinning because Hansi's vocals are top notch, and he is one of the greatest vocalists ever in my opinion. The only downside to this song is that about a tenth of the sections do not fit well with the rest of the song. All in all a brilliant way to begin the album. This song also happens to be the longest song on the album clocking in at over 9 minutes. The middle is a little boring compared to the rest of the song but that lasts for only a section. The chorus is a very bold one, and has Hansi with the orchestra. The song ends with the orchestra playing the main melody and fading out. Most people had heard an edited version of this song on the German version of Metal Hammer (August issue) and the song has also appeared on the game, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.
2. Tanelorn (Into The Void): The intro riff is very old school heavy metal, before it goes into a typical Andre riff. This song would have fit well on the band's monumental Somewhere Far Beyond. The song is about Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion series. The vocals are quite raspy and the rhythm is fast paced. The song drags on a bit towards the end, with the melody being played over and over again. Other than that one complaint, it's a solid song and will be a staple live.
3. Road Of No Release: This song is based on Peter S Beagle's The Innkeeper's song. It starts off with the vocals and a grand piano melody. It then starts building up to a very grandiloquent masterpiece. As beautiful as this song is, it lacks the panache that most Blind Guardian classics have. The saviour here is the guitar solo that is reminiscent of past albums. The piano is overused and is a major portion of the song's sound.
4. Ride Into Obsession: This song will be appreciated by fans of the Imaginations album. It is thrashy power metal at its best. This is another song on this album that is about a piece of literature. Robert Jordan's Wheel Of Time series inspired this song along with the last song on the album. This song has one of the most powerful choruses on here. This is one of the songs with almost no filler at all. Hansi's vocals are brilliant as usual. I've yet to hear a bad vocal performance by him.
5. Curse My Name: The band just keeps pushing the envelope further and further. This song could be classified as folk power metal. It's an acoustic song and is based on "The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates", a political writing by John Milton, where he legitimates the killing of a king who didn't carry out his duties. Don't get me wrong, it's no Bard's song but it's an apt snapshot of the bands musical inclinations today. In my opinion, this song would have been better minus the drums. The acoustic playing is just flawless.
6. Valkyries: This song is the most progressive song on the album. It is not your typical Blind Guardian song. It's about the perception of time and valkyries from Norse mythology. It is a great song on its own, but fails to stand alongside the other songs on this album. The solo here is a nice addition and the melody that follows the solo is excellent.
7. Control The Divine: This album has songs for all BG fans and this one will be welcomed by fans of the band's A Night At The Opera. It has many dynamics and is about John Milton's Paradise Lost poem. Overall I think this is one of the weaker songs on the album, but Hansi's vocals during the chorus save it.
8. War Of The Thrones (Piano): Another version of this song made it to the "A Voice In The Dark" single as a B-side. It is the second ballad on the album and is much better than the one that precedes it. This song is all about the keyboards and Hansi's vocals. George R R Martin's "A Song of Fire and Ice" inspires this song.
9. A Voice in the Dark: This is the first taste everyone had of "At The Edge Of Time". This is one of the best songs on the album. It is simple, catchy and awesome. When I first heard this song on the single, I knew it was a good song, but I was a bit apprehensive about its place in the album. It fits perfectly. My only complaint for this song is the tone of the guitar solo. It has too much bass and lacks the treble found in most BG solos. This song is also based on the same series as the preceding song. It is more like the early Blind Guardian sound as compared to the other songs. It takes you back to "Battalions of Fear" and "Follow the Blind".
10. Wheel Of Time: Just like Ride Into Obsession, this song is also based on the "Wheel of Time" series and derives its title from the series. The orchestral themes on this song remind me of the bands other songs, "The Script For My Requiem" and "And Then There Was Silence". It has many time changes and one of the best choruses that the band has written. Many may consider this the finest track on this album, because it shows the bands ability to mix together, their own thrashy power metal style and grand orchestrations. It has a very oriental feel to it in the middle. The song comes to a conclusion with the orchestrations.

After listening to this album 6 times I can safely say the songs that seem a bit off at first, grow on you with each listen and this album is definitely a keeper (no pun intended). The album would have been perfect if the fat was trimmed on a few songs, but it still remains one of the best albums I've heard so far. Bravo Blind Guardian. This is one for the ages!

For more info, check out the band's official website.