Blind Guardian:
German metal band Blind Guardian started out as a speed metal band, but turned into one of the heavyweights of the power metal genre. The band has made a name for themselves with multi-faceted concept albums and a knack for melody. With a mostly-stable line-up, and the backing of a multitude of power metal fans, Blind Guardian has created a legacy that won’t soon be forgotten.
Early Days:
Blind Guardian was originally known as Lucifer’s Heritage, with a completely different line-up, save for vocalist Kürsch. After releasing two demos, the band changed their name and formed a line-up that would be steady for over a decade and a half. Blind Guardian released their debut album Battalions Of Fear in 1988. The album was much different than later releases, with a faster pace, in the style of speed metal.
A Shift In Sound:
With 1990’s Tales From The Twilight World, Blind Guardian began to lean towards the power metal sound that would make them popular in the genre. Throughout the rest of the 90’s, the band built up a strong fan base and toured throughout Europe and Japan. 1998’s Nightfall In Middle Earth and 2002’s A Night At The Opera were the band’s creative high point, with a heavy emphasis on melody and orchestration. Out of the latter album came Blind Guardian’s 14-minute magnum opus, “And Then There Was Silence,” considered by many fans to be one of the band’s best tracks.
Stauch Leaves:
Blind Guardian released a live album in 2003, plainly-titled Live, which was the last recorded effort from drummer Thomas Stauch, who left the band in 2005. Frederik Ehmke replaced him and contributed to the band’s 2006 album A Twist In The Myth.
If You Like Blind Guardian, You Might Want To Check Out:
Helloween, Gamma Ray, Demons & Wizards
Current Blind Guardian Band Members:
Hansi Kürsch - Vocals (Demons & Wizards)
André Olbrich - Guitar
Marcus Siepen - Guitar
Frederik Ehmke - Drums
André Olbrich - Guitar
Marcus Siepen - Guitar
Frederik Ehmke - Drums
Former Band Members:
Thomas "Thomen" Stauch- Drums (1984-1985, 1987-2005)
Blind Guardian Discography:
1988 Battalions Of Fear (Virgin)
1989 Follow The Blind (Virgin)
1990 Tales From The Twilight World (Virgin)
1992 Somewhere Far Beyond (Virgin)
1993 Tokyo Tales (Virgin)
1995 Imaginations From The Other Side (Virgin)
1998 Nightfall In Middle-Earth (Virgin)
2002 A Night At The Opera (Virgin)
2003 Live (Virgin)
2006 A Twist In The Myth (Nuclear Blast)
1989 Follow The Blind (Virgin)
1990 Tales From The Twilight World (Virgin)
1992 Somewhere Far Beyond (Virgin)
1993 Tokyo Tales (Virgin)
1995 Imaginations From The Other Side (Virgin)
1998 Nightfall In Middle-Earth (Virgin)
2002 A Night At The Opera (Virgin)
2003 Live (Virgin)
2006 A Twist In The Myth (Nuclear Blast)
Recommended Blind Guardian Album:
Nightfall In Middle Earth
The band’s sixth studio album was bombastic and over-the-top, but that turned out to be a great thing for Blind Guardian. With 22 tracks over the span of 65 minutes, Nightfall In Middle Earth is a strong concept album based on author J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel “Silmarillion.” With multiple spoken-word passages, a melodic sensitivity, and an entire choir backing Blind Guardian up, the band took the concept and ran with it, not backing down from the epic nature of the novel. In the end, the band, and the album as a whole, came out stronger in the end because of it.
The band’s sixth studio album was bombastic and over-the-top, but that turned out to be a great thing for Blind Guardian. With 22 tracks over the span of 65 minutes, Nightfall In Middle Earth is a strong concept album based on author J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel “Silmarillion.” With multiple spoken-word passages, a melodic sensitivity, and an entire choir backing Blind Guardian up, the band took the concept and ran with it, not backing down from the epic nature of the novel. In the end, the band, and the album as a whole, came out stronger in the end because of it.
