Tag Archives: blind guardian

Features, Milestones

Blind Guardian’s Debut “Battalions Of Fear” Hits 30 Years (1988-2018)

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Before I get started on this latest album anniversary or “music milestone” as we’ve been apt to refer to them, I must admit that way back in the days of 1988, I was NOT listening to the band Blind Guardian at all and the same applies for a lot of bands from this region of the world. We are still going to raise a goblet of our favorite drink in honor of the birthday of their debut album “Battalions Of Fear” which came out care of No Remorse Records on this very day thirty years ago. Fans of Blind Guardian who might have come on board over the last dozen years or so ago love them for the polished and exciting Power Metal that they are true masters of. Given my lack of overall background on the debut itself, I’ll be deferring readers to the official Wikipedia entry at the close

Having referenced the bands acumen as Power Metal leaders, it might surprise some of you to learn that this was not at all how the band started out. When you begin to give a listen to “Battalions Of Fear” you find instead a fast-paced, more Speed Metal meets Thrash Metal type of release. In 1988 I can honestly say that Blind Guardian had more in common with the likes of Metallica and Exodus or even Anvil in terms of how the drumming and frenzied riffs were being laid down. It was interesting to me for sure because in 1988 I was really focused on more of the US Metal, even though I did have a few bands from that side of the pond that I enjoyed quite a bit. “Majesty” rips you a new one while “Guardian Of The Blind” has some awesome layers to it and drumming that made me bang my head while I was composing this toast. Believe me that is not easy to do when you are trying to type. “Trial By The Archon” reminded me a lot of the vibe that early Iron Maiden had to them and perhaps this short instrumental number was designed to be an homage of the Brits. “Wizard’s Crown” continues the same vibe and there is a strong cohesion to the full release. The members of the band for the debut are of course singer Hansi Kursch who was also on bass at the time. Andre Olbrich was on lead guitar and Marcus Siepen on rhythm while Thomas “Thomen” Stauch played drums
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Features, Tours and Festivals

Blind Guardian/Grave Digger Announce 2nd Leg North American Run Summer 2016

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Hey there readers, it looks like the tour dates and bands that are coming our way here in the states are really amping up before the summer even begins. I say that because we just received the press email about the return of Blind Guardian and Grave Digger which is absolutely awesome. We caught them late last year and it was a crushing display of Power Metal that needs to be seen to be believed. Take a look at the new poster and the press copy, tour dates and then I will return with more thoughts. See you soon.

Tour - Blind Guardian - NA 2016

The Press Release:
Holiday treats are arriving early this year as BLIND GUARDIAN has announced they are returning to North America this fall for the second leg of the Beyond The Red Mirror tour! Before they start the tour, they will make a stop at Prog Power Festival for a special performance on Thursday, September 9th. The following day they will kick-off their highly anticipated 19-date tour at The Orpheum in Tampa, Florida with none other than German metallers GRAVE DIGGER. Their trek will include one Canadian date as well as stops in Worcester, Milwaukee, and conclude on October 5th at The Fillmore in San Francisco!

BLIND GUARDIAN will be touring in support of their tenth album Beyond The Red Mirror which was the highest first-week U.S. sales numbers for the band. It debuted at #132 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and #6 on the Top Hard Music chart. In Canada, BLIND GUARDIAN nearly doubled their first-week numbers from 2010, resulting in Beyond The Red Mirror debuts at #49 on the Top 200 and #4 on the Top Hard Music charts.
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Features, Tours and Festivals

Blind Guardian Announce “Beyond The Red Mirror” Tour 2015

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Logo - Blind Guardian

Spring has finally started to feel like it’s expected self and with this a healthy heaping of Heavy Metal concert tours are being announced. We recently heard about the Soulfy/Soilwork one and now its clear to me that one of the hottest tours for this Metal Year 2015 will hit us in the Fall as Blind Guardian returns to our shores with support from the one and only Grave Digger for a tour they are calling “Beyond The Red Mirror” Tour. Check out the poster and official press release about the tour below and then we can discuss a little more.

Tour - Blind Guardian - BTRM 2015

Press Release:
Triumphantly returning to North American shores in support of their Billboard-charting new album Beyond The Red Mirror, Germany’s favorite sons BLIND GUARDIAN are pleased to announce the western hemisphere’s portion of the 2015 World Tour, commencing on October 27th in Baltimore, Maryland and concluding November 28th in Orlando, Florida with special guests Grave Digger. Tickets for all of the shows go on sale on Friday, May 8th
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Features, PiercingMetal Says

Prepare Thine Metal Self For “A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time” by Blind Guardian (2/4/2013)

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Logo - Blind Guardian

Some of the other media resources for Metal had previously discussed this, but I held back from sharing it since it was too far away as a release and now at least you can order yourself a copy (if you have not already done so) right from this posting and if you have not, there is truly no time like the present. I copied the entire press description from the Official Blind Guardian website so please read on.

CD - Blind Guardian - Travelers Guide - 2

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Features, PiercingMetal Says

PiercingMetal’s “Best Of 2006”: The Music

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Another exciting year in Metal music has gone by and as a member of the music press, I’m tasked with not only doing reviews here on the website but also in lining out what releases that I felt were the years very best. Initially, this post was going to feature the whole gamut of the years in terms of the music, the videos and the concerts but when my album list went on and on and on I decided to give it a post of its own to go easier on you. Let’s go.

The Best Albums Of 2006

Mercenary “The Hours That Remain” (Century Media Records): A great follow up to “11 Dreams”, this band shows that they are taking chances in Metal.

Mastodon “Blood Mountain” (Warner Brothers): Jazz Fusion Metal? I dunno, but the new Mastodon sure kicks your ass around the block.

Amorphis “Eclipse” (Nuclear Blast Records): Finnish boys return and do more good. Lots of feels on this one.

Scar Symmetry “Pitch Black Effects” (Nuclear Blast Records): Raging guitar solos, soaring clean vocals, brutal death metal growls-brilliant!

Lamb of God “Sacrament” (Epic Records): Their best yet. Future legends. The first four songs are instant classics and if you don’t find your fist in the air for this release you don’t have one. Go watch American Idol

Iron Maiden “A Matter of Life and Death” (EMI Music): Up the Irons, pure and simple. Some bad press from some people who don’t see the return to form. They are idiots.

I “Between Two Worlds” (Nuclear Blast Records): Great project from members of Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth.

Enslaved “RUUN” (Candlelight Records): The Black Metal titans get even more progressive and this is an incredible listen from start to finish

Satyricon “Now, Diabolical” (Century Media Records): More Metal needs to be like this. A resounding effort that lays waste to that which tries to come close.

Vanden Plas “Christ O” (InsideOut Music): Stunning operatic progressive metal. Their best yet! Especially the bonus track
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