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Rating:
Year 2002: After a full 4 years since its predecessor “Nightfall In Middle Earth,” in my opinion the highest point in the Bards' discography, “A Night And Opera” (who said Queen?) was released, causing quite a stir. Already, some foreshadowing signs emerged with the cover, completely different – and less inspired – compared to the previous ones. The CD showcases an almost obsessive attention to every little detail, first and foremost an excellent production. I was rather skeptical about listening to this work, having read not-so-positive comments from fans, who criticized the CD for an excessive presence of choirs and the overwhelming complexity of the compositions, as if it were a very challenging prog metal work. In my opinion, the choirs in this CD are absolutely perfect, and the songs are not at all as complex as some claim; in fact, they are much more direct than “Nightfall…”. This is why perhaps ANAO returns to some elements of “Imagination From The Other Side.” The themes related to Tolkien's universe, so dear to the group, are absent, as is almost gone the medieval aura that hovered in their previous works, with ANAO being much more sunny.
The CD opens with “Precious Jerusalem,” a track with rhythms more suited to a prog band and an air more suited to a group from sunny South America (it reminds me of Angra!). An excellent experimental piece. It continues strongly with the majestic “Battlefield” where, for a moment, the epic and medieval air of old returns: The piece truly has an extraordinary and emotional feeling, and the choirs are superbly utilized. It continues with “Under the Ice,” a very sunny piece dedicated to the Trojan War. “Sadly Sings Destiny” is definitely the track that impressed me the least, both in singing and structure. The mid-tempo “The Maiden and the Minstrel Knight” is very beautiful, truly evocative. “Wait for an Answer” is also beautiful, an aggressive piece with very dynamic and powerful rhythms. “The Soulforged” is the next piece, featuring an absolutely fabulous chorus and excellent riffs. One of the peaks of the CD. “Age of False Innocence” alternates powerful moments with more reflective ones while “Punishment Divine” takes us back to the early albums and gives us a speed song with uncommon charm and power. Track number 10 is the famous “And Then There Was Silence,” which, in its mammoth duration, recounts the visions of Cassandra. The piece is a masterpiece, a true metal opera, where tension is maintained throughout the work. Many have accused it of excessive prolixity, but detractors should reconsider. The CD closes with the bonus track “Frutto Del Buio,” performed in Italian. The same song has been translated into French, English, Spanish, and Argentinian. Indeed, Hansi's pronunciation is hilarious, yet the Bards must have made a significant effort.
This is true progression: Evolving one's sound. Of course, I still consider NIME their best work, but “A Night And Opera” holds its own very well with “Imagination From The Other Side.”
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Precious Jerusalem (06:22)
No doubt
Doubt
No longer need to hide it
I've found out who I am
I've moved around in circles
I rise and fall again
I know it well
Every word I tell
Seems to make no sense at all
Words will heal it
Love will conquer
The hearts of the hopeless
The almighty is still alive
Risin' up from the heart of the desert
Risin' up for Jerusalem
Risin' up from the heat of the desert
Building up old Jerusalem
Risin' up from the heart of the desert
Risin' up for Jerusalem
Risin' up from the heat of the desert
Building up old Jerusalem
I've gone beyond
But there's no life
And there is nothing how it seems
I've gone beyond
But there's no life
There is no healing rain in Eden
The empty barren wasted paradise
Let's celebrate the dawning of the son
I turn to you oh my precious Jerusalem
Deny your prophets their passion and treat them like fools
I turn to you oh my poor old Jerusalem
Deny my love but you can't change fate
Son of man
You truly are mine
Can't stand the pain
No more grief and misery
It goes on and on and on and on
and on and on and on
Father stop it now
We must stop it now
You really think you are half way up
I would not mind if you were right
It's not sure
I'd rather say you are half way down
So I am going to help you
If I can
I've been caught
In wilderness
In wilderness
I've got out well
I found myself
In desert lands
In desert lands
But you've been on my mind
I turn to you oh my precious Jerusalem
Deny your prophets their passion and treat them like fools
I turn to you oh my poor old Jerusalem
Deny my love but you can't change truth
Rise up and follow me
'Cause I will bring the light
Rise up and follow me
Wake up and clear your mind
I try to bring it back
The seed of life
I try to bring it back
The seal of light
So if you say
There's no faith in man
You better keep in mind
That I can read between the lines
My heavy burden brings
Eyesight to the blind
I've been caught
In wilderness
In wilderness
I've got out well
I found myself
In desert lands
In desert lands
But you've been on my mind
I turn to you oh my precious Jerusalem
Deny your prophets their passion and treat them like fools
I turn to you oh my poor old Jerusalem
Deny my love but you can't change me
02 Battlefield (05:37)
It cannot be seen
But there's blood on the green
Only god knows I'm innocent
Take me, take me home
A dark seed reigns in me
Like the storm rules over the sea
I challenge thee, do not cross this bridge alone
Don't dare me now
The threatening shadows will pass by
There're getting closer now
Open your eyes
Wake up my dear young friend
And hate shall fade away
I will not move, yet
I'll stand still, instead
There on the battlefield he stands
Down on the battlefield he's lost
And on the battlefield it ends
War and anger shall reign
The clash of iron can be heard
By blindness you're driven insane
I'm lost in anguish and grief
Sorrow won't wane 'til you die
A shattered body deeply hurt
And darkness will cover the light
It's gone forevermore
The field's been left in sorrow
The father and the son
They're gone
The sun shines bright
And anger rises
Lorn and lonely
Torn apart
Don't you think
It's time to stop now
We were charmed and fooled by the old serpent's kiss
Let's pray
That heaven is on our side
Through violence and horror
Shall honour arise
So let's pray
And blessed shall be our leader
We follow the noble and bright
Don't you hear me crying
Crying
Come take me away
I hallow thy name
There on the battlefield he stands
Down on the battlefield he's lost
And on the battlefield it ends
War and anger shall reign
The clash of iron can be heard
By blindness you're driven insane
I'm lost in anguish and grief
Sorrow won't wane 'til you die
A shattered body deeply hurt
And darkness will cover the light
It's gone forevermore
That's what minstrel sing
Join in the horrible screams
Take part in murderous deeds
Renowned be the lion-hearted
Join in the minstrelsy
Wailing in endless grief
It eagerly longs for more
Broken bodies lay down on the ground
Blood sheds all over the place
The green will be stained forever
And hate reigns all over the field
They keep struggling on in anger
Fiercely intense
Outrageous, too blind to see
And in pain they keep on singing
We claim the land for the highlord
God bless the land and our highlord
War and anger shall reign
The clash of iron can be heard
By blindness you're driven insane
I'm lost in anguish and grief
Sorrow won't wane 'til you die
A shattered body deeply hurt
And darkness will cover the light
It's gone forevermore
06 Wait for an Answer (06:30)
I cannot say that I don't care
'Cause I'm aware of everyone and everything
They're everywhere
Don't be a fool
Stop spinning around
Spinning around
You're right it ain't safe here
Start using your brain
Your brain
The cautious hare
Cannot be seen as a coward
He's simply aware
He constantly knows what's going on
That the wheel of life turns on
It won't hold on
Silent creature
Filthy teacher's
Spreading the disease
A release
A vanished
Kingdom falls
It goes on
On and on
And again
It goes on
Round and round
Oh I can't get it out of my head
Wish I'd be a bird of prey
A pure and a blessed
A hawk who could ease the pain
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
A place in the dark
A song without hope
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
Oh I wait for an answer
So far
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait for an answer
So far
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait yes I will wait
Don't look back
We're the last descendants
In the line of valiant soldiers
We're mistreated angels
We are the blackbird nation
We're the chosen ones
We're the last descendants
We're a tribe of unsung glory
We are the fallen angels
Well the time is right
You shall be on my side
I don't I don't I don't need anyone
Be with or be against me
I'm white I am chosen
There is not the slightest
Doubt it all
Not at all
In lower airs
We're ground down
By their ignorance
Hate will grow like a foul cancer
To find a foe seems to be the answer
Round and round
Oh I can't get it out of my head
Wish I'd be a bird of prey
A pure and a blessed
A hawk who could ease the pain
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
A place in the dark
A song without hope
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
Oh I wait for an answer
So far
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait for an answer
So far
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait yes I will wait
Don't look back
Don't be a fool
Stop spinning around
Spinning around
Don't move it ain't safe here
They've stained holy grounds
Oh no
The hopeful he sadly admits
There's no hero no place to hide
There is no shelter from the storm
The maddened crow will spread terror
But I know
Bitterly they will stumble
Find themselves smashed on the ground
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
A place in the dark
A song without hope
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
Oh I wait for an answer
So far
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait for an answer
So far
Don't look back tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait yes I will wait
Don't look back
It's you who has said
There's no tomorrow
I don't know but who I am
I wouldn't sit back any longer
It's surely built in sadness
But the sadness surely will go by
So we will all know the answer
The answer's within
It's in your mind
07 The Soulforged (05:18)
I'm not insane
That's how it seems though
Spiteful cruel but wise
Beyond his age
My body fails
My soul will rise
The end of life's immortalized disease and agony
And I see death through golden eyes
Beyond the door
There's something more
It seems there's just one way
On through the heat
I've felt the touch of evil
I still feel the icy claw in me
For a decent price
I've banned kindness from my heart
The spirit of all truth and beauty
Pawned for my desire
And from the flames
As chance would have it
the soulforged will come into light
And from the flames as chance would have it
The soulforged,
The stainless will rise
I will never change my mind
I will leave it all behind
And through the hour glass
Everything's grey
Everyone's pale
No colour nor beauty will enlighten my heart
The seat of life's empty and cold
Cadaverous you all seem to me
Stillborn but you're still alive
You're still alive
Truth lies in loneliness
When hope is long gone by
I'll wipe out the bliss of the new age
And welcome you precious night
And from the flames
As chance would have it
the soulforged will come into light
And from the flames as chance would have it
The soulforged,
The stainless will rise
From a distant time
Voices echo in the hall
"Come and join us
Enter life and everything is gone now"
And through the looking glass
I still fear mortality and its loss in the end
Unlimited power in my hands
The claw of the dragon ascends
"Mourn for his lost soul
He's cursed and condemned"
Each step I take
May it hurt may it ache
Leads me further
Away from the past
But as long as I breathe
Each smile in my bleak face
I'm on my way to find
Back to the peace of mind
And from the flames
As chance would have it
the soulforged will come into light
And from the flames as chance would have it
The soulforged,
The stainless will rise
I will never change my mind
I will leave it all behind
08 Age of False Innocence (06:05)
Cut off the light
Take a look
There's nothing beyond but pain
Suffer in the deepest void
The flame of hope is gone
What have I done?
Denied the father and the sun
For a moment it seemed
There's space beyond the spheres
Aflame the night
So clear and bright
Unstable light
You've been sacrificed in fear
Now there's one thing for sure
I'm not afraid anymore
Day after day we've been fixed in the bowl
For so long
For ages we're captured in shells
And crystallized walls
Predestined or punished?
By man or god?
I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
Take it away from me
For a while
Astronomy has moved the earth
And we've turned around the sun
Sanctum officium
Has made me believe
Has made me believe
Has made me believe
"We know for sure you're lying
Would you like to mess with holy science
You know the fear of dying
Would it be worth it to hear you crying"
I've slaughtered truth
And I've shattered my heart
Far too long I have played with hellfire
And science has turned into madness
But I should have taken it higher
So I feel so I feel
Like Judas must have felt before
That Wednesday night near by the tree
I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
Day after day we will gratefully suffer for more
Predestined's our part
So we Bleed in the name of God
Don't believe in their eternity
We're still held in blindness
And I've been turned into a liar
If there is no heaven
There won't be release
I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
Take it away from me
09 Punishment Divine (05:45)
It's warm and tender
But very soon it will turn cold
Shadows stare down from the walls
Out of the mist
It's coming closer now
It never rains
It pours on me
So let the saints
Set up the courtyard
The unpleasant cage
The obvious point is I'm insane
Was I aware
Whom I had slain
I fear I was the faceless
The Nameless
The bush set on fire
No one ever dared to speak
"Shame on me
I don't believe
The here and now
Is all we're living for"
Joyful it seems
But then suddenly
By one false move
It's blown away
Joyful it seems
But then suddenly
Their voices cease
It's gone away
Vanished
To the point of no return
Vanished
To the point of no return
Witness my last breath
I do not regret
A word I've said
The strong will survive
The weak must die
And out of the mist
It's coming closer now
Sinner and saints
The grateful slaves
Nature's law instead of God in heaven
From far beyond
I can hear them sing
I hear angels sing
Songs of innocence
I hear the angels sing
Despite the facts are clear
It cannot be
What we can't see
I must admit
It sounds so sweet
Joyful it seems
But then suddenly
By one false move
It's blown away
Joyful it seems
But then suddenly
Their voices cease
It's gone away
Vanished
To the point of no return
Vanished
To the point of no return
Angels sing I hear angels sing
Can hear them sing
Far beyond I hear them sing
"It's true, it's true
We don't exist"
Far beyond I hear them sing
"It's true, it's true
We don't exist"
Well we all know
There's no other side
It's good and evil
I know right between
There's no borderline
This is the punishment divine
Surrounded by night
I've been offered insight
There is none but the sin of pride
Am I wrong am I right
Am I losing my sight
Abandoning the superior mind
Joyful it seems
But then suddenly
By one false move
It's blown away
Joyful it seems
But then suddenly
Their voices cease
It's gone away
Vanished
To the point of no return
Vanished
To the point of no return
Right away I will be gone
Gone I will be gone
Through the valleys gray
Through the shapeless land
I walk alone
I'm left alone
Through the deepest void
A blackened paradise
I walk alone
I'm left alone
10 And Then There Was Silence (14:07)
Turn your head and see the fields of flames
He carries along
From a distant place
He's on his way
He'll bring decay
(Don't move along
'Cause things they will go wrong
The end is getting closer day by day)
In shades of grey
We're doomed to face the night
Light's out of sight
Since we've reached the point of no return
We pray for starlight we wait for the moon
The sky is empty
Alone in the unknown
We're getting nowhere
We have been betrayed
By the wind and rain
The sacred hall's empty and cold
The sacrifice made
Should not be done in vain
Revenge will be taken by Rome
We live a lie
Under the dying moon
Pale-faced laughs doom
Indulges in delight
It's getting out of hand
The final curtain will fall
Hear my voice
There is no choice
There's no way out
You'll find out
We don't regret it
So many men have failed
But now he's gone
Go out and get it
The madman's head it
Shall be thyne
We don't regret it
That someone else dies hidden in disguise
Go out and get it
Orion's hound shines bright
Don't you think it's time to stop the chase
Around the ring
Just stop running running
Round the ring
Don't you know that fate has been decided by the gods
Feel the distance, distance
Out of reach
Welcome to the end
Watch your step, Cassandra
You may fall
As I've stumbled on the field
Sister mine
Death's a certain thing
Find myself in darkest places
Find myself drifting away
And the other world
The other world appears
Find myself she dies in vain
I cannot be freed
I'm falling down
As time runs faster
Moves towards disaster
The ferryman will wait for you
My dear
And then there was silence
Just a voice from other world
Like a leaf in an icy world
Memories will fade
Misty tales and poems lost
All the bliss and beauty will be gone
Will my weary soul find release for a while
At the moment of death I will smile
It's the triumph of shame and disease
In the end Iliad
Raise my hands and praise the day
Break the spell show me the way
In decay
The flame of Troy will shine bright
The newborn child will carry ruin to the hall
The newborn's death would be a blessing to us all
Good choice?
Bad choice?
Out of there
You've chosen misery
Power and wisdom
You deny
Bad choice
War is the only answer
When love will conquer fear
So the judgement's been made to the fairest
The graceful says badly he fails
Warning
Fear the heat of passion, father king
Don't let him in
Don't let her in
Desire, lust, obsession
Death they'll bring
We can't get out
Once they are in
She's like the sunrise
Outshines the moon at night
Precious like starlight
She will bring in a murderous price
In darkness grows the seed of man's defeat
Jealousy
I can clearly see the end now
I can clearly see the end now
I can clearly see the end now
The thread of life is spun
The coin's been placed below my tongue
Never give up
Never give in
Be on our side
So we can win
Never give up
Never give in
Be on our side
Old moon's time is soon to come
Nowhere to run
Nowhere to hide
Nothing to lose
Like one we'll stand
We'll face the storm
Created by a man
Roar roar roar roar
Troy Troy Troy Troy
And as the lion
Slaughters man
I am the wolf
And you're the lamb
Hallowed Troy will fall
Round the walls
Faith is shattered bodies fall
Nowhere to run
Nowhere to hide
Nothing to lose
Like one we'll stand
It's all for one and one for all
We live for will be wiped out
I feel that something's wrong
Surprise, surprise they're gone
Full moon your time goes by
And new moon's still kept our of sight
We live we die
Misty tales and poems lost
All the bliss and beauty will be gone
Will my weary soul find release for a while
At the moment of death I will smile
It's the triumph of shame and disease
In the end Iliad
Raise my hands and praise the day
Break the spell show me the way
In decay
The flame of Troy will shine bright
Roam in darkness
Spread the vision
We will be lost if you truly believe
Troy in darkness
There's a cold emptiness in our hearts
That they've gone away
And won't come back
They'll tear down the wall to bring it in
They'll truly believe in the lie, lie, lie
With blossoms they'll welcome
The old foe
The vision's so clear
When day and dream unite
The end is near
You better be prepared
The nightmare shall be over now
There's nothing more to fear
Come join in our singing
And dance with us now
The nightmare shall be over now
There's nothing more to fear
The war it is over forevermore
No hope
The blind leads the blind
Carry on
Though future's denied
Mare or stallion
There's far more inside
We are in at the kill we'll cheerfully die
Misty tales and poems lost
All the bliss and beauty will be gone
Will my weary soul find release for a while
At the moment of death I will smile
It's the triumph of shame and disease
In the end Iliad
Raise my hands and praise the day
Break the spell show me the way
In decay
The flame of Troy will shine bright
Holy light shines on
So the judgement's been made
We're condemned though the trial's far ahead
The crack of doom
Father
Your handsome son is heading home
Heading home
Still the wind blows
Calm and silent
Carries news from a distant shore
Out of mind
Can't get it
Can't get it
Out of me head
Sorrow and defeat
11 Mies Del Dolor (03:39)
Ella partió
Y el bosque durmió
La doncella nunca volverá
El sello del olvido se ha roto
Y en pecado un amor tornará
Nuestra vida sola baila
Esperanza gritos cubrirá
La verdad en el pasado
Sueños mentiras mostrarán
La noche vendrá
Dolor quedará
De repente todo se aclaró
La venda de los ojos cayó
Sus ojos cerró
Y mi nombre gritó
Ella nunca nunca más fue vuelta
A ver
Mies del dolor
Tu fruto creció
En helada tierra de pesar
Cuando muera la luz
La noche invernal
Vendrá
Ella partió
Y yo pierdo la fe
Mis heridas no podrán sanar
Traeré al ocaso
Pese a que seré burlado yo
Por la vida y el juicio final
Amanece en la vida y sé
Que pronto todo pasará
Y enfrento las sombras de pie en soledad
Mies del dolor
Tu fruto creció
En helada tierra de pesar
Cuando muera la luz
La noche invernal
Vendrá
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Other reviews
By Masahiro
"This 'A Night At The Opera' is an album so gaudy, so boring, so baroque, so epic that it makes a tremendous racket without playing a single minute."
"The problem with this album doesn’t lie in the compositional technique or the originality of the group. It lies in its being absurd, in its desperate attempt not to emulate 'Nightfall In Middle-Earth.'"
By Ragnaròk
"Pompous and grandiose, that's how we could define 'A Night At The Opera' by the mellowed Blind Guardian."
"Not a masterpiece, but the blind guardians came very close, a must-have!!!"
By Proscriptor
Just listen to the first seconds of the opener 'Precious Jerusalem' to understand that the music has changed... and a lot!!
The 14-minute suite 'And Then There Was Silence' alone is worth the purchase of the CD and our guys are forgiven for some slightly excessive experimentation.
