Blind Guardian
Battalions of Fear

THE REVIEW

The German Hard & Heavy school has always been very prolific and has also achieved great success. Just remember names like Accept or Scorpions to understand the importance of the musical tradition of the Teutonic country.

At the end of the '80s, a new group begins its activity, with the project of creating a power metal band with an epic style. The chosen name is Blind Guardian, inspired by the song "Guardian of the Blind".

The band members are: André Olbrich and Marcus Dork on guitars, Hansi Kürsch on vocals and bass, and Thomen Stauch on drums.

The four musicians from Krefeld released their first album in 1988, titled "Battalions Of Fear". It is important to emphasize the fact that debut works, for most bands, are often not indicative of their future career. Therefore, the first album of the "Bards of Krefeld" presents itself as a very raw and direct power metal, but with lyrics already permeated by the typical settings of epic narratives (there are multiple references to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"). It is a heterogeneous album, all tracks are intertwined and connected in a single style, which is that of classic power metal: high-speed songs, with extensive use of both double bass and double pedal, which provide an incessant and incisive rhythmic groundwork, sometimes, however, also annoying.

The album opens with a waltz-like motif, but it is only an illusion: Olbrich's (lead) and Dork's (rhythm) guitars introduce "Majesty", very solemn in its execution. In the same style is "Guardian of the Blind" (according to the group inspired by S. King's novel “It”). The instrumental march of "Trial by the Archon" connects with "Wizard's Crown". Noteworthy is Olbrich's beautiful performance, creating epic riffs and then excelling with high-speed emotional solos.

All the songs seem to build a single mega-track, so without realizing it, you move on to "Run for the Night" (which features an impressive choral performance) and "The Martyr".

"Battalions of Fear" is the piece that provides the most emotions, characterized by tempo changes and solemn and powerful themes. Kürsch's young voice scratches and shows a great desire to perform. "By the Gates of Moria" is its instrumental continuation.

The album closes with "Gandalf's Rebirth" (the epic reference immediately springs to mind), which shows the absence of the double pedal, making it a beautiful example of typical Teutonic metal. Together with the title track, it is the most enjoyable.

With this raw and harsh album, the "Bards" step into the power metal world, undoubtedly among the best exponents of the genre (and later also the most versatile).