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Powermetal. A subgenre that has always divided metalheads around the world: there are those who hate it, claiming it's a musical style that ruins the good name of the category; and those who love it unconditionally. A way of understanding Metal that was born towards the end of the '80s, in the middle of the thrash era, thanks also to an extraordinary German band: the Blind Guardian.
After the semi-unknown EP Lucifer's Heritage: Symphonies Of Doom and the excellent debut album The Battalions Of Fear, in 1989 the four Teutons led by the singer (and then also bassist) Hansi Kursch, brought to light their third effort, namely Follow The Blind. An album in which you can appreciate the band's technique which, although still essentially raw, easily hints at its great potential, potential that in my opinion will reach its peak in 1995, with Imaginations From the Other Side, the real masterpiece of Blind Guardian.
Follow The Blind is nevertheless an exceptional album, which also features the participation of that great artist who answers to the name of Kai Hansen, dropped by "his" Helloween, and about to give birth to the excellent Gamma Ray.
The opening of the album is Inquisition, a medieval-flavored intro, a Latin choir that leads us into Banish From Sanctuary: the drumming is frantic, the bass a pillar, the guitar riffs simple but perfectly suited, the chorus will imprint on your mind for life. A better start could not have been.
There is no pause and Damned For All Time presents itself with an excellent guitar riff. It's a menacing track and Hansi interprets it to perfection. Drums and guitars, Hansi and choir alternate relentlessly, but the pinnacle is reached with the central riff, exceptional and very fast (could it be Hansen's work?).
The title track is epic: the drumming is pounding, the bass line creates an almost doom-like atmosphere, and the guitars seem to drag along, making the sound even gloomier, culminating in short but well-crafted riffs, making Follow The Blind perhaps the best track on the album. The piece closes as it began, with a splendid acoustic guitar.
Hall of The King brings us back violence and speed in execution, but it is not a piece that thrills like the previous ones, excluding the very fast central riff.
Even Fast to Madness is not a bad track, but it doesn't stand out from the average, despite the excellent drumming that causes a "dangerous" headbanging and the usual tight guitar, it is a bit flat like the previous one. They are pleasantly listenable, but you will hardly remember them just after finishing listening to the whole album.
In its 3 and a half minutes, the instrumental Beyond the Ice knows how to excite like few others of its kind: a crescendo that technically has no rivals within the record.
And here Hansen and Hansi (eheheheh) duet in Valhalla, where the former pumpkin at the beginning hits a terrifying high note. It's a piece that resumes the epic character of the title track, and Hansen gives it that extra touch, making it exceptional.
Grand finale with two covers: the beautiful and fast Don't Break the Circle, originally by Demon, and the last track that is astounding: the cover of Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys. I've always wondered what it had to do with it.
In conclusion, an excellent powermetal album, with Blind Guardian exploiting their great creative streak to the fullest and getting help from Kai Hansen, which certainly didn't hurt. A must-have for fans, highly recommended for those who want to "educate" themselves about this band, naturally after listening to Imaginations From the Other Side.
P.S.- ...it's impossible to get a hold of it in my area. In the only record store in my town, the metal section is pitiful...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Banish From Sanctuary (05:28)
In deserts I was preaching
The hand of God was with me
Baptized with water and I praised
The one who came behind me
To save us all with the holy ghost
-A prophet of the fools I've been lost
I'm sure you're there wandering around
But do you care for me
I'm alone
You talk of love not for me
In my dungeon cold I could think about
All the things you've said
But I can't understand you famous son
(Lead: Andr?
I left the way of heaven
Or did you lead me from it
Ref.:
No No turning back
I'm banished from Sanctuary
The darkness in me is filling me with pain
There's no way to turn back for eternity
In shadows I'm walking
And caught in loneliness
Deliverance I wait for but how long?
Are you the one who should come
Show me the light in you
Or should we wait for someone?
Another!
Ref.
(Solo: Andr?Lead: Marcus/Andr?
Your reich should come to this world
Your way smoothed by my blood, friend
My might will decrease but you'll get
High, yes so much higher
Be careful of the rats, friend
Cause they'll never sleep
Before they catch you, too
The blind can see the sun
Cripples walk alone
The deaf can hear my words
They believe just believe
They believe in me
Look! The signs are near
To perform my task
To perform my way
To perform the way I walked
The way of the crucifix
(Lead: Andr?
I hear the hangman coming
I wait for execution
Ref.
06 Fast to Madness (05:58)
White hair and red eyes
he's holding the crown
the king of the island
Elric of Melniboné
he's born for destruction
he's ruled by the gods
eternal hero
the scale of the universe
Blood on his hands
he's born a thousand times
why don't we feel the signs
from the dragon king
Before the end of fire his journey starts
the eagle's spreading his wings
following his fate
he's ruled from anywhere
leads him to the truth
it's deep inside
Hail to the king
they'll bless tonight
he's the Saviour of our time
In a dark land far behind
no one knows it's name
there's a dark sword cold as ice
a blade created for him
Stormbringer cries
for the soul of everyone
Stormbringer cries
"The ending has begun"
Ref.:
Run fast to Madness
Forever I
Run fast to Madness
Leave him alone
Ref.: Run...
Destiny's calling him back to the island
And time? Time is standing still
time is not real
time is not real
Armed with weapons awaiting the fight
he's leading the dragon
the sun will never rise
creatures are lurking
in darkness they hide
high in the sky the dragon king is flying
Hail to the king of Melniboné
he's the Saviour of our time
Mourning deserts rottingness
blade of dark will rise
gods devine
are hiding in the dark
needing Elric's hand
Stormbringer cries:
"I'm forged in darkest time"
Stormbringer cries:
"The ending has begun"
Ref.: Run...
08 Valhalla (04:55)
High in the sky where eagles fly
Morgray the dark enters the throne
Open wide the gate, friend
the king will come
blow the horn and praise
the highest Lord
who'll bring the dawn
he's the new god
in the palace of steel
persuade the fate of everyone
the chaos can begin
let it in
(Lead: André)
Bridge:
So many centuries
so many Gods
we were the prisoners
of our own fantasy
but now we are marching
against these Gods
I'm the wizard, I will change it all
(Lead: André/Marcus)
Ref.:
Valhalla - Deliverance
Why've you ever forgotten me
(Solo: André)
Ref.:
Valhalla - Deliverance
Why've you ever forgotten me
Magic is in me
I'm the lost magic man
never found what I was looking for
now I found it but it's lost
The fortress burns
broken my heart
I leave this world
all Gods are gone
Bridge:
So many centuries
so many Gods
we were the prisoners
of our own fantasy
but then we had nothing
who'll lead our life
no, no, we can't live without Gods
Ref.:
Valhalla - Deliverance
Why've you ever forgotten me
09 Don't Break the Circle (04:18)
Don't break the circle
Don't break the circle
Concentrate!
I'm your contact link across the great divide
Many voices in my ear
Hold on I think there's something coming through
From the other side. It's for all those who believe
The chain is stronger if the lifeline is unbroken
So beware the presence of The Unexpected Guest
Don't break the circle
Don't break the circle
Unexplained
Many things we thought were lost may come to light
On a higher plain in the spirit world
Where only a few of us possess the second sight
Now the messenger awaits
The chain is stronger if the lifeline is unbroken
So beware the presence of The Unexpected Guest
Don't break the circle
Don't break the circle.The circle must keep going on and on
But wait
Is there one amongst us here who believes?
A stranger to the sign
Take care, for all the things you fear
May be revealed
Within the forces of the night
The chain is stronger if the lifeline is unbroken
So beware the presence of The Unexpected Guest
Don't break the circle
Don't break the circle
Don't break the circle
Don't break the circle
The circle must keep going on and on
The circle must keep going on and on
10 Barbara Ann (01:42)
A Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Went to a dance looking for romance
Saw Barbara Ann so I thought I'd take a chance
Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Say Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Tried Betty Sue
Tried Betty Sue
Tried Betty Sue but I knew she wouldn't do
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Barbar Ann
Barbar Ann
11 Surfin' USA (02:25)
If everybody had an ocean
Across the U.S.A.
Then everybody'd be surfin'
Like Californi-a
You'd seem 'em wearing their baggies
Huarachi sandals too
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo
Surfin' U.S.A.
You'd catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar
Ventura County line
Santa Cruz and Trestle
Australia's Narabine
All over Manhattan
And down Doheny Way
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A.
We'll all be planning that route
We're gonna take real soon
We're waxing down our surfboards
We can't wait for June
We'll all be gone for the summer
We're on surfari to stay
Tell the teacher we're surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A.
Haggerties and Swamies
Pacific Palisades
San Anofree and Sunset
Redondo Beach L.A.
All over La Jolla
At Waimia Bay
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A.
12 Bright Eyes (04:23)
Fool just another
fool just another
...
I've been waiting
for signs of god
create- enslaved- behaved-
everything is out of control
Leave me alone
isolation bears hope
there's something else waiting
a promised destiny
freezing me
I feel restless and low
these days full of sadness
had joyfully changed
into fear
My freakshow will start tonight
don't miss the right time
Ref.:
Bright eyes
blinded by fear of life
no Merlin is by my side
everything is out of control
everything is out of control
in my future plans
everything is out of control
noone's left to hurt
everything is out of control
sorrow's gone away
Broken memories
walking upstairs
step by step
I see the whole world burning
the poet dies in Neverland
how it burns
Hey, mother stubborn
I really hate you
if you say yes I will say no
ashes to ashes
but dust won't be dust
if you go there
I will go back
Ref.:
Bright eyes
blinded by fear of life
betrayed by sunrise
bright eyes
blinded by fear of life
no Merlin is by my side
Hey, father stubborn
you're ying
and I'm yang
I feel alone
who really cares
Born into ashes
to lose all the games
with a smiling face
Ref.:
Bright eyes
blinded by fear of life
and dark dragons rise
bright eyes
blinded by fear of life
no Merlin is by my side
So I sit still in my room, today
winter's here
in summer's season
shall I say
I was wrong
if I'm right
farewell to my last hope
13 Mordred's Song (05:18)
I've lost my battle before it starts
My first breath wasn't done
My spirit's sunken deep
Into the ground
Why am I alone
I can hear my heartbeat
Silence's all around
See hate will rise
So don't come closer
Fear your child
Born with a king's heart
But fate fooled me
And changed my cards
No one asked if I want it
If I like it
Chorus:
Pain inside is rising
I am the fallen one
A figure in an old game
No Jokers on my side
I plunged into misery
I'll turn off the light
And murder the dawn
Turn off the light
And murder the dawn
Nothing else,
But laughter is around me
Forevermore
No one can heal me
Nothing can save me
No one can heal me
I've gone beyond the truth
It's just another lie
Wash away the blood on my hands
My father's blood
In agony we're unified
I never wanted to be
What they told me to be
Fulfill my fate then I'll be free
God knows how long
I tried to change fate
Chorus
I plunged into misery
I'll turn off the light
And murder the dawn
Turn off the light
And murder the dawn
14 The Wizard (03:15)
He was a wizard of a thousand kings
And I chanced to meet him one night wandering
He told me tales and he drank my wine
Me and my magic man kinda feeling fine
He had a cloak of gold and eyes of fire
And as he spoke I felt a deep desire
To free the world of its fear and pain
And help the people to feel free again
Why don't we listen to the voices in our hearts
'Cause then I know we'd find we're not so far apart
Everybody's got to be happy everyone should sing
For we know the joy of life
Peace that love can bring
So spoke the wizard in his mountain home
The vision of his wisdom means we'll never be alone
And I will dream of my magic night
And the million silver stars,
They're guiding with their light
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