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Rating: When it comes to Heavy Metal, one must be very careful. Over the years, Metalhead culture has undergone a dogmatic journalistic education: to describe the genre one is about to review, the only recurring word must be "Metal" preceded by the incorporated genre. "Progressive" Metal - "Power Metal" - "Black" Metal, etc. This necessity was implemented to make readers immediately understand the specific genre the band proposes, but what has it led to?
Division.
Metalheads, in addition to dreaming of fanciful punitive militias against musical genres they deem "Unworthy of existence," have also become divided in their own territory. And thus, starting from the mid-eighties, the first real opposing fan bases began to form.
Metallica are Metal, Europe are Shit.
Iron Maiden are Metal, Motley Crue are Shit
And it goes on:
Mayhem are Metal, Dream Theater are Shit
Judas Priest are Metal, Korn are Shit
Until, the poor kid who got passionate about music thanks to Slayer, for example, finds themselves imprisoned by other people's culture. If they discover they like Journey, they cannot admit it in front of the "True Defender" friends, or they would be mocked for their weakness of spirit. Journey is too melodic!
And here's the problem that splits a single musical world: Too much melody. The power cannot be questioned. Only those who are not worthy of listening can claim so. The sound of Korn is much more powerful than the sound of Iron Maiden. Sound technique. It has nothing to do with composition.
Fortunately, though, one grows and changes. The most important thing needed to understand and love music is formed: personality. One begins to listen to genres, perhaps once looked down upon, and even has the audacity to claim to have always listened to them. Metalheads, open books.
What does all this have to do with and serve in relation to this Blind Guardian album?
It matters because the thesis I am about to argue should not make fans of Death, Prog, Black think that: since BG do Power Metal, the personal thesis must be related to that genre.
And here is my opinion: This is the Total "Heavy Metal" album!
I will not say how it sounds or what it's about, nothing. Those who love Heavy Metal, or those who have the personality to listen to what they want (but have never heard it), or who feel bound to not betray their genre and thus stay away from it on principle, must listen to it because it represents everything that this music has given to millions of young people. The "Epic" sense of freedom through fantasy and sound.
Of course, this review is aimed at those who do not know the album.
Heavy Metal is a single kingdom; it is this album, it is its throne.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Imaginations From the Other Side (07:18)
Where are these silent faces
I took them all
they all went away
now you're alone
to turn out every light so deep in me
hold on, to late
Will I ever see them back again
or did they all die by my hand
or were they killed
by the old evil ghost
who had taken
the ocean
of all my dreams
which were worth to keep
deep inside my heart
I wish I could get them back
from the everflow
before they'll fade away
Imaginations from the other side
far out of nowhere
it got back to my mind
Imaginations from the other side
far out of nowhere
it got back to my mind
out of the dark
back to the light
then I'll break down
the walls around my heart
Imaginations from the other side
where's the ocean's daughter
was Peter Pan in Mordor
no one's there to keep alive
all these fairy tales
may I return to Oz
will I meet the "Tin Man"
"Coward Lion" where are you
without brain the scarecrow's lost
in the middle of the lake
stranded in the real world
left in a world
no place for daydreams
serious life
I fall into
I fall into a dark hole
and i can't come out
Do you know
if Merlin did exist
or Frodo wore the ring
did Corum kill the gods
or where's the wonderland
which young Alice had seen
or was it just a dream
I knew the answers
how they're lost for me
Imaginations from the other side
far out of nowhere
it got back to my mind
Imaginations from the other side
far out of nowhere
it got back to my mind
out of the dark
back to the light
then i'll break down
the walls around my heart
Imaginations from the other side
I hope there is a way back
with my talisman
so I look into myself
to the days when i was just a child
come follow me to wonderland
and see the tale that never ends
don't fear the lion nor the witch
I can't come back
i'm lost but still i know
there is another world
Imaginations from the other side
far out of nowhere
it got back to my mind
Imaginations from the other side
far out of nowhere
it got back to my mind
out of the dark
back to the light
then I'll break down
the walls around my heart
Imaginations from the other side
02 I'm Alive (05:29)
I run through the dark fields
of the plains
reach level 99
the pain cuts deep down
through my vain
how will I break the ice
welcome to my reality
dream forever
sunlight instead of neon light
how will it be
welcome to my grave
and feel the dream is over
nothing can stop me
I reach out for the top
caught in an old cage
the system failed
built up on lies
now I see that I'm alone
in asylum's cage
I'm left alone
I'm alive my friend
I can feel the shadows everywhere
I'm alive
I left the shadows
far behind me
another one is waiting in the dark
they say the system keeps
the last chance to survive
caught in this labyrinth
of walls and lots of lies
the bean to understand
there's more above than ice
to reach the top
I crept deep down
the answers given in the past
a senseless worth
in useless brains
magic runes
without a meaning
besides the dark
there should be nothing left
caught in an old cage
the system failed
built up on lies
now I see that I'm alone
in asylum's cage
I'm left alone
I'm alive my friend
I can feel the shadows everywhere
I'm alive
I left the shadows
far behind me
another one is waiting in the dark
SOLO
outside they say death is waiting
but it creeps down through the shaft
finds pleasure in our helpless fear
fills empty rooms
with morbid thought
they've locked the door
and hold the key
sitting beside you
when silent screams
changing my mind and dreams
oh, It's never ending
caught in an old cage
the system failed
built up on lies
now I see that I'm alone
in asylum's cage
I'm left alone
I'm alive my friend
I can feel the shadows everywhere
I'm alive
I left the shadows
far behind me
another one is waiting in the dark
I'M ALIVE!!!
03 A Past and Future Secret (03:47)
Oh, I haven't been here for a while
In blindness and decay
The circle's been closed, now
My song of the end
My song of the end
I've seen it all
Listen crowd
I'll tell you everything
Though I have to say
I don't know much
Talking about a past
And future secret
Most called him once
A future king
Far back in the past
I saw his ending
Long before it started
I knew his name
He's the one who took the sword
out of the stone
It's how the ancient tale began
I hear it in the cold winds
My song of the end
My song of the end
My song of the end
I had seen it in my dreams
My song of the end
I can't stop the darkening clouds
I feel cold
When I cry out for the bark
Take him back to Avalon
Dwell on for a new age
So long sleep well my friend
Take him back to Avalon
I will wait and guard
The future king's crown
My song of the end
My song of the end
My song of the end
My song of the end
It was nice but now it's gone
My song of the end
It was fixed the whole time
My song of the end
I saw it all
04 The Script for My Requiem (06:08)
Hallowed be the fatherland
god he knows
how long I'd been away
from here I did start for a search so
full of decease
I still hear my cryouts
from the old cellar's inside
Born in the days of medieval
my inner voice
is alway asking why
I came from nowhere
without a task, without a name
no fear of evil
fate, so god please lead me through
forgotten realms
mysterious dreams
in sunless rooms I'd sworn
I'll finish what I started, once
I'll find my holy grail
in the holy land
Ref.:
Returning of the miracles
it's my own requiem
the jester's tears
they are inside me
agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
it's my own requiem
is the script already written
jester's tears I cry
yes, I cry
I went out of my mind
in desert lands
insanity's pawn
out of control
much too long I've been isolated
from my thoughts
enclosed by the leader's spell
bewildered to marc
as a glory knight
and I tried
Still I hear the scream of thousands:
"Crucify, crucify
Take it all
our gold, our home, our life,
but we didn't kill your Christ!!
Reach out for your holy grail
enslave us and make us
your god's sacrifice!!"
Ref.
Still I'm confused
if I was dreaming
too late I realized
I'd been another fool
I pay the price
Returning of the miracles
it's my own requiem
the jester's tears
they are inside me
agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
it's my own requiem
is the script already written
jester's tears I cry
05 Mordred's Song (05:27)
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
07 Bright Eyes (05:15)
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
10 The Wizard (03:17)
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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Other reviews
By Fallen
"Close your eyes and let the world around you lose its outlines and colors...a slow, decadent arpeggio opens to a desperate, weary voice."
"You will run to the mirror, to ensure you are still the same...but yes, of course, your face is still there...everything is as it was before...or maybe not?"
By Rockardo
I gazed through the mirror: I saw a fantastic world made of ruined houses and skies dominated by dragons moving from one side to the other.
Those dragons began to chase me. I ran away, always hearing the song and leaving the Blind Guardian playing.
By metalselo
The dark melodies open up everything, enveloping and paralyzing us, thrusting us boldly into this 'Other Side' that gives the album its title.
A new style now sacred to many metalheads, who in the face of such originality could only say 'Follow The Blind!'
