Bind Guardian
Imaginations From The Other Side

THE REVIEW

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.