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Rating: Apparently, a new album by Blind Guardian has been released and from what I've read around, it seems to be quite awful. After all, what can you expect from a band that has lost themselves in Middle Earth for more than fifteen years? Wandering in wild lands among orcs and elves must not be too good for mental health and surely doesn't help in finding the strength and inspiration needed to resurrect a genre that, to be perfectly honest, no longer seems to have any reason to exist. Yes, because power metal for over a decade now has been nothing more than a gaudy mix of plastic-like symphonies and happy-gay choruses, and Blind Guardian themselves are also partly to blame for this, as with "Imaginations From the Other Side" and "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" they paved the way for bands like Rhapsody (of Fire) and Nightwish, bands whose mere mention makes you break out in a cold sweat. Maybe it's because I overindulged in these sounds when I was younger, so now they make me feel nauseous, kind of like when you have a bad experience with some strong alcohol and then can’t even look at it anymore.
It follows, therefore, that not even the aforementioned “Imaginations etc…” gets my approval, despite being recognized as the band's most commendable work, and I thus have to go back to the time when Kürsch and company played hard without worrying too much about it, without seeking artifices that might ennoble their genre, with results that in the long run ended up paralyzing it. And so, emerging from the mists of time is “Tokyo Tales”, a live recorded during the “Somewhere Far Beyond” tour in the Land of the Rising Sun; it's no secret that the Japanese like power metal, as all the bonus tracks Sonata Arctica (brrrr!) made especially for them demonstrate.
The performance delivers one after the other the best songs from the group's early phase, without giving space to medieval/fantasy/tear-jerker ballads, indeed only "Lord of the Rings" represents this category but only as a Japanese bonus track (just as I thought), even "The Bard’s Song - In the Forest" is banned, and the result is a live version pounding with metal, where the guitars scratch and the drums pound, and finally you hear some power, after all, they called this music power metal and maybe that's exactly why. It must be said that the bass was re-recorded in the studio since Kürsch wasn't phenomenal at singing and playing simultaneously, which is probably why Oliver Holzwarth was later hired to replace him live, the older of two brothers who had to set aside their Sieges Even and prostitute themselves to power metal to make ends meet. Anyway, overall the album doesn't disappoint and the Japanese singing their lungs out with the choruses contributes to the good success of it all.
The only thing I feel like adding is that it wouldn't have cost them anything to play "Run for the Night" as well.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Banish From Sanctuary (06:13)
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.
03 Journey Through the Dark (05:12)
Many songs I've written
About the things I saw
My inner soul's a wasteland
I can't run away from here
Try to find them
All the lost thoughts in my mind
I woke up on a hill
So many times before
Yesterday seems like a dream no more
Frozen memories laughing
They don't let me find the truth
Am I born to be a king
Or a jester of the fools
Ref.:
You're the mystical old bard
on your journey through the dark
Mystical old bard
Your journey through the dark
I can't remember my name
I never knew how to find my home
I can't remember my name
come tell me where will it end
I'm the chosen one
To perform all these things
But not for me
In illusions and reality
I'm on my journey through the dark
I'm on my journey through the dark
Ref.
(Solo)
I can't remember
Will I ever find myself
The distance is growing
My hope has gone away
A flash of light but nothing changes
When will it end
Which part of me remains
Soon I'll be back
On my ferryboat of tales
Where oblivion reigns
It will take all of me
Ref.
04 Traveler in Time (06:33)
The Morning Sun of Dune
The Morning Sun of Dune
The holy war's
waiting for
the morning sun
the morning sun
the morning sun
The morning sun of Dune
there's no tomorrow
the apparation of this land and it's dream
makes me feel I've seen it before
I can taste there's life
everywhere you can find
in the desert of my life
I see it again and again
And again, again, again, again
dark tales has brought the Dijahd
like whispering echos in the wind
and I'm a million miles from home
Traveler in Time
knowing that there's no rhyme
The morning sun is near
first light of dawn is here
the morning sun is near again
The Fremen sing that
their kingdom will come
and I'm the leading one
battlefields on our crusade
filled with Sardokaurs
killing machines crying
in raising fear they're hiding
Where do we go now?
So where is the way?
When I'm a million miles from home
Traveler in Time
knowing that there's no rhyme
The morning sun I feel
all pain and sorrow
the apparation of my words in these days
makes me feel I've told them before
all my plans will come true
I'll controll destiny
in the desert of my life
I've seen it again and again
By my dreams I must find a way
to stop the raging war
I've to choose now
I will leave
my body and seek
and time will stand still
when I've to leave
my body and find
a way back to the world I love
when I'm a million miles from home
Traveler in Time
knowing that there's no rhyme
05 The Quest for Tanelorn (06:02)
By the ruins he stands
And he's waiting for me
To enter Tanelorn
His paths seems strange
But they're always planned
Seldom he succeeds
About his own fate
He tries to conquer it
Again and again
But at last he's almost
A ruined man
Not a king or God
Who's searching for
A place called Tanelorn
Far beyond your dreams
Ref.:
On our quest for Tanelorn
We lose our way
On our quest for Tanelorn
He's waiting
He's waiting for me
He's waiting
He's waiting for me
[Spiritus sanctus - vita aeterna]
Darkness falling down on me
Darkness - The eternal battle rises
I know the answers
Although they don't exist
I'm just a mortal illusion
Ref.
(Solo)
So I'm his companion
Through space and through time
His eternal servant
He's calling me
So I must leave
To any life
To another world
Far beyond Your dreams
To know the truth
Just for a while
He's longing for a place
Where he can find himself
Deliverance
It could be everywhere
How can he find
He's waiting for me
And for Your Tanelorn
Ref.:
On our quest for Tanelorn
We lose our way
On our quest for Tanelorn
We lose our way
On our quest for Tanelorn
We lose our way
On our quest for Tanelorn
We're left alone
06 Goodbye My Friend (06:27)
Who can tell me who I am
who I am my friend
I'm an Alien so they say
a risk to everyone
NO - Tell me what do they see
NO - Tell me what do they feel
NO - Tell me what do they fear
NO - Tell me what do they see
I'm a dwarf but I know more than You
and I'm the key to a better life
from terror I could escape
but I need your helping hand
so far from home where I'm left alone
Did you hear my crying?
Did you hear my crying?
Goodbye my friend
I found you at the end
I say Goodbye to all
Goodbye my friend
thanks for your helping hand
I say Goodbye to all my cries
just say Goodbye
No returning nevermore
No returning nevermore
And I'll remember
Communication to you is so strange
you I trust to noone no warmths reach your heart
to you I'm the stranger but you're strange to me
You destruct all what is unknown to you
We are together now
and don't you know I'll come back again
I must go now
Goodbye my friend
I found you at the end
I say Goodbye to all
Goodbye my friend
thanks for your helping hand
I say Goodbye to all my cries
just say Goodbye
I will go home now
I will go home now
much too long I'm forced to stay
in visions I see
so dark and so deep
mankind will destruct all life
See you again I hope I will
see you again at the end?
My tortured soul cannot forget the pain
now I find my way back
I WILL GO HOME NOW
I WILL GO HOME NOW
Goodbye my friend
I found you at the end
I say Goodbye to all
Goodbye my friend
thanks for your helping hand
I say Goodbye to all my cries
just say Goodbye
08 Majesty (07:51)
Now the time has come for to leave this land
Take my charge with pride sacrifice
Oooh
Lead: Andre
Running and hiding I'm left for the time
To bring back the order of devine
Hunted by goblins no Gandalf to help
With swords in the night
Oh the last part of the game
Decision of death and life
Blood for Sauron they'll call tonight
The final battle cry
Lead: Andre
Running and hiding I'm left for the time
To bring back the order of devine
There exist no tales and hobbits are crying
For all
Children of death
Lead: Andre
I have a dream
The things you've to hide for
Deliver
Our kingdom and our reich
Don't fall in panic
Just give me the thing
That I need or I kill
Don't run away
For what have I done
Refrain:
Oooh Majesty
Your kingdom is lost
And you will leave us behind
Oooh Majesty
Your kingdom is lost
And ruins remind of your time
Now come back
Solo: Andre
Refrain:
Oooh Majesty
Your kingdom is lost
And you will leave us behind
Oooh Majesty
Your kingdom is lost
And ruins remind of your time
Run, run, run
Cries
Cries in a dark land
Hear the voice it's cold as ice
Eyes
They are watching
They look for me but cannot find
Creature is following no place to escape
My last steps will find the right way
Where is the future the call of the blind
Cause there is none to find
Watch the sky you see no light
My weapons burst with fear
With the howling wolves the nazgul will die
For all
Children of death
Lead: Andre
Cries
Cries in a dark land
Hear the voice it's cold as ice
Eyes
They are watching
They look for me but cannot find
Run
Run for the whole world
It's time you cannot wait
Lost
Lost in a dark world
You feel the strange but cannot see
Too many battles we carry along from the war
And too many frightens we feel from his law
For so many victories we're praising so strong
For so many blood we've lost
Lead: Andre
Refrain:
Oooh Majesty
Your kingdom is lost
And you will leave us behind
Oooh Majesty
Your kingdom is lost
And ruins remind of your time
Run, run, run
Behind
Run, run
09 Valhalla (06:07)
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
10 Welcome to Dying (05:55)
Close to insanity
beyond the realms I've been
at darkest places
I'm crying
"The dragon flies"
Something savage
is yearning for me
I'm waiting afraid for the night
what will be
I've lost myself
a few days ago
it's touching my soul
and a vision of past dreams comes true
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
This town must burn now
Welcome to dying
Can't You see the dragon's seed bears in me
the one who's been before
many times I terrorized this town
many times and here I start again
now I'm stronger and so cold
cold as ice
returning is my destiny
now I feel it's growing up in me
now I feel it's burning deep in me
I'm not what I was before
could I stop this dream
I'm a stranger to myself
and I cannot control
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
Can't you see the dragon's seed bears in me
Welcome to dying
The dragon's breath I don't let it out
I'm a savage
it's too late for me
the other side's taking controll and I know
there's one way I can walk alone
or the dragon will fly
and a growing fear's all that I feel
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
This town must burn now
Welcome to dying
Can't You see the dragon's seed bears in me
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Can't you see the dragon's seed bears in me
Spread my wings and fly away
I spread my wings and fly away
I spread my wings and fly away
12 Lost in the Twilight Hall (07:25)
Awaiting my last breath
the mirror calls my name
it's showing me the way
into the dark
the bridge appears
I jump into the dark side
and hear the voice it's cold as ice
"Welcome to reality"
Where am I now?
Darkness surrounds
can't go forward
can't go back
Kai: I see planets dying
Hansi: I fall into the light
K: a new universe awakes
H: I'm a Traveler in Time
K: pray for the light
H: Where's the key
K: to the gate
H/K: of a new life - no
H: I search for deliverance
K: but I cannot find
Look behind the mirror
I'm lost in the twilight hall
once I'll be back for a moment in time
that's when the mirror's falling down
Take me away
from the place I've been
to another life
in another world
a sign of life
surrounds me now
the bridge appears in the dark
I'm free
I fly alone
leaving the darkness now, forever?
the memories of children
and the wisdom of many lifes
burns deep in me
Where will the light go to?
Where will the light go to?
Is this deliverance?
Is it the end?
Look behind the mirror
I'm lost in the twilight hall
once I'll be back for a moment in time
that's when the mirror's falling down
I'm back there's a new chance for me
and all my memories are gone
I can feel what's happening to me
and the mirrow will burst
Look behind the mirror
I'm lost in the twilight hall
once I'll be back for a moment in time
that's when the mirror's falling down
Look behind the mirror
I'm lost in the twilight hall
once I'll be back for a moment in time
that's when the mirror's falling down
13 Barbara Ann (02:58)
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
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