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BLIND GUARDIAN – A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
2002 Virgin/Century Media
German Power Metal rules. Period. And Blind Guardian is one of the best German Power Metal bands ever. This is Blind Guardian's first album in four years. All their albums are good, some are beyond great. Where does A NIGHT AT THE OPERA fall? Well, I've been listening to this album for a few weeks now, trying to comprehend it. It's so advanced musically and vocally beyond anything else I've heard in quite a while. It is a feast for the ears. I own every album Blind Guardian has recorded, and this is by far the most intricate and complex. No other band can touch Blind Guardian in their dreams. I mean this with all sincerity. But I digress...

Let me start with the album title, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA. My first reaction was: "What?!!!" I had a real problem with this title. I know it was a movie originally, but let's face it: This is a classic album title OWNED by the legendary Queen. This lack of originality really disappointed me at first. (They actually came up with this name after the artwork was done.) Then I learned that this was their "tribute" to their favorite band of all time (Queen). That's maybe the only way I can let it slide, because really no one has ever come close to the big vocals of Queen, except maybe Blind Guardian. I still would have liked them to come up with an original title. I guess they will call their next album A DAY AT THE RACES! (Just kidding.) The artwork this time is totally different. It's whimsical. Andreas Marschall (the great painter) didn't have anything to do with it. I wonder what it would have looked like if he had done it....eh, we'll never know.

The Music:

Overall, Blind Guardian incorporate awesome guitars, orchestration and speedy rhythms with some of the greatest choirs of all time. We're talking vocals galore. The first track, "Precious Jerusalem," goes slightly in a new direction for the band. Great song with a cool intro and piercing, over-the-top vocals. A great segue to the album. "Battlefield" follows with some punishing rhythms and Hansi's trademark warbly falsetto. "The Soulforged," is based on one of Margaret Weis' Dragonlance books. I don't know anything about the books, but the song is very cool. Other songs I enjoy are "Sadly Sings Destiny" (great chorus), "Wait For An Answer" and "Punishment Divine." Hell, this whole album is a masterpiece. And it is a long album. In fact, every song is over 5 minutes long. (Except the bonus track, "Mies Del Dolor").

Bottom line- Blind Guardian rules, and everything they do is pure genius. This album is no exception. It belongs in your collection. This is beyond essential! If you want to open your mind to a whole new world, I highly suggest you check this album out. And I can't wait to watch them destroy Atlanta at the ProgPower Festival later this year!

DISCOGRAPHY:

BATTALIONS OF FEAR (1989) Virgin
FOLLOW THE BLIND (1989) Virgin
TALES FROM THE TWILIGHT WORLD (1990) Virgin/Century Media
SOMEWHERE FAR BEYOND (1991) Virgin/Century Media
TOKYO TALES (LIVE) (1993) Virgin
IMAGINATIONS FROM THE OTHER SIDE (1993) Virgin
THE FORGOTTEN TALES (1996) Virgin
NIGHTFALL IN MIDDLE-EARTH (1998) Virgin
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (2002) Virgin/Century Media

Click here for link to the BLIND GUARDIAN homepage!