Blind Guardian formed in 1984 in Krefeld, Germany, by Hansi Kürsch (vocals, bass) and Andre Olbrich (guitar) under the name Lucifer's Heritage. The band released two demos in 1985 and 1986, using their initial name. They were also undergoing chaotic lineup changes: Markus Dörk (guitar) and Thomen Stauch (drums) were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively. Finally, in 1987, Marcus Siepen joined and Thomen came back to form the line-up which would stay consistent for the next 18 years. After Lucifer's Heritage signed a contract with No Remorse Records, the band changed their name to Blind Guardian to avoid any speculations about Satanism (in a bio it was stated that they also wanted to distance themselves from the black metal movement, as their demos were placed in with black metal albums at local record shops). They released their debut album 'Battalions of Fear' in 1988, which was essentially a speed metal album heavily influenced by Helloween. These two German bands had close ties, and Helloween founder Kai Hansen made a guest appearance on Blind Guardian's second LP, 'Follow the Blind' (1989), where the band revealed some thrash metal influence. Their third LP, 'Tales from the Twilight World' (1990), had a much more melodic and "epic" feeling, with usage of choir and classical music influence. This is perhaps the style for which they are mostly known. Their lyrics are more often then not based around the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien.

BATTALIONS OF FEAR (1988, 1991) VIRGIN

Shortly after having secured a record contract with No Remorse Records, the band Lucifer's Heritage changed their name to Blind Guardian. Their debut album was recorded and released in 1988, entitled 'Follow The Blind'. Forged in the same mold as Helloween's debut, 'Walls Of Jericho', it features speed metal of the finest German kind.

Yes, Blind Guardian started out as a time typical German speed metal band, albeit a little later than most of their contemporaries. The speed metal craze had already been divided into separate sub-genres, and now interchangeable terms like power metal, thrash metal and speed metal were used to describe everything from Slayer to King Diamond. But Blind Guardian were playing the original, pure speed metal variety. That means lighting fast riffing, machine gun drumming and eardrum shattering vocals. It also means a healthy dose of melody, enough to keep the songs interesting, and memorable. Behind a charmingly rugged production lies some significantly solid playing. I'm not saying that this is some prog metallers wet dream, after all, this is speed metal, and not frickin' Dream Theater. But it's clear that there are no slouches in this band. And Blind Guardian were certainly writing some of the best music in their genre already on their first release.

Lyrically they were dealing with everything from Jesus ("The Martyr") to Alistair Crowley ("Wizard's Crown"). Most notably though are the songs with references to 'The Lord Of The Rings' books ("Majesty", "Wizard's Crown" (again!), "Run For the Night", "By the Gates of Moria" and "Gandalf's Rebirth").

'Battalions Of Fear' is a really strong debut album, albeit not one that tells you much about where the band was heading later on in their career. But if you like raw and unadulterated speed metal, ala Helloween's 'Walls Of Jericho' or Scanner's 'Hypertrace', then you'll definitely love this album as well. The CD version, released in 1991 when Blind Guardian were picked up by Virgin, comes with an additional track. The album was reissued again in 2007, in a remastered and remixed version containing 5 bonus tracks, picked from the Lucifer's Heritage demo, 'Symphonies Of Doom' (1985).

Trivia: "By the Gates of Moria" is derived from Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World". "Guardian of the Blind" is based on Stephen King's 'It'.

Killer tracks: Majesty, Guardian Of The Blind, Wizard's Crown, Battalions Of Fear

FOLLOW THE BLIND (1989, 1991) VIRGIN

'Follow The Blind', Blind Guardian's second album, was originally released on No Remorse Records in 1989. The album was reissued when Virgin signed the band a couple of years later. The CD version on the Virgin label comes with a Demon cover as a bonus track.

Since 'Follow The Blind' was the bands sophomore album, it sees a band that is still struggling to find their own sound. There are no overproduced, bombastic, orchestrated fluff on this album. Rather, their brand of melodic speed metal is easily compared to fellow countrymen in bands such as Rage, Running Wild and early Helloween. That means speedy riffs and frantic drumming, yet always with emphasis on a melody. In fact, some of the songs could just as easily have been labeled thrash metal. Hansi's harsh, yet rather high-pitched, vocal delivery is also very characteristic for the style. The overall tone and feel is that of an angry, dark and hungry young band. This is raw energy, somewhat harnessed and unleashed in well written speed metal.

What set Blind Guardian apart from the rest of their contemporaries was the lyrics. Their fantasy based songs, more often then not inspired by one J.R.R. Tolkien, were quite different from Running Wild's occult flirtations turned pirate themes, or Helloween's more goofy and tongue-in-cheek approach. Musically they were perhaps also just a little better then the rest, with André's and Marcus' powerful guitar-playing leading the way. Here they keep hammering out one killer riff after another, only kept apart by the blistering leads and solos. Just listen to the phenomenal instrumental track, "Beyond The Ice". On subsequent releases, and on the better known Blind Guardian albums, the ferocious speed would be toned down in favor for pomp and bombast. I personally loved the way they sounded here. here are very few bands playing this sort of pure speed metal anymore. And I think the fact that most of the bands doin' this style in the late 80's/early 90's morphed into heavily orchestrated melodic power metal bands somewhat killed this original genre. That makes 'Follow The Blind' a unique album, and a darned fine one at that! If only they'd omitted the terrible cover of The Beach Boys/Little Richard's "Barbara Ann/Long Tall Sally".

Trivia: The Gregorian chanting in "Inquisition" is sampled from the film 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.

Killer tracks: Banish From Sanctuary, Follow The Blind, Hall Of The King, Beyond The Ice, Valhalla

TALES FROM THE TWILIGHT WORLD (1991) VIRGIN

Blind Guardian's 3rd album is filled with melodic power/speed metal as only these guys can do it. This is the album where they really found their own sound. It is also their first for the mainstream label, Virgin. That said, this is still a "younger" band than we are used to nowadays. The production is defiantly much rougher, and the overall sound is not as epic as would become the standard on latter albums. I still say this works quite well for them. The fact is that 'Tales From The Twilight World" contains several of my favorite Blind Guardian songs. "Lost In The Twilight Hall" sees a guest lead vocal performance by Kai Hansen. We also get treated to more stellar art work from Andreas Marschall. "Tommyknockers" is, as far as I can see, inspired from a Stephen King book. So not all tracks are Tolkien-worship. :-)

Killer tracks. Traveler In Time, Lost In The Twilight Hall, The Last Candle

SOMEWHERE FAR BEYOND (1992) VIRGIN

This was the first Blind Guardian-album I heard, and so far it's my favorite too. It just sets the standard for Blind Guardian's sound and style. Speedy and heavy tunes, but still with plenty melody. They are always on the verge of being progressive. The complex song-structures never get in the way of the good melodies. "Spread Your Wings" is an excellent Queen cover. Kai Hansen from Gamma Ray guests on this album.

Killer tracks: Journey Through The Dark, The Bard's Song - The Hobbit

IMAGINATIONS FROM THE OTHER SIDE (1995) VIRGIN

The first Blind Guardian-album I bought. One thing that's always cool about Blind Guardian-CD's are the cover-artwork. Andreas Marschall rules, and this is one of his finest works in my opinion. On this record Blind Guardian brought in Flemming Rasmussen as producer. He's famous for his work with Metallica. And this Danish producer works well for Blind Guardian as well. There are really no other bands that play quite the same kind of music, as these guys. And their sound has not changed from the previous effort.

Killer tracks: Imaginations From The Other Side, Script For My Requiem

THE FORGOTTEN TALES (1996) VIRGIN

An odds and sods release, that gives me mixed feelings. The tracks that are good here, is really great. But the less than memorable tracks are just awful! Old 60's pop-songs made into 90's German speed metal just don't cut it for me. "Mr. Sandman", "Barbara Ann/Long Tall Sally" and "Surfin' USA" are horrible. The Beach Boys have made at least 2 of these famous, and no metal band should ever record them again! The Mike Oldfield cover "To France" gets my approval, but it's not by far my favorite track on here. It gets much better with Queen's "Spread Your Wings". This is an excellent version, that also can be heard on Blind Guardian's 'Somewhere Far Beyond'. But the icing on the cake here, is Uriah Heep's "The Wizard". The Germans do this tune total justice, and this version RAWKS!! The rest of the tunes are B-sides, and rearranged Blind Guardian-tunes.

NIGHTFALL IN MIDDLE EARTH (1998) VIRGIN

This one was a bit harder to get into. They've proceeded with a more progressive sound, and without so many catchy refrains. Still a very fine disc indeed. And given the right amount of time, you will find many interesting tunes here as well. There aren't 22 full songs on this, but between songs there are short intros, outros etc.

Killer tracks: Mirror Mirror, Nightfall

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (2002) VIRGIN

Finally the long awaited album is here. But was this what we hoped for. I'm not sure. The songs are great, and Blind Guardian haven't changed their musical formula. But the production is a bit too much here. The band use 250 tracks to capture all the different instruments, voices, effects etc. on this CD. It must have been an ordeal to mix it all together. In my opinion they have managed to pull it off, but still most of it sounds pretty unnecessary. If they had recorded these tracks in stripped down version, we had probably gotten the finest Blind Guardian album ever. I still enjoy it immensely, but am a bit put down at the same time.

Killer tracks: Sadly Sings Destiny, The Maiden And The Minstrel Knight, And Then There Was Silence

A TWIST IN THE MYTH (2006) NUCLEAR BLAST (Limited Edition 2CD)

With the first ever line-up change in Blind Guardian's history, it's time for something brand new from Krefeld's metal elite. And obviously it's not only the line-up that has changed.

The music has also undergone some serious makeovers. This is not to say that Blind Guardian anno 2006 is completely different. But it is no denying that they have gone for a way more mainstream approach this time (well, as mainstream as you can get playing orchestral/progressive melodic power metal that is). Gone are the speed metal from the early days, gone are the over the top orchestral parts from 'A Night At The Opera' and as far as I can tell, there are no Tolkien inspired lyrics here either. 'A Twist In The Myth' is simply the band doing music they love, and I for one applaud them for it. The CD has become an enjoyable affair, not too far from what you'd expect from the boys. The music is still filled with loads of technical details from the production room. It is also heavy and with memorable hooks. I get an unmistakable feeling of listening to Blind Guardian, yet at the same time it sounds different. A song like "Another Stranger Me" sounds almost like something Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.) would write, but at the same time it is obviously André's trademark guitar sound, and Hansi's signature voice. Strange, yet effective. I'd go as far as to say that 'A Twist In The Myth' is the bands best effort since 'Imaginations From The Other Side'.

My limited edition comes with a bonus track, and a totally unnecessary bonus CD with interviews and multimedia stuff.

Gamma Ray - 'Land Of The Free'

Gamma Ray  - 'Rebellion In Dreamland'

Gamma Ray  - 'Silent Miracles'

Edguy - 'Vain Glory Opera'

Grave Digger - 'Excalibur'

Angra - 'Temple Of Shadows'

Demons & Wizards, Savage Circus