Blind Guardian At the Edge of Time
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
German power metal masters Blind Guardian is a band that believes in taking the time to get it right. After making fans wait an almost unbearable four years between A Night at the Opera and their 2006 follow-up A Twist in the Myth, Blind Guardian took another four years to prepare their tenth studio album, titled At the Edge of Time. At this point in the band’s career, every new album has become a highly anticipated event.
With At the Edge of Time, Blind Guardian has managed to strike a balance between the heavily orchestrated approach of A Night at the Opera and the more straightforward power metal sound of A Twist in the Myth. “Valkyries” and “Wheel of Time” are two of the more orchestrated songs, with progressive time changes and huge layered vocals similar to the band’s epic “And Then There Was Silence.” The album’s first single “A Voice in the Dark” is more reminiscent of the old Imaginations From the Other Side days, with a heavy, thrashing guitar sound and more classic power metal structure. “Tanelorn (Into the Void)” has a similar feel, revisiting concepts explored on the classic Somewhere Far Beyond album. The album seems split along those lines, which should please fans of both eras of Blind Guardian. There are also some interesting folk elements used on “Curse My Name” that really ought to be used more often, as they complement Blind Guardian’s unique style.
As is Blind Guardian’s norm, all of the songs on At the Edge of Time are based on fantasy literature, from John Milton’s Paradise Lost (“Control the Divine”) to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time (“Wheel of Time”), including a pair of songs (“A Voice in the Dark” and “War of Thrones”) based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. These fantasy themes are a huge component of Blind Guardian’s sound, and clearly inspire Hansi Kursch to great heights as a songwriter.
As far as the musical performances go, At the Edge of Time more lives up to the high Blind Guardian standard. These guys are by far the best band in the power metal genre, and they’ve pretty much perfected their craft. Andre Olbrich in particular shines on this album, delivering thrashing riffs and intricate solos with equal flair. The rhythm section is also incredible, though you have to wonder why they haven’t made bassist Oliver Holzwarth a full-time member yet. And then there’s Hansi, who has one of the most unique and recognizable voices in metal. He turns in an amazing performance here, and actually seems to be getting better with age.
At the Edge of Time is easily one of the best power metal albums of 2010 (and the past five years, for that matter). It might not represent a big step forward for the band, but it is an extremely good power metal album that is more than worthy of the name Blind Guardian.
(Edition Notes: There is a limited, 2-disc version of At the Edge of Time that includes demos, alternate versions and a video clip. This review is for the main album, as we have not heard any of the bonus material.)
Genre: Power Metal
Band:
Hansi Kursch (v)
Andre Olbrich (g)
Marcus Siepen (g)
Frederick Ehmke (d)
Track Listing:
1. Sacred Worlds
2. Tanelorn (Into the Void)
3. Road of No Release
4. Ride Into Obsession
5. Curse My Name
6. Valkyries
7. Control the Divine
8. War of Thrones (piano version)
9. A Voice in the Dark
10. Wheel of Time
Label: Nuclear Blast
Website: www.blind-guardian.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10