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Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth Audio CD

A fair review of the Blind Guardian "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Blind Guardian reviews here, or go back to the Blind Guardian tabs.

Blind Guardian Band: Blind Guardian
Title: Nightfall in Middle-Earth
Rating:
Release Date: 1999-02-09
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: War of Wrath 2: Into the Storm 3: Lammoth 4: Nightfall 5: Minstrel 6: Curse of Feanor 7: Captured 8: Blood Tears 9: Mirror Mirror 10: Face the Truth 11: Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns) 12: Battle of Sudden Flame 13: Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill) 14: Dark Elf 15: Thorn 16: Eldar 17: Nom the Wise 18: When Sorrow Sang 19: Out on the Water 20: Steadfast 21: Dark Passage 22: Final Chapter (Thus Ends...)

Among the Genre's Finest
This is a concept album and is therefore meant to be listened to from beginning to end, straight. Sage rating: 10/10 (Perfect)

NiME is Blind Guardian's most solid release; there are no bad tracks on this album. Listening out of order really loses the effect and renders the heavy story/narrative emphasis inconsequential. This album is more than the sum of its (very impressive) parts. I am usually very critical in individual track reviews (for my own personal use) and this is one of the only albums I can listen to without skipping any tracks.

The highlights are: Into the Storm, Mirror Mirror, Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill), and A Dark Passage.

Musically this album is unique in Blind Guardian's catalog in that it is the first to use a large amount of vocal over-dubbing to create the illusion of a chorus. This technique is taken to an extreme in the following "A Night At the Opera" but then relinquished slightly in "A Twist in the Myth". The vocals are somewhat less refined than those found in "Opera" but it comes off well. Andre Olbrich's guitar-work is exceptional throughout the album and is especially slick in "Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)".

Newcomers to Blind Guardian or to the Power Metal genre as a whole may not be able to fully appreciate this album upon first listen. If you don't like Power Metal then this certainly isn't for you. However, if you are a fan of NWOBHM, Power Metal, Speed Metal, Progressive Metal, or Symphonic Metal you should give this album a try as it is one of the genre's finest and most cohesive offerings. Those unaccustomed to Blind Guardian may be better off beginning with the spectacular 2-disc "Live" album. BG sounds unquestionably better live than in the studio and this live album covers their entire career through "Opera" rather effectively with many offerings from "Nightfall in Middle-Earth".

I take music listening/collecting rather seriously and I consider this album one of the finest in my collection.


*I'm sure J.R.R. would approve* Recovered Review From 2003
Blind Guardian is one of the most underrated artists the music world has to offer today. A normal American would be naive to think nothing good would rise out of Germany, but then again that person is probably listening to Brittney Spears and Ja Rule records. While most stereotype heavy metal music as dark and suicide inducing, Blind Guardian spits in the face of the mainstream, by delivering a hard sound with an artistic concept. What better concept would be appealing than J. R. R. Tolkien's work 'The Lord of the Rings'? Not only that, but the music has deep within it the influence of Renaissance and Middle Ages folk music. These loud, yet harmonious songs bring a world of Hobbits, magic and monsters to life without all the obscenity seen in today's mainstream hard rock and rap albums. Blind Guardian also presents great vocals and musicianship, which is something bands such as Metallica could never give, even when they were halfway decent. "Nightfall" is a record that music appreciators and Tolkien fanatics will welcome into their homes with delight. I am almost positive that J. R. R. would give his stamp of approval if he were around to hear this band.


Their best album!!!
I can never get bored of this CD. This is what the title says. The maturity and musical orchestration weaved with the melancholy of Tolkien's tale is nothing short of magnificent. If you read the book (The Silmarillion), this will not only sound good, but cut at a deeper emotional level. An album to be cherished!!! .


Minstrel Metal
Creates a new genre almost stemming from speed/power metal - I call it "Minstrel Metal"

Beautifully composed and executed. One of the most unique metal albums ever produced. If you are a fan of any kind of metal or the works of J. R. R. Tolkien you must buy this album!.


Music that moves me!
Blind Guardian may not be the easiest band to get into, but they're certainly one of the best ones around once you get to know them! Nightfall in Middle-Earth is an instant classic and everyone should listen to it.


You can see a complete list of all Blind Guardian discography, or go back to the Blind Guardian tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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