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And Then There Was Silence

Blind Guardian - And Then There Was Silence Audio CD

A fair review of the Blind Guardian "And Then There Was Silence" 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.

Band: Blind Guardian
Title: And Then There Was Silence
Rating:

Release Date: 2001-12-11
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: And There Was Silence 2: Harvest Of Sorrow

Blind Guardian's Best Song, plus a non-album track
And what a preview it was! The mammoth 14-minute track And Then There Was Silence was easily Blind Guardian's most ambitious and epic track to date, and remains my all-time favorite BG song. The CD single And Then There Was Silence was originally released in 2001 to give fans a preview of their (then) upcoming album A Night at the Opera.

Half a decade later though, the only reason to check out this single is the second track, Harvest of Sorrow, which is the English language version of the song Mies del Dolor (also from a Night at the Opera). This semi-acoustic ballad is based on Tolkien's The Silmarillion, and would have been right at home as a bonus track on the band's concept album Nightfall in Middle Earth. It's a nice song, but probably one that only die-hard Blind Guardian fans will be compelled to buy a CD single for. I'm of the opinion that every BG song is worth having, so if you're into the band, you'll want to add this disc to your collection.

2008 Follow-Up: Mies del Dolor was in fact included on the 2007 reissue of Nightfall in Middle Earth, which officially makes this single obsolete.

One of the Best Fantasy Interpreter
I love it, too. There's already been so much to say about the first song, And Then There Was Silence. However, the second song is more touching for me, Harvest of Sorrow, a song for Tolkien's The Silmarillion, for Turin and his sister Nienor. This is the English version of Mies Del Dolor in Night At the Opera. I cannot express my feeling in a precise way, but when I heard "She closed her eyes / And she called out my name / She was never ever seen again", it seemed that there was a flick of blade on my heart. I've never imagined the sorrow of Turin and Nienor could be illustrated so well. With my favorite BG album Nightfall in Middle-earth, I really want to say they are one of the best Tolkien interpreter in music.

And then there was silence
There is simply nothing else like it. This song is just the best. Yes, it lasts for over 16 minutes, throughout it, it retells the story of the Illiad and fall of Troy. It recounts many of the main themes within it (including my favourite part where it says "Shes like the sunrise, precious like starlight," etc. . . describing Helen). If you enjoyed previous albums by blind guardian then this is a MUST. It manages to convey in the sheer sounds of the music going from softness to heavy drums and guitar solos, showing the moods in the story of sadness and triumph. The meaningful lyrics are a prime example of blind guardian's finest and Hansi's singing is again almost flawless. Just buy it! (the second track harvest of sorrow is also good, but doesn't match up to the main feature. ) Also buy their new album A Night At the Opera (instead or as well?), the Jap import has harvest of sorrow as a bonus track, and the last song is and then there was silence.

hey!
deviantart. I know the dude that did the cover art!!!
go to anry. com to see all his stuff! It's incredible!

Great album, too. . . mmmm.

No Silence Here!
They consist of four incredible musicians(you'd swear there was twenty); Andr� Olbrich (guitar), Hansi K�rsch (vocals/bass), Marcus Siepen (guitar), Thomen Stauch (drums). AND THEN THERE WAS SILENCE
"Turn your head and see the fields of flames"

"He carries along
from a distant place
He`s on his way
he'll bring decay
(don't move along
cause things they will go wrong
the end is getting closer

Blind Guardian"

Everybody knows who Blind Guardian is, right? Well you should! If you don't, let's do something about that.

Blind Guardian play an astounding version of Melodious, Symphonic Metal whose music explodes at you and bombards you with multi-faceted ingenious melodies from all sides and here's the Kicker, they sound like QUEEN. Yes, I said QUEEN. No, it's not universally accepted but I know what I'm hearing. Hansi Kursch sounds enough like Freddie Mercury, that when you bring in the bands vocal backing in the quasi-inimitable Queenlike delivery it's spooky but it's also magnificent.

Now, don't get me wrong Blind Guardian is not the second coming of Queen, it is merely the second coming of Queen's harmony and their delivery. It's more like Queen decided to play a different kind of music and they were wonderful at it, too.

So, since I like Queen I'll like Blind Guardian, right?

Not necessarily! I really believe for many people, like myself, Blind Guardian is an acquired taste. Blind Guardian's music is so dense with layer upon layer of sound and with all those high pitched voices coming at you constantly from all over, that ones brain cannot absorb it all at one time. It needs time put everything in order, so that is why I recommend at least three or four plays to get used to their music.

But why bother?

Yes, really. Well I have a theory, if I may, which is being propagated by my own current musical inclinations.

When I was younger, popular music was quite basic. Some of it still is. I liked both catchy simple and complicated songs, but it seemed that I got tired of the simpler songs fast but the complicated songs satisfied me longer.

My point, obviously, is that some of the best and most worthwhile things are harder to achieve and of course they're certainly appreciated more. Blind Guardian is very worthwhile, so let's look at the best song (in my humble opinion) they have made to date.

"And Then There Was Silence"

Mere words cannot describe the majesty and grandeur of this fabulous creation. From the minute it starts you are treated to a preview of what is to come in this masterpiece. There is no let up no weak spots, this is total mind candy for the entire 14:07 and you will be crying for more. "And Then There Was Silence" was released as a single as well as being the finale in the exquisite album A Night at the Opera

This amazing song is an elevator ride from heavy, classical B. G. style to tranquil interludes combining broadly arranged orchestral elements, ubiquitous choirs and multiple styles and tempo for a melodious, musical sensation I have seldom experienced. "And Then There Was Silence" never loses sight of it's goal and delivers an inspiring, fourteen minute masterpiece that always remains accessible and dynamic and dramatically brilliant! And throughout the whole song you can't help but think of Queen, even though they have never done anything like this. (oh, maybe "Bohemian Rhapsody" a little bit) It's just that their timing, elevation, pitch, and delivery are so Queenish, I love it, I love it, I love it!
Now it doesn't say it anywhere but this monumental composition seems to be about the Trojan War.

There is a second track on this CD single called "Havest of Sorrow" which is a ballad and seems like an afterthought after listening to the emotionally draining "And Then There Was Silence"

Similar artists

You got to be Kidding. Queen

Vaguely Similar Artists

Therion, Rhapsody, Thy Majestie, Freedom Call, Mob Rules.

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.