I genuinely don’t know why I dragged my feet with this review, especially considering the band in question. Blind Guardian is one of the most iconic bands within the realm of Power Metal, and I rightfully picked them for part one of my return to Power Metal Pandemonium. But for some reason I was slow when coming up with this review, and that’s a shame considering the subject of today’s review. I sat myself down, gave things a listen, and now I love the record I looked at today. So, get on your chainmail shirt, resist putting on that gold ring you found, and enjoy my review of Blind Guardian’s inaugural release, Battalions Of Fear. Let’s begin!
Background
Our story begins in 1984, in the little German town of Krefeld. There, vocalist & bassist Hansi Kürsch, along with guitarists Andre Olbrich & Markus Dörk, and drummer Thomen Stauch would form the band Lucifer’s Heritage. They would briefly be a quintet with the addition of a second lead vocalist, Thomas Kelleners, but he would leave 3 months later on good terms with everyone else. The band would release 2 demos in 1985 & 86 despite undergoing somelineup changes: Dörk and Stauch were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively. Finally in 87, Marcus Siepen joined and Thomen came back to form the lineup that would stay this way for the next 18 years.
After the band signed a deal with No Remorse Records by the late 80s, they changed their name to Blind Guardian to avoid any speculations about Satanism and to distance themselves from the Black Metal Movement. They got the idea of their new name from the Fates Warning album Awaken the Guardian, and the rest was history. After etching their identity in stone, they got to work in the studio from October to November of 1987 on their first release, and on the 17th of May in 1998, Battalions Of Fear was release. Inspired by their compatriots Helloween, the album was more of a speed & thrash album rather than what they would later be known for, but it would still be highly praised by anyone that listened.
Basic Description
Speed, Thrash, & Power!
While the band would be know later on in their career as absolute titans of Power Metal, their first outing was far more in the camp of Speed Metal than anything. Granted, there was plenty of fantasy (Lord Of The Rings to be specific) references, but for the most part Battalions Of Fear comes across like a traditional Speed Metal album of the late 80s. Don’t hold that against Blind Guardian: Despite turning into a Power Metal band down the road, they have a bit of versatility to them. They can go Thrash, Power, Prog, and even Symphonic when they want to. So for them to start out playing relatively simple styles was probably a safe move. Even then, Battalions Of Fear comes at you with the force of 10 stallions that’ll trample over you 10 ways to Tuesday! Guitars that come across like lightning. Drums that feel like thunder, and vocal work that sounds like it comes from a elderly yet badass sage.....you know you’re in for a hell of a time!
Best Track
Hard to pick just one. I’ll mention it again below, but virtually every single song is an absolute blast to listen to. From the opening grandeur of Majesty, to the siege themed title track, and even the instrumental Gandalf’s Rebirth, there is something for everyone on Battalions Of Fear to enjoy. If I had to pick a favorite track, I’d have to put it on Wizard’s Crown. I’m not sure why, but something about the song is just fun. I don’t know what it is, but it decides to rent an apartment in your brain, and it’s sure as hell not leaving anytime soon. If a song can do that to me, you know I’m gonna love it.
Wizard’s Crown
Worst Track
Honestly, I can’t think of anything. Apart from it’s age (Even the remaster still feels like it’s got some dust on it), there’s not a single fault to be had. If one wanted to be picky, you could argue that the shorter tracks aren’t as memorable, but even then there’s something to them that momentarily stick to your musical memory.
Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:
Battalions Of Fear
Overall Impression & Rating
Battalions Of Fear is a wonderful start for Blind Guardian. It may not have the Power Metal flavoring that fans would come to know from the band, but it’s an important brick in the mansion of Heavy Metal’s most over-the-top subgenre. It’s definitely a classic that more than deserves the recognition it gets, and 30+ years later the album shows that metal can be fun as well as serious.
Battalions Of Fear gets a 8.5 to 9 out of 10.
And that concludes part 1 of the return to Power Metal Pandemonium. Again, I’m sorry for putting this review out a little later than normal, but I hope you didn’t mind the wait. I got much more planned, but July is just around the corner, so join me next week when it’ll be time to shine on the ladies once again. See you soon!
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