Customer Reviews

Batallions of Fear

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The year is 87, the musicians are young, and filled with fire. The music is raw, strong, filled with references to other successful acts like Running Wild, but...
It's a bit weak in composition strength, unlike their later releases, a bit weak in the skill department (especially in vocals and drumming part) that they would demonstrate even on their next album. It's also weak in the creative side, since it's more of this band's influences reference than a complete creative act. It has the raw power and desire to break new grounds, but their time was yet to come.
Songs like Battalions of Fear, and the instrumental tracks are best here. Also The Martyr is worth mentioning. Others are your typical German speed-metal of late 80-ies. Except that Helloween and Rage have done it much better in that same year.

Anyway, while this is a very good debut, I wouldn't recommend it to be your first album of this excellent band. Stick with "Imaginations...".
This CD is absolute must for the fans, for those who love raw German speed-metal thing, or for those interested in Blind Guardian roots. Those who first got into Blind Guardian with "Night at the Opera" would like to listen to BG music of mid-90-ies before diving into this CD.

I'd give it a 4 stars on a "general metal scale", but according to Blind Guardian standards it's only 3.

Blind Guardian's debut album is one of their better albums! This album is great, especially for an artist's first album ever. Blind Guardian packs their energy into this metal record, and although it isn't as melodical as "Tales From the Twilight World", it has its strong points with songs like "Majesty" and "Run for the Night". If you're a fan of power/speed metal, with double bass drums, this albums is a must have. (actually, nearly every Blind Guardian album is!)

This is where it all began, a group of young, unknown fire fueled German lads exploade onto the metal sceane with this 1987 masterpeice. From here Blind Guardian have propelled to status of immortal metal gods as we all know but it's great to hear the massive potential they showed at their young ages, such fire and aggression.

This has been one of the few albums that just made my jaw drop beacuse I wasn't expecting such speed, it's a musical rollercoaster.

From the metal shock in the opening of Majesty to the unforgettable riffs in Gandalf's Revenege this album is a work of genius from start to finsih. The vocals from Hansi are powerful and agressive but still raw but this perhaps benefits the albums general feel. The twin guitar attack is as fast as it is tehcnical (all hail the solo in Guardian of the Blind), and the drums are what probably hit me hardest, the speed and technical prowess of Thomen Staunch is just insane.

How the world remains oblivious to bands and music of this magnitude is beyond me, I guess were the only ones with taste!

I can't say that I fit into the above description, but I have listened to these songs before and after I bought this CD. If you just got into Blind Guardian, you probably won't like this as much as "Nightfall..." or "A Night at the Opera." This album is more metal than epic, and it shows. Keeping that in mind, this album is a testament to the older works of Blind Guardian, and I think the fans who've been listening to them since they first showed up (or are simply obsessed enough to know all their songs by heart like I do ;P) will appreciate this much more than the newbies. Still, I encourage everyone to give this one a listen, but consider yourselves warned--it's a headbanger's dream.

I love the way that blind guardian put out there first albun the guitar solos r alot like iron maiden's their fast amazing and full of tallent. i also dig the double bass pedal it blends in with guitar anyways if u like older style metal that is really fast you should add this to your collection i cant get enough of it!

This is a good album but not the equal of some of their later ones. It sounds too unfininished and rough around the edges particularly Hansi's vocals. He has this weird yelp/scream thing going on. The songs with few exceptions don't have the same epic feel except for Majesty which apparently is a fan favorite as it shows up on both of their live albums. My personal favorite song on the album is guardian of the blind. But what do I know. I also like Gandalf's rebirth and by the mines of moria, not neccesarrily because they are great songs but because I am a fantasy fan. Run for the night is another good song with a catchy chorus. Obviously, if you are a die hard BG fan then you should already have this but for new fans you would do well to get Somewhere far beyond or Imaginations from the other side first among others.

This debut album of Blind Guardian would have to be the best example of old school power/speed metal with fast double bass of Thomas Stauch drums, the unbelieve solos played by Andre Olbrich , the non-stop rhythm of Marcus Siepen guiters and of course the beautiful and vivid voice and sound of Hansi Kursch bass and vocals. This album is a must for any fan of old school metal and with a sence of fantasy in there blood.

1. Majesty - 9/10
2. Guardian Of The Blind - 8/10
3. Trial By The Archon - 7/10
4. Wizard's Crown - 6/10
5. Run For The Night - 7/10
6. The Martyr- 8/10
7. Battalions Of Fear - 9/10
8. By The Gates Of Moria - 9/10
9. Gandalf's Rebirth - 8/10

Blind Guardian Are The God's Of Power Metal \m/\m/

i'm a huge blind guardian fan but i have to say that this album along with 'follow the blind' didnt quite make it into my fave list. every song is soon forgotten never to be remembered again.
if you're about to discover BG, dont get these 2 albums!
buy nightfall in middle earth or imaginations...or somewhere far beyond. if you wanna have a good laugh, go ahead and listen to 'majesty' or 'gandalf's rebirth'. they remind me of the 'bored of the rings' parody more than the masterpiece 'lord of the rings'.

This is a good CD from Blind Guardian but it's not great. There are some killer tracks such as, "Run for the Night" (arguably the best song on the CD), "The Martyr" and "Battalions of Fear", as well as "By the Gates of Moria" (an instrumental). The only thing is that it just took too long to get really good. This is a good effort for the band's debut and should be liked by fans of BG. Even back then these guys were killer (especially on guitars!).

If you are a power metal maniac THIS CD HAS TO BE IN YOUR COLLECTION! This cd marks the debut of one of the greatest "fantasy" (if you can say so) power metal bands in history. If you're not used to listen to a almost complete "repertoire" of power metal, then you'll be bored. But,if you like the music, you will not be dissapointed.