Customer Reviews

Forgotten Tales

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Forgotten Tales are simply unforgettable!!! This disc really demonstrates Blind Guardian's remarkable talent. "Mr. Sandamn", "Surfin' USA", and "Barbara Ann/Long Tall Sally" are a bit silly, but still very interesting and performed magically. The acoustic versions of "Bright Eyes" and "Mordred's Song" are simply amazing! The original versions were magical, but the acoustic versions are just as amazing, if not moreso. The orchestral versions of "Lord Of The Rings", "Black Chamber", and "Theatre Of Pain" will leave you with your jaw hanging open and your tounge on the floor. "The Wizard" and "Spread Your Wings" are performed better than Uriah Heep and Queen could have ever hoped to! I only recommend this disc to the experienced Blind Guardian listener. It sounds more interesting and is easy to accept if you have heard previous versions of these songs. Please buy it immediatly!!! You won't be disapointed. I Garuntee!

Originally released in 1998, the Forgotten Tales is one of my absolute favorite Blind Guardian albums, even though it's not one of their proper studio albums. The Forgotten Tales is basically a compilation of the various cover songs the band has performed as well as some alternate versions of some (at the time) recent Blind Guardian songs. The various demo/acoustic/live/instrumental versions are cool enough - and the live version of the Bard's Song is pretty spectacular - but I love this album because of the cover songs.

If there's one thing that Blind Guardian does better than any other band, it's their ability to record the most diverse (yet always powerful) covers. Well, that and the whole epic power metal thing that they do that no other band will ever touch even in their wildest dreams, but you get the general idea. From oldies like Mr. Sandman, Surfin' USA and Barbara Ann, to classic rock tracks like the Wizard (Uriah Heep) and Spread Your Wings (Queen), Blind Guardian always delivers unique cover songs. Some are obviously done just for laughs (you have to chuckle at a speed metal version of Mr. Sandman), and others, like the Uriah Heep and Queen songs are done to pay tribute to bands that had a profound influence on the band's sound. Whatever the reason, I've yet to hear a less than great cover song from this band, and it's particularly nice to have so many collected in one place.

The Forgotten Tales is a fantastic collection of unique material from the best power metal band on the planet. I wouldn't recommend it to new Blind Guardian fans right away, but once you have a handful of the band's great studio albums, you owe it to yourself to check this compilation out.

NOTE: The 2007 reissue of The Forgotten Tales is a Blind Guardian fan's dream. In addition to featuring digitally remastered sound, the CD includes three additional cover songs. From the Mr. Sandman single you get the b-side Hallelujah (a Deep Purple cover, I believe). From the Mirror Mirror single (or the Century Media Judas Priest tribute album) you get Beyond the Realms of Death, which is an absolute masterpiece. The final song - Don't Talk To Strangers - was originally found on Holy Dio: Tribute To Ronnie James Dio), and is another fantastic cover song. The disc also includes video clips for Mr. Sandman (one of the creepiest videos you'll ever hope to see) and The Bard's Song (the acoustic song is perfectly matched with a black & white, "Unplugged" style video.) These extras are more than enough to make this reissue a 5-star album.

When bands put out B-side and covers compilations, they usually throw a bunch of stuff not good enough for a regular album. What Blind Guardian have done is pick a selection of covers from different eras and styles and made them their own. From Rock'n'Roll classics such as the Long Tall Sally/Barbara Ann medley, through Queen's Spread Your Wings, to Mike Oldfield's To France, the band exhibits understanding and appreciation of various music styles. To top it off, they have added wonderful new arrangements of some of their own works, which, in some cases (e.g. Mordred's Song, Bright Eyes), are better than the originals. Maybe this is a collection which a person unfamiliar with Blind Guardian's music will find easier to listen to than the rest of their material. For the fan, it is an interesting tool in understanding these unique and gifted musicians better. Please, buy it! :)

Blind Guardian managed to surpass even themselves with this album. Beginning with the bizarre yet funny Mr. Sandman song and ending with the brilliant Theatre of Pain, this collection of songs turns out to be a masterpiece of melodic metal.

I'm not going to rate every single songs like the others did because this rating is strictly subjective but what I can tell you is that if you've ever listened to Blind Guardian and "kinda" liked it, you'll definitely adore this CD. It's amazing how 4 (yes, four) people can create such an amazing cavalcade of sounds and such well rounded songs.

What is interesting is that this album was mostly influenced by Hansi Kürsch's (the vocalist) preferences. After reading a little about the members, I've discovered that Queen is among his favorite all-time bands, his favorite book is Lord of the Rings, the single place he'd like to travel to is Middle Earth and the most impressive place he's been to is France. These personal preferences are found on this CD in the form of songs. Also another of Blind Guardian's albums HEAVILY influenced by the LOTR trilogy is Nightfall in Middle Earth, also a great portrayal of elements present in LOTR. Be sure to check that one if you're a Tolkien fan.

In conclusion, Forgotten Tales is a CD that you surely won't forget and a great addition to your metal collection.

I'm speechless, because this is a great album. If you like to buy a cover CD for oldies music pick this. Blind Guardian makes Beach Boys with attitude and The Chordettes hyped. Get this now. The CD also contains Blind Guardian's classic songs made into acoustic version and it so good to hear.
Here's my rating:

Mr. Sandman: 4.5/5
Surfin' USA: 5/5
Bright Eyes: 5/5
Lord Of The Rings: 6.5/5
The Wizard: 4.5/5
Spread Your Wings: 4.5/5
Mordred's Song: 5/5
Black Chamber: 4/5
Bard's Song (Live): 4.5/5
Barbara Ann/Long Tall Sally: 4.5/5
A Past And Future Secret: 4.5/5
To France: 8/5 My favorite of the album
Theater Of Pain: 5/5

This is my rating to each song and I recommand this to the one's who enjoys a cover version of classic songs with attitude and distortion.

this album features excellently done acoustic versions of heavier stuff by these supreme musicians, along with funny covers (uriah heep, the beach boys, queen...) that could slightly detract the listener from the overall magical mood of this piece of music. the highlights of this album are: lord of the rings, black chamber, the bard's song (brilliant!), theater of pain (beyond brilliant) and To france. i can never recommend this enough.

My friend is big into metal and fantasy music and has slowy but surely been exposing me to some of the better bands in this genre. Thus far, Blind Guardian is the only one to really tug at my heart with the beauty of the music they create. The lead singer has a phenomenal voice and actually sings a lot of the harmony parts in these songs (through the beauty of technology).
There are 3 songs on here that are completley different than the rest - Mr.Sandman, Surfin' USA, and Barbara Ann/Long Tall Sally. Actually when my friend loaned me this album, these were the only "cover" songs of the album I had heard earlier. Yes, I'm a big fan of 50's & 60's music ;). These renditions were fantastic! Hard punky metaly rock versions - I loved them! They made me want to get up and dance.
Most of the other songs on the album have a gentle, otherworldly feeling. Lord Of The Rings and The Wizard are especially reminiscent of the type of music I always imagined middle earth possessing.
Here's a run down on the score I'd give each song:

1) Mr. Sandman - 7/10
2) Surfin' USA - 9/10
3) Bright Eyes - 7/10
4) Lord Of The Rings - 9/10
5) The Wizard - 9/10
6) Spread Your Wings - 9/10
7) Mordred's Song - 6/10
8) Black Chamber - 8/10
9) The Bard's Song - 6/10
10) Barbara Ann/Long Tall Sally - 6/10
11) A Past And Future Secret - 7/10
12) To France - 7/10
13) Theatre Of Pain - 9/10

I am not a owner of this CD... but me and a friend found it hidden in a market here in P.A. and when we listened it we totally freaked out, fascinated by whole its technique and arrangements, and its melodic perfection, and then we begin a discussion of who was going to buy that CD!! He won, but I'm not angry about that, because I ask him that CD all time!! It's really a jewel of music, and here in Brazil is very very rare!!
Since that day, Blind Guardian figures between my favorite bands and the Forgotten Tales is the best album I've ever heard!! And that CD was hidden...... what a lucky day!!
So, if you are thinking on buy this CD, go on!! You won't be disappointed!!

I was very curious as to how well Blind Guardian could do Mr. Sandman, Surfin' USA, Barbara Ann, and Long Tall Sally; so I bought The Forgotten Tales. The covers aren't bad(except Mr. Sandman, which sounds kind of ridiculous)! Their cover of The Wizard (originally done by Uriah Heep) is absolutely amazing! What I especially liked about this album is that Hansi's vocals are much cleaner and more solid. I personally like the electric version of Bright Eyes (Imaginations From The Other Side) better than the acoustic with the acception of the vocals, which are much better (especially on the line, "Who really cares"). The remake of Mordred's Song is very good, as well. This album is very experimental for Blind Guardian and shows how truly talented they are at many different styles of music. I love the acoustic aspect of this album! It almost seems like something out of the Renaissance! From the artwork on the album cover to the music, this is definately one of Blind Guardian's best albums!

This album is really great! In a few words: THE CD OF THE CENTURY! This album is indicated to those who love music with quality and full of harmony!