Customer Reviews

Tales From The Twilight World

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Tales from the twilight world" is truly Blind Guardian's best work so far. I believe the album to be the peak of their song writing. Never has a Blind Guardian album had more melody than this album has. Every song is packed with double-bass drum and hard guitar riffs. The lyrics are great, and the choruses give the album even more melody. The guitar leads are placed in the songs in perfect places, making fluid transitions. And with all of the hard elements, fast melodies, and great lyrics, each of the album's tracks is different and great. My favorite song from it is.. well, honestly, all of them are favorites, and no, i am not exaggerating. This album is a MUST HAVE for any metal fan.

Many people refer to this as Blind Guardian's best, and others don't. How do you know if this is for you? If you're a fan of speed and thrash metal, like old Metallica and Iron Maiden, then this one has all of that-fast riffs, raw sounding vocals, and great drumwork to keep you pumped up and ready for any danger that lurks your way. In a way, this sounds like a mix between the two. However, if you're a fan just because you like the super epic sound of their later albums such as "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" and "A Night at the Opera", then this may not be your taste. By the way, "Weird Dreams" is a minute and a half instrumental. "Lord of the Rings" is one of Blind Guardian's best ballads. The rest are all thrashers that range from okay to awesome; check my ratings below to see.

Traveller in Time: A+
Welcome to Dying: A+
Weird Dreams: B
Lord of the Rings: A
Goodbye My Friend: B-
Lost in the Twilight Hall: A
Tommyknockers: B-
Altair 4: C-
The Last Candle: B
Run for the Night: B+

Blind Guardian's third album, although being far from their best, is still a good piece of fantasy inspired speed metal on its own. I would say from my current BG library this one ranks third behind the "Nightfall.." and "..Opera" albums. The music in a sum made me think of Metallica's "Ride the Lightening" guitars with BG type vocals-which I thought was evident for most, not all, songs.
The CD starts off well with the opener "Traveler In Time," a fun speed metal song with a multiple vocal chorus style as heard in BG's later albums, but just toned down in the term of epicness. The speed metal aspects that go for most of the record keep the songs grounded, to where it doesn't sound like pure Fantasy metal, but speed metal with fantasy flares sprinkled throughout. The next track is pretty similar to that of the first; speed metal verses with chorus style, um, choruses and whaling guitar solos, then we have a short instrumental with flares of shred guitar throughout, still fun.
Now these aren't some of the best songs ever written, but still a fun time CD pop in every now and then. Track 4 "Lord of the Rings" was my favorite, another incredible BG ballad. It's just impossible for these guys to write a ballad that's anywhere below amazing, very melodic and enchanting.
The remainder of the album is mostly different takes and lyrics on the strong speed metal influence. Although I have to say that "Tommyknockers" is pretty silly sounding and a song you'll probably end up skipping. Track 9 is undoubtably one of the funnest metal songs ever written, one can't help but air guitar and sing along to it.
BG said in an interview that the reason they let go of the speed metal sound into their new harmonious sound is mostly because they've always tried writing songs like they have on their latest albums but just didn't have the musical ability, but as they grew older, they became more experienced and went to write songs w/ a sound they've always wanted. This is definitely apparent in this record, as both songwriting is good but not as grand as what they have recently, and Hansi's voice is most definitely not up to par to his passion of today's BG. He sounds somewhat wierd at certain parts, almost whaling like a hair-metal vocalist would- ugh. The bonus track is a good addition too. Overall this is better then their "Imaginations.." album, and just a plain ol' fun as hell record, although not the deepest thing you'll ever hear. The 4 stars means it's definitely worth buying IMO. I would say about 8/10 tracks on this are worth hearing. Pick this up if you're into BG or want to hear what their good old stuff sounded like.

Many people say that "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" is Blind Guardian's masterpiece, and that it is their greatest album. I definitly agree that it is a materpiece, but to me, it is not their greatest.
This album has everything that ever was, and ever will be Blind Guardian. This also is just a great metal album in general, and by far one of my personal favorite metal albums of all time.
I suggest that if you are new to BG you purchase this album first, becuase if you don't like this one, then you probably won't like the others very much. All of this review is my opinion, and I hope that it has been helpful to you.

Yes, here it is. Considered by many to be their best, this is the quintissential Bling Guardian album. Everything is here. There are songs based on Frank Herbert's "Dune", the inredible Stephen King novel "The Tommyknockers", and of course, J.R.R. Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" book. The songs are fast, hard, and epic with a raw sound that Blind Guardian has never quite been able to duplicate. There third full-length album, and many fan's favorite is Tales From The Twilight World. If you're looking into BG, start here.

Blind Guardian, along with the Scorpions and Helloween, are probably the most well known German metal bands (unless you count Rammstein). This 1990 masterpiece really changed the format of speed metal and along with other bands like Paradise Lost, Devil Doll, Celtic Frost and others, helped change the landscape of metal to include many classical elements. The introduction of Queen influenced choir vocals and almost Slayer speed thrashing power metal make this probably their most groundbreaking release, especially for the time. And also, fans of the Lord of the Rings moview and books should know this album includes songs based on Tolkien, too bad they couldn't compose for the soundtrack.

Blind Guardian's original name was Lucifer's Hammer. Gawd, how inappropriate is that? Well, thank god these krauts changed their mind, cos their brand of metal is more or less a metal institution. TFTTW is my favorite BG album, possibly because it was my first. The songwriting differs very little from their two subsequent releases, which is nothing bad in itself.... Welcome to Dying, Traveller in Time... speed metal anthems. I'd suggest a prospective BG fan totally get on this before anything else, because Tales, well, in laymans terms: RULES.

Hansi had yet to really master English... this provides for some badass lisp on Welcome to Dying. His voice has a lot a bite and is persistently in key. There are not as many choirs as there would eventually be, and the sound is in short, stripped down. This speaking from the perspective of a guy who is well aware of their recent career choices, mind you.

Andre Olbrich destroys the fretboard on tales, letting loose on some seriously searing and inspired solos... WTD, come on man, that one lick right before the end is so good. Blind Guardian's music is very technical but they mask that with great hooks. Check out Goodbye My Friend, a totally underrated gem of a song, and Lost in the Twilight world (which features pitiful vocals from Helloween frontman Kai Hansen) for some riffy goodness.

Lord of the Rings is everybody's favorite and a well done ballad. These guys are full on geeks, and alot of their fanbase are dungeonmasters... but unlike your average rhapsody they have enough balls to attract the metal guys as well. This is why BG are so killer... they could make you thrash around wildly and sing on high in the same instant. This one's at least top 20 for the 90s and a grand record.

Their second best album, just behind Somewhere Far Beyond. Just shows how good the year 1990 was for metal (Rust In Peace, Painkiller, TFTTW, Seasons In The Abyss, etc), but for Blind Guardian, this is where it all started.

Traveler In Time: This and Time, What is Time are two of the best opener you will ever come across (9/10)
Welcome To Dying: Slightly overrated, mainly because Hansi's vocals just seem so routine compared to the rest of the album (7.5/10)
Weird Dreams: Short instrumental. Nice and quick and an interesting listen (8/10)
Lord Of The Rings: Their token 'softer' song, LOTR is a decent song with a nice rolling sound. Prabably the inspiration for 'The Bard's Song and a precursor to their later sound (8.5/10)
Goodbye My Friend: Easily the best song on the album, with memorable riffs and awesome vocals. One of Blind Guardian's and (IMHO) metal's greatest and most underrated songs (10/10)
Lost In The Twilight Hall: Known mostly for the vocals of Kai Hansen, LITWH really isnt that bad, and is probably the third best song on the album, after Goodbye My Friend and Traveler In Time. (9/10)
Tommyknockers: An average song, sounds like a remnant from their earlier days (6.5/10)
Altair 4: Short songs, nothing apart from some pretty basic riffs (7/10)
The Last Candle: Catchy, soaring chorus, but little else (8/10)

When I first heard this album, a friend of mine who had left the Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union had picked this one up when he stayed in Germany on the way to the US.

I couldn't believe my ears.

Here was this German band, thrashing through every song, except for one thing: the music was strangely adventurous and positive. After a few more listens, I was hooked. No band ever sounded like this. "Tales of the Twilight World" introduces us to a sound that, up until it's release, had never been heard: speed metal with genuine uplifting harmony.

Songs like "Traveller in Time", "Welcome to Dying", and "Goodbye My Friend" whip up such a fury, it's hard to grasp the first time you listen to it. This brings up a point about the band that can't be under-estimated: BG displays a total and complete ignorance of common songwriting formulas. THAT'S one of the things I love so much about these guys. There's no verse-verse-chorus--nothing even close. The songs just adventure on-and-on, through their own path. Listen to "Goodbye My Friend" for an example of this. Several parts of the song occur only once, the chorus is modulated in different keys at different points, and the whole composition seems barely held together. I LOVE THAT ABOUT THIS BAND!! It forms the basis for BG's originality, as is also a bone of contention for the band's detractors.

Not to be forgotten is the rousing cameo performance of Kai Hansen on "Lost in the Twilight Hall." The ballad "Lord of the Rings" presents an intricate side to the group they would revisit in detail on later albums. It remains a staple in their live performances, as does "Welcome to Dying."

Tales From the Twilight World is an astounding masterpiece. You either love it or hate it--which is true of most seminal albums by legendary bands. So this is it: THE ALBUM that launched the revolution in Metal.

this is the first great Blind Guardian album, and despite its differences to their latest, _Twist in the Myth_, there is a "unity in differences" that has set the rails upon which this band has ridden. Here, where the band at first sounds immature, within a deflated creative dimension of its musical ideas. Yet there is a sublime craftsmanship beneath the surface that distinguishes them from the rabble of power metal. Below its ostensibly unpolished exterior, _Tales from the Twilight World_ exhudes not only intelligence, style, and proficiency, but the higher artistic virtues of character, and the happy rashness of imagination. They have everything going for them. Not to mention that Hansi's voice is still the awesome presence it always is. Hansi's screaming power metal voice is better than anything. The songs are brilliant. "Traveller in Time" and "Welcome to Dying" make two killer opening cuts. "Lord of the Rings", while elevated to sheer magic on the later acoustic/orchestral version (see _Forgotten Tales_), is a charming ballad with the embryo of their future medieval-esque, textural constructions. "Goodbye My Friend" is among their very best, with super-heavy, blazing and grinding guitars and one of hansi's most unforgettable vocal performances. "Lost in the Twilight Hall" is killer and Kai Hansen's guest vocals are hilarious. "Tommyknockers" is actually pretty sweet also but you can't help but chuckle at the chorus. Then best of all is "The Last Candle" -- incredible intro, incredible guitars and vocals, and one of the most perfect demonstrations of Blind Guardian's mastery of songcraft, emotional inflection, and sheer kcikazzery. as always (except on NIME), their closing songs top everything. BLIND GUARDIAN IS THE BEST BAND EVA