Customer Reviews

And Then There Was Silence

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

 

 

I wouldn't really consider myself a Blind Guardian fan. Still, I really admire what they do. Definitely a unique band, they combine speedy power metal, symphonic keyboards, medieval melodies, and the folk-influenced vocals of Hansi Kursch.

This disc is something else, though. The 14-minute title track is amazing! It's not really very heavy or fast, but it's so HUGE! And the overall sound is even more epic than Nightfall in Middle-Earth. The heavy use of choirs puts even Rhapsody to shame. Truly, the real star is Kursch's multitracked voice. It's SO powerful...it sends chills up and down my spine. The song is apparently about the Trojan War, but I haven't even checked the lyrics. The music is so epic (there's that word again!) and dramatic that it's impossible not to get swept along, whatever it's about. It goes through reams of melody shifts, some melodic metal guitar driven passages to quieter folk-ish movements. And all throughout are Kursch's massive vocals. I read that 50 vocal tracks were used when recording this, and I definitely believe it. Also, rather than an obnoxious abuse of double bass drum that one might expect from a power metal group, the drums here are very symphonic, including cool and very fitting "marching snare" during the chorus. To say this song is intense is an gross understatement.

And the chorus...I didn't recognize it the first few times the song played, because it's done with the omnipresent Kursch Power Choir™, but when you become familiar with it, you'll be slaughtered by its energy. I hope you have a good sound system...there's nothing like being inundated in those HUGE, pervasive harmonies and having the room around you quiver with its majesty.

Whether you're a fan or Blind Guardian or not...heck, whether you're a fan of power metal or not...you _have_ to hear this song!

This is TRUE METAL my friend ... See, this would never play on TRL because it is TRUE METAL of the highest quality and not the MTV bred teeny rock corporate America sells our kids! The radio rap-rock he clearly listens to. This band plays on a musical level the bands he mentioned (Linkin Park,Limp Bizkit,Drowning Pool, Kid Rock, Korn and Papa Roach<--- FALSE METAL) could never even dream of. And it is the best 14 minutes you'll ever spend listening to a song. And for his information, the garbage he listens to wouldn't even know about heavy guitar if it weren't for the ORIGINAL TRUE METAL BANDS. Blind Guardian are so ahead of there time it's scary. To take operatic vocals and classically influenced musicianship to this level is almost beyond comprehension. I agree, you should buy their earlier albums and work your way up to this so you can see the magnificent progression this amazing band has went through. This is a POWER METAL masterpiece for which all symphonic metal shall be judged. ALL HAIL BLIND GUARDIAN. Radio

"And Then There Was Silence" is the first single off of the upcoming new album to be released in March of 2002. I've
just finished listening to it for the second time...and I'm still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor. As far as direction,
imagine the sound they had on "Nightfall in Middle Earth" and multiply it by 100. The scope and depth of the music
is simply amazing. It is as if ALL of the instruments are in front, especially the guitars, which are heavy and intricate.

Fantastic production here.

The most captivating thing about "And Then There Was Silence" is the chorus. It is repeated 3 three times in the
14 minute-long song, but it could play on forever and never get old. It is that good. Blind Guardian have always been the
leaders in "big-choruses" in songs, but now they assert themselves as the masters. The song as a whole is a musical journey
that showcases the best elements of Blind Guardian...tempo-changes, meaningful lyrics (this time about the Battle of Troy),
beautiful yet edgey melodies, and Hansi Kursh's unique vocal style all over layers of heavy guitars and powerful orchestration.
"Harvest of Sorrow" is also included here, which is a thoughtful ballad highlighting Blind Guardian's versatility in
songwriting. There is also a cool multi-media portion.

If you are already a fan of Blind Guardian and haven't got this yet, it is worth the money to get this. It will hold you over
until March. If you have only heard things about Blind Guardian but have never heard them, I recommend starting with
"Nightfall in Middle-Earth" or "Imaginations From the Other Side" before getting this single (or the up-coming new album).
It will introduce you to their awesome sound.

After all this being said, I truly believe that Blind Guardian have come of age and should seriously be considered the
classiest and most powerful metal/hard rock act of the new millenium. They've worked hard to get to this point.
I simply cannot wait to hear the new album. Great work, guys! Please tour the USA!!!

Ok, so Im really 15, im just to lazy to register. Anyway, this single is everything I expected from Blind Guardian and more. Buy this! This is one of the best speed metal bands around, and there diversity for the genre makes them better. To add the classical elements is amazing. Highly Recomended.

Is it possible to drown one's self in a song? Blind Guardian's newest contribution to the music world as I know it nearly did...the song, 'And There Was Silence,' with honorable mention to the additional song 'Harvest of Sorrow' fill the expanses of silence with ever changing rhythms of solace and fury without losing a step and concluding with a very intoxicating melody. I've always been hesitant of acquiring singles for the vain purpose of getting every song from an artist, but this is a very note-worthy exception. 'And There Was Silence' portrays the Trojan War, particularly the sacking of Troy. Unfortunately, the lyrics neglected the battle with Achielles and Hector in namesake only (something which Manowar did not forget), but that should not take anything away from a very distinguished piece of European metal. Besides, you get the very acceptable Quicktime video of 'Born In A Morning Hall' to go with it. Hail and ...

Being a monster fan of Blind Guardian, and drooling in anticipation of the release of their new album, I hastened to pick up this single to get a look at what Hansi and Co. have been up to for the last four years since "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" was released. Their fourteen-minute epic "And Then There Was Silence" could not have fulfilled my expectations any more, and I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone who likes Blind Guardian. For anyone who is just getting into power metal, though, or who hasn't listened to alot of BG yet, I would recommend starting with "Nightfall" or "Imaginations from the Other Side" before purchasing "Silence," as it tends to get a little lost in its own grandeur at times. Nevertheless, it is a tantalizing preview of their "Night at the Opera" and I don't regret a dime I spent. The other song on the disc, "Harvest of Sorrow," in addition to being distractingly closely titled to a Metallica song, is filler. It neither makes the disc more or less worth buying. There is also a sort of live/music video track for the PC of Blind Guardian performing "Born in a Mourning Hall." I would have preferred a real live performance, since I already have the studio version, but it's still pretty cool seeing BG in concert, even if the camera work is so spastic you can't really focus on watching the guys play.

The technical details of this release are well documented. After listening to this epic song, I am struck by how well the band's vision translates to the music. "And Then There Was Silence" takes a difficult story, the capturing of Helen of Troy, and transforms it into a lush musical landscape. This song's length will get it noticed, but after you have listened to it, you will find yourself coming back for the pure enjoyment of epic metal done right. It is a true shame that this kind of music can not get any airplay. You can not go wrong with a purchase of this CD.

What can i say, the song is long and if you don't like power metall you will not like it at all. Otherwise this is really good. I don't think it is the best of Blind Guardian, but i will definetelly recommend it to any metall fan. And i don't include fans of Korn and Limp Biscuts to this category.

This band never ceases to amaze me. Just when I think they couldn't get better with Nightfall, They go and outdo themselves. Get this CD and enjoy.

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. 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.

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.