Follow the Blind

Occupation

  • Vocals, bass: Hansi Kürsch
  • Lead Guitar: André Olbrich
  • Rhythm Guitar: Marcus Siepen
  • Drums: Thomen upsetting

Production

  • Kalle Trap

Studios

  • January-February 1989
  • Karo Studio Brackelsberg in Hamburg

Follow the Blind is the second studio album by the band Blind Guardian from Krefeld. It was recorded and released in 1989.

Formation

After the release of their debut album " Battalions of Fear" at the beginning of 1988, the band immediately began work on new material. In January and February 1989, the band recorded as already in the debut of the new album under the direction of Kalle Trapp in the Hamburg Karo Studios. The album cover was - again as before - drawn by Van Waay style.

The intro " Inquisition " is the Monty Python film taken from " The Holy Grail ". In the song " Valhalla " can be heard as a guest vocalist Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray band. The 1991 released CD edition of the album was expanded to include the bonus track " Do not Break the Circle", a cover version of Demon. Also, the " Barbara Ann " already contained on the LP is a cover version; Original Artist were the Beach Boys.

Style

In principle, similar to the album with his long and consistently fast songs with just a few tempo changes, which are mainly borne by riffs and melodic break, the predecessor album. However, the album is still more focused on rhythm and riffing; For example, there are only very short solo passages and little varied song structures. Formative are also presented partially in the choir choruses; However, these are still not as polished as on later albums. The voice of the singer Hansi Kürsch sounds much rougher than at later times.

The lyrics of the album are primarily based on fantasy literature. " Damned for All Time" and "Fast to Madness " are by Michael Moorcock's novels " The Eternal Hero" (English: "The Eternal Champion ") and " Elric of Melniboné " inspired the title song is based on the novel "The Talisman" by Stephen King and Peter Straub. In addition to these references and mythological and religious subjects are addressed: " Banish from Sanctuary " tells the biblical story of John the Baptist and " Valhalla " reports of Valhalla from Norse mythology.

Only occasionally is suggestive of later works trends can be discerned; such as in the title track, the intro and outro are provided with a keyboard and acoustic guitar and in addition has a varied structure. Nevertheless, even here dominates the rather harsh tone of the album.

Kürsch himself said later in an interview with the magazine Rock Hard (issue 177) that the band for the time of origin of the album was strongly influenced by thrash metal bands like Vio - Lence and Forbidden or have therefore tried compositionally similar. With her ​​then rather limited technical playing ability but the band was falling behind in the continuous fast songs.

Effect and reception

In the trade press "Follow the Blind" has been consistently highly rated. Criticism was not only the consistent level of compositions.

When importing the album in Japan was granted a great success, which culminated in an agreement for the sale of albums by Blind Guardian in this country and the band there ever since brought tremendous success up to the recording of the live album " Tokyo Tales".

In the live program of the band, the songs of the album did not last too long as the material of the subsequent work was much more sophisticated. Only " Valhalla " is still part of the program, the combination of " Inquisition " / " Banish from Sanctuary " was used for a time as an entry to concerts of the band.

List of titles

Total Time: 38 min 43s and 43 3 s including bonus track min.

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