Blind Guardian | |
|---|---|
 Blind Guardian performing in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Lucifer's Heritage (1984–1987) |
| Origin | Krefeld, Germany |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | Hansi Kürsch André Olbrich Marcus Siepen Frederik Ehmke |
| Past members | Thomas Kelleners Markus Dörk Christof Theißen Hans-Peter Frey Thomas "Thomen" Stauch |
| Website | www |
Blind Guardian is a Germanpower metal band formed in 1984 inKrefeld,West Germany.[1] They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal andspeed metal subgenres.[2][3] Nine musicians have been part of the band's lineup throughout its history, which currently includes singerHansi Kürsch, guitaristsAndré Olbrich andMarcus Siepen, and, since 2005, drummer Frederik Ehmke.
Blind Guardian is a key player in theGerman heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s. The band was formed in 1984 asLucifer's Heritage by Kürsch (who also played bass at the time), Olbrich, fellow guitarist Markus Dörk, and drummerThomas Stauch. Dörk and Stauch left the following year and were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively, who also departed before the year ended. In 1987, Siepen joined the group, and Stauch returned; this lineup, which lasted 18 years (the longest in the band's history), led the band to change their name to Blind Guardian and release their debut album,Battalions of Fear, in 1988. They have since released ten more studio albums, including anorchestral album released under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.
Through their discography, Blind Guardian has established themselves as a notable and successful band and as pioneers of the power metal movement. In 1996, Kürsch ceased to act as the band's bassist to focus on vocals, with various session musicians filling in, primarily Oliver Holzwarth. However, in 2005, Stauch left the band, expressing disapproval of Blind Guardian's shift toward a more complexprogressive sound with heavy backing vocals, and was replaced by Ehmke.
Most of Blind Guardian's albums have been well received by fans and critics alike:Somewhere Far Beyond (1992),Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), andNightfall in Middle-Earth (1998) are particularly regarded as influential works. The music is primarily composed by Kürsch and Olbrich together, while the lyrics, penned by Kürsch, draw inspiration from the works of fantasy authors such asJ. R. R. Tolkien,Michael Moorcock,Stephen King,George R. R. Martin, andRobert Jordan, as well as traditionallegends andepics.[4] Over the years, a theme has developed that personifies the band members as traveling storytellers, leading fans to affectionately refer to them as "The Bards." Blind Guardian has been described in one article as one of the "big four" bands of power metal, alongsideHelloween,Sabaton, andDragonForce.[5]
Blind Guardian was formed in 1984 inKrefeld,West Germany, byHansi Kürsch (vocals, bass) andAndré Olbrich (guitar) under the name Lucifer's Heritage, alongside Markus Dörk (guitar) andThomen Stauch (drums). The band briefly expanded into aquintet with the addition of a second lead vocalist, Thomas Kelleners. However, after three months, Kelleners left the band by mutual agreement.[6] Lucifer's Heritage released twodemos in 1985 and 1986, despite undergoing chaotic lineup changes: Dörk and Stauch were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively. Finally, in 1987, Marcus Siepen joined, and Stauch returned to form the lineup that would remain consistent for the next 18 years.
After Lucifer's Heritage signed a contract withNo Remorse Records, the band changed their name to Blind Guardian to avoid any speculation regardingSatanism. In their biography, the band noted that they also wanted to distance themselves from theblack metal movement, as their demos had been placed alongside black metal albums in local record shops. The new name was inspired by theFates Warning albumAwaken the Guardian.[7] They released their debut album,Battalions of Fear, in 1988, which was essentially aspeed metal album heavily influenced byHelloween.[8] These two German bands had close ties, and Helloween founderKai Hansen made a guest appearance on Blind Guardian's second LP,Follow the Blind (1989), where the band revealed somethrash metal influences.[9][10] Their third LP,Tales from the Twilight World (1990), showcased a much more melodic and "epic" sound, incorporating elements ofchoir and classical music.
Blind Guardian signed withVirgin Records in 1991 and released their fourth studio album,Somewhere Far Beyond, in 1992, followed by the live albumTokyo Tales in 1993. In 1994,Flemming Rasmussen, the former producer forMetallica, began working with the band, producing their fifth studio album,Imaginations from the Other Side, released in 1995, as well asThe Forgotten Tales, an album that featured a mix of covers and original material, released in 1996.
In 1998, Blind Guardian released their epic albumNightfall in Middle-Earth. Described byAllmusic's Vincent Jeffries as "complete with anthemic choruses, spoken word storylines, and plenty of bombastic power metal punctuating every dramatic turn," he stated that "Nightfall in Middle-Earth is perhaps Blind Guardian's most triumphant" work.[11] Aconcept album based onJ. R. R. Tolkien'sThe Silmarillion,[4] the music onNightfall demonstrated somefolk rock influence while also featuring heavy use ofQueen-style layered backing vocals. Following the release ofNightfall, bass duties were taken over by session member Oliver Holzwarth, allowing Hansi to focus entirely on vocals. This album also marked the last time Blind Guardian worked with producer Flemming Rasmussen.
Four years later, the band releasedA Night at the Opera, named after the Queen album. On this album, the band's sound largely departed from their original speed metal influences, instead embracing power and progressive metal with over-the-top orchestral backing and consistent vocal and guitar layering throughout.[12] While not a true concept album, many of the lyrics explored common themes of religion and the relationships between human and divine powers. This was followed by a live album in 2003 and a DVD,Imaginations Through the Looking Glass, in 2004, which was the last recorded Blind Guardian material featuringThomen Stauch on drums. He departed from the band due to musical differences and was replaced by Frederik Ehmke. The first album with Ehmke wasA Twist in the Myth, released in 2006.
Blind Guardian contributed to the soundtrack for theIn the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Talefantasy film directed byUwe Boll, which was released in 2008.[13] The band also recorded a theme song forSacred 2: Fallen Angel, arole-playing video game and the sequel toSacred.[14]
"A Voice in the Dark" was the next single from Blind Guardian, released on June 25, 2010. Following this, the albumAt the Edge of Time was released on July 30, 2010. To promote the album, the band embarked on "The Sacred Worlds and Songs Divine Tour 2010," with opening acts includingEnforcer and Steelwing for European dates, whileHoly Grail andSeven Kingdoms opened for the U.S. shows. The band also announced they would perform atWacken Open Air in 2011.
On July 21, 2011,Hansi Kürsch revealed on Blind Guardian's official website that they were working on an orchestral album.[15][16] On September 1, 2011, Oliver Holzwarth joinedRhapsody of Fire as a full-time member after 13 years as Blind Guardian's session bassist.[17]
On January 27, 2012, Blind Guardian released a compilation album titledMemories of a Time to Come, featuring re-recorded and remixed songs from their entire discography.[18] Almost exactly one year later, on January 28, 2013, they released a box set titledA Traveler's Guide to Space and Time, which included all of the band’s studio, live, and compilation albums from 1988 to 2004, along with some previously unreleased material.[19]
On July 11, 2012, Hansi posted on the band’s official website that they would cease touring after their performance at the Rockharz festival inBallenstedt, which occurred two days later. In his announcement, he mentioned the desire to focus on a new record before returning to the road by 2014. He also expressed a wish to perform songs they had never played live before their next tour.[20]
In October 2013, Blind Guardian was announced as the headliner for the Out & Loud Festival inGeiselwind on May 31, 2014. On October 18, 2013, Hansi shared an update via the official website, stating he expected the new record to be fully produced by May 2014. He confirmed that the album was progressing well and mentioned nine new songs by name:Irish Hill (later titledGrand Parade),Encrypted Time,Prophecies,Holy Grail,Winter's Coming,The Throne,The Ocean, andOutcast, along with two others with uncertain titles,Song 9 andMidtempo Song.[21]
The tenth Blind Guardian album, titledBeyond the Red Mirror, was released on January 30, 2015. The first single, "Twilight of the Gods," was released on December 5, 2014.[22] On January 28, 2015, two days before the release ofBeyond the Red Mirror, Blind Guardian announced Barend Courbois as their new session/live bassist on their official Facebook page.[23]
The band recorded live shows during the 2015 European leg of the Beyond the Red Mirror tour for a new live album,Live Beyond the Spheres, which was released on July 7, 2017.[24]
When asked in July 2017 about the next Blind Guardian studio album, Kürsch stated, "We haven't done too much songwriting for the next regular Blind Guardian album, but still, we've made some steps at least, and I can sense a strong change in comparison to what we did on the last album. There's one song called 'Architect of Doom,' which is a truly heavy track. Very powerful. Very thrashy at points. And there's another song called 'American Goth,' which is kind of what you would expect from Blind Guardian, but the way we maintained the drums and the orchestra—this song features orchestral elements—makes it feel distinctly different. I'm pretty sure that you will notice a significant change when you listen to these two albums, and from that point of view, yes,Live Beyond the Spheres is the end of an era." He also mentioned that they were working on an orchestral album, which was originally scheduled to be finished and released in 2016,[25] but was now due for release in 2019, followed by a "heavy album" slated for release in 2020.[26]
The band's long-awaited orchestral album,Legacy of the Dark Lands, was released on 1 November 2019, after Olbrich and Kürsch had conceived and written the project since 1996.[27][28] It features only Kürsch as a performer, along with thePrague Philharmonic Orchestra, and is credited to the "Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra" rather than the band's regular name.[29]
In November 2021, it was announced that a new single, "Deliver Us From Evil," would be released on 3 December 2021, and that the band's forthcoming twelfth album would be released in September 2022. Kürsch told Nuclear Blast, "We know that the gap between now and the album release in late 2022 is painfully long. Neither we nor our label could defy the current worldwide economic crisis. A long story short: There is no one to blame for this situation... Talking about anticipation, even though 'Violent Shadows' and 'Deliver Us From Evil' are indisputably fantastic tracks, rest assured: We won't let you wait another ten months with only two songs. I promise you, you will always be blown away—cheers to the digital era and its endless possibilities. Oh, and the album title. There is one, but I won't tell you yet. This would be giving away far too much right now."[30]
In July 2022, Jon Van Stratum replaced Barend Courbois as a session member. Despite persistent belief among some fans that he became a permanent member, Hansi Kürsch confirmed that he is only a live session member.[31]
In May 2022, the title of the band's twelfth album was announced asThe God Machine, along with a release date of 2 September 2022.[32][33]
In a February 2024 interview with Australia's Subculture Entertainment, Kürsch revealed that Blind Guardian will commence "real songwriting" for their thirteenth studio album in 2025.[34] When asked that same month if there would be "a shorter turnaround time" for the album, following a seven-year gap betweenBeyond the Red Mirror andThe God Machine, Kürsch reiterated that the band will "keep [their] focus on regular songwriting" after their upcoming tour. Regarding a possible release date, he stated, "I don't know—I would be very surprised to find out that there's no new Blind Guardian album before '27, which is an accomplishment already, but I'm hoping for either late '25 or '26."[35]
The musical style of Blind Guardian has been described aspower metal,[2][36][37]symphonic metal,[37]progressive metal,[36]speed metal,[2][3][36]heavy metal,[38]thrash metal,[36] andneoclassical metal.[36]
Blind Guardian's first two albums,Battalions of Fear andFollow the Blind, were more in the style ofspeed metal compared to their subsequent works. Beginning with their third album,Tales from the Twilight World, Blind Guardian gradually started to write more intricate compositions, placing less emphasis on speed. By the time of their sixth album,Nightfall in Middle Earth, Hansi Kürsch ceased playing bass to concentrate solely on vocals. At this juncture, the band began to incorporate substantial orchestral arrangements and utilized the technique ofoverdubbing, heavily influenced by the English rock bandQueen.[39]
Blind Guardian's music features thestaccato guitars and doublebass drumming characteristic of power metal, along with the use ofoverdubs and numerous backing vocals to create a rich and dense sound. This proved significant on all albums after the first two, but most particularly onA Night at the Opera.
Another defining feature of Blind Guardian's music is the frequent use offolk tunes and instruments, especially inpower ballads such as "Lord of the Rings," "The Bard's Song," "A Past and Future Secret," "Skalds and Shadows," and "Curse My Name," among others.
The band was initially inspired by their fellow countrymenHelloween, and in its early releases, it also displayed influences fromIron Maiden andMetallica.[40] According to guitarist Marcus Siepen, during the songwriting forFollow the Blind, they also listened toBay Area thrash metal bands, such asTestament andForbidden, resulting in a somewhat heavier sound.[40]
Starting with their third album,Tales from the Twilight World, and continuing throughSomewhere Far Beyond andImaginations from the Other Side, Blind Guardian gradually incorporated more influences from progressive and classical music.Queen had a significant impact, particularly concerning the choir arrangements and harmonies, an effect most notable onA Night at the Opera.[40]
Singer Hansi Kürsch expressed the band's attraction to 1970sprogressive rock, citing earlyGenesis,Gentle Giant, andELP as key influences. However, regarding the genre, he sees more direct influences inprogressive metal bands, particularlyFates Warning,Queensrÿche, andSavatage.[41] The folkloric influences onNightfall in Middle-Earth primarily stem from British rock bandJethro Tull.[40]
Along withJon Schaffer, the leader and founder ofIced Earth, Kürsch was a member ofDemons & Wizards, where he served as the lead singer until its disbandment in early 2021 due to Schaffer's involvement in theJanuary 6 US Capitol attack.
Frederik Ehmke was a founding member of the bandSinbreed, in which Marcus Siepen was initially a session member. Later, in 2012, Marcus became a full member of the band.
Following the tsunami that struck Japan on 11 March 2011, Blind Guardian collaborated with their former record company,EMI Music, to auction an exclusive studio session for two at the Twilight Hall Studio in Grefrath, Germany, for charity. All proceeds were donated to tsunami relief efforts.[42] The auction concluded on 22 April 2011 with a final bid of £1,171.00.[43]
Current members
Current session/touring musicians
| Former members
Former session/touring musicians
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| National | |
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