Review – A Night At The Opera (CD)
A Night at the Opera
Year of release: 2002
Number of songs: 10
Total running time: 66 minutes 59 seconds
This album is one of the albums I have been looking most forward to; I have been waiting since I got the Album "NIME" from 1998.
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| Live - Blind Guardian |
That album was a very complex one, and I had to listen to it many-many-many times before I understood the concept, well now I sit here with the newest album, and I have heard it about 15 times, and now I feel I can come with some sort of review, so I will do just that. I will get in to every track, and then resume in the end to make an overall statement of this album. German band BG. Evolving quickly from primitive power metal roots, Guardian has become one of the most vital bands working in metal, layering increasingly complex and ornate instrumentation and choral vocals over structural schema that are not simple to begin with. There are no simple power chords and adolescent exhortations to party all night here; this is not just songwriting, but composition. Hansi Kürsch use his voice as a complex and multifaceted instrument. Kürsch's voice is delightfully unique, alternating fluidly from quiet finesse to emotive heal. "Precious Jerusalem" opens the album with its pummeling drums, middle eastern guitar harmonics and epic chorus, a BG trademark. The opener is followed by the equally heavy "Battlefield", a classic medieval battle song sure to have you wielding steel. Fans of the Dragonlance saga must take note of "The Soulforged", a metal anthem based on the series' character Raistlin Majere. It is these songs that round out the quartet's ambitious, multi layered, heavy sound. However, in true metal fashion, the album also features two ballads, "The Maiden And The Minstrel Knight" and "Mies Del Dolor", both equally good and the latter being sung in Spanish. Singer Hansi Kürsch's pronunciation is excellent, quite an accomplishment for a German singer. Take a look at the epic "And Then There Was Silence", a fourteen minute masterpiece the piece is remarkable, bringing the listener through a diverse musical journey that spans a multitude of emotions. The song is based on the Trojan war and helps close the album with power. A song of such length can run the risk of being repetitive, but fortunately the music is expansive and does not quarantine itself in any particular style. Bringing this talent to sound is Charlie Bauerfeind, who does a super job producing this album. Musical kudos also goes to drummer Thomen Stauch whose performance is awe inspiring. His combination of speed and technical prowers is matched by few, a true master of the kit. Fortunately the rest of the band is on par, especially guitarists Andre Oldbrich and Marcus Siepens, whose elaborate scales can perplex the ear. All in all, a wonderful release and further proof that metal can cross a wide selection of sounds and appeal to a large audience. This album was worth the wait for me at least, I really enjoy this new hard complex progressive power metal style that this band plays. Although Guardian's music is expertly produced and polished to a shine, it is still metal: Distorted guitars are the bedrock upon which these songs are built, and the tempos are up more often than not. As with all of Guardian's music, a medieval theme is in full effect; themes are present on most of the tunes, lyrically and musically. If you're one of those who believes that metal is dead or irrelevant, BG will happily prove you wrong. You should let it.
Editor: Peter Jerman
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