Blind Guardian - At the Edge of Time

When Blind Guardian releases an album, it can almost be classified as an event, as their reputation for putting out grandiose albums precedes them.  In the last 12 years or so, they have released four albums, with each album having about four years between them.  Their previous three studio albums have ranged from epic (Nightfall in Middle Earth) to bloated (A Night at the Opera) to just plain average (A Twist in the Myth).  Now, with a new album out in At the Edge of Time, Blind Guardian faces a make or break situation of sorts, as the pressure of putting out a great album is squarely on them this year.

The opening track “Sacred Worlds” is lengthy, with the vocals kicking in around the 2:15 mark.  The intro prior to the vocals is reminiscent of the best parts of A Night at the Opera, meaning that the music can pass off for a movie score.  The last minute or two of the song is equal to the first part, making it one of the more epic songs on the album and is a reminder of what Blind Guardian can be: grand in design and execution.  Blind Guardian shows its slower side with “Road of No Release,” which is reminiscent of the darker parts of Nightfall in Middle Earth, only with slightly less emotion to it.  That isn’t to say there isn’t emotion on the song, as the piano offers something to the mix.  “War of the Thrones” is a primarily piano affair that best showcases vocalist Hansi Kursch’s talents and is one of the better songs on the album, as it is Blind Guardian at their best when it comes to making songs, though it isn’t as grand as some of their other songs.  The first single off At the Edge of Time “A Voice in the Dark” is alright, but it is also one of the weaker songs on the album, at least, according to Blind Guardian standards.  At times, At the Edge of Time seems to find a perfect medium between both Nightfall in Middle Earth and A Night at the Opera in that it comes off as grand in spots (“Sacred Worlds” and “Curse My Name”) while sounding somewhat overloaded (as the length of the album runs just over an hour).

Blind Guardian will never match their highest point, being Nightfall in Middle Earth, yet they will never reach their lowest point, which was A Twist in the Myth.  Saying that, Blind Guardian has some high standards to live up to, and even their worst album sounds better than half of the music that is out today.  At the Edge of Time is proof that Blind Guardian still has it, and is definitely worth having for Blind Guardian fans and for those who would like to get into the band without having to exhaust the possibilities first.

Release Date: July 29, 2010
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Sacred Worlds
2.  Tanelorn (Into the Voids)
3.  Road of No Release
4.  Ride into Obsession
5.  Curse My Name
6.  Valkyries
7.  Control the Divine
8.  War of the Thrones
9.  A Voice in the Dark
10.  Wheel of Time

Total playing time:  61:18

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*Comments:

Reviewer: Peter

August 16, 2010