BATTALIONS OF FEAR

Initial thoughts:

First of all, i must start saying that this is the most underrated Blind Guardian album ever! And it is just because it is raw speed metal and metal is too aggressive to prog ears. Well, imagine what kind of reaction King Crimson would cause on medieval Europe, whose ears were used to bird singing, soft flutes, lute and choirs with their heavy and devilish playing. . . . Its just sad that such a good metal album is so unrated here but, well, its a prog site after all: you can't expect people to like metal.

Well, better change the subject before i get killed by prog extremists. This album right here, besides not being exactly proggy, as i said before deserves a fair rating, for the sake of music and for the sake of moderation and intelligent thinking! Simple and straightforward heavy music can be very enjoyable and pleasant to listen and, since this album marks the beginning of the carrier of four unexperienced youngsters, nothing more logical than a simple, raw and inexperienced album. Battalions of Fear also brings many things that would continue until the present stage o Blind Guardian, 20 years after its release: the fixation in myths, legends and Tolkien's books.

About the songs, musicianship and other features there are some thing i would like to state:

Because of their inexperience, most of the album is played only fast, with no kind of exceptional musicianship whatsoever. This album also featured Hansi playing bass, something that would only last though the early years of the band, when he had stamina enough to sing with his voice of thunder and play as fast as hell.

Songs are mostly straightforward speed metal, with the exception of Trial by the Anchor and Gandalf's Rebirth.

One interesting thing is that some material here on this album was recorded on the 2 demos made by the band named Lucifer's heritage, that would later change its name to Blind Guardian.

Grade and final thoughts:

OK, i must agree that this album is not exactly a masterpiece of anything, but to give it such low grades is just disrespectful to Blind Guardian and its members. A four star grade seem appropriate, since the album is GREAT, but not exactly a masterpiece of prog rock.

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