Who are Blind Guardian?

Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. The band consists of two core members, vocalist Hansi Kürsch and guitarist André Olbrich. Since their formation, Blind Guardian has released ten studio albums and numerous live recordings, demos and video albums.

Early Years

Blind Guardian's early work was heavily influenced by traditional heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. They were also influenced by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, with bands such as Iron Maiden and Helloween being particularly influential. The band's first two albums, Battalions of Fear (1988) and Follow the Blind (1989), were traditional in style but also contained elements of speed metal, power metal and progressive rock.

Success

The band's third album, Tales from the Twilight World (1990), was a major success and established Blind Guardian as one of the most popular power metal bands in Europe. The album featured some of their most well-known songs such as “Valhalla” and “Traveler In Time”. The band's fourth album, Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), was their first to be released worldwide and further increased their popularity. It featured more progressive elements than their previous albums and contained some of their most well-known songs such as “And Then There Was Silence” and “Time Stands Still”.

Recent Work

In recent years, Blind Guardian have continued to release critically acclaimed albums such as Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998) and A Night at the Opera (2002) which further cemented their status as one of the leading forces in power metal music. Their latest album, Beyond the Red Mirror (2015), is a concept album based on a story written by Kürsch which further explores their progressive sound.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Blind Guardian have established themselves as one of the most influential and popular power metal bands in Europe with their unique blend of traditional heavy metal influences, progressive song structures and epic lyrics. The band continues to tour extensively around the world and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.