Blind Guardian

Blind Guardian is a power metal (and more recently epic metal) band started in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, Germany. Before calling themselves Blind Guardian, the band released two demos under the name Lucifer's Heritage in 1986 and 1987.

Related Topics:
Power metal - Epic metal - 1980s - Krefeld - Germany - 1986 - 1987

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From the very beginning, Blind Guardian have been inspired by the fictional worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien and other fantasy authors, as well as traditional legends and epics. The 1998 album Nightfall in Middle-Earth, for example, is a concept album based on Tolkien's The Silmarillion, while the 2002 album A Night at the Opera features a 14-minute song about the Trojan War, titled "And Then There Was Silence." Over the years, a running theme has developed associating the band members with traveling bards.

Related Topics:
J. R. R. Tolkien - Legend - Epic - 1998 - Nightfall in Middle-Earth - Concept album - The Silmarillion - 2002 - A Night at the Opera - Trojan War - Bard

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Blind Guardian's music is characterized by the classic fast guitars and double bass drumming of power metal, but is relatively unique in its use of overdubs to create an extremely dense, "epic" sound. This technique, especially notable in the guitar and vocal tracks, creates the impression of a vast army of musicians playing in unison and singing in harmony. Considering the already anthemic and singalong quality of their choruses, it is unsurprising that the band's 2003 live album, Live, sounded much like their studio recordings: although the overdubs of vocalist Hansi Kürsch were lost, the live audience reproduced them faithfully and enthusiastically. On several occasions the audience has been known to sing along even to André Olbrich's guitar solos.

Related Topics:
Guitars - Bass drum - Overdub - Anthem - 2003 - Live - Hansi Kürsch - Audience - André Olbrich - Guitar solo

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Blind Guardian's popularity has continued to grow from an initial following in Europe and Japan to one of the most well-known power metal bands in the world. The single for "And Then There Was Silence," for example, reached #1 in Spain and #7 in Canada, despite its length.

Related Topics:
Europe - Japan - Power metal - Single - Spain - Canada

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Together with Jon Schaffer - leader and founder of Iced Earth - Kürsch is part of a side project called Demons and Wizards.

Related Topics:
Jon Schaffer - Iced Earth - Demons and Wizards

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They are relatively unique in that until April of 2005 (a twenty year period), the band's original lineup did not change. However, due to differing musical preference, in April their long time drummer Thomen Stauch exited the band. He was replaced in July 2005 by Frederik Ehmke.

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According to their official homepage, they should be releasing an album sometime in April or May of 2006.

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