Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Blind Guardian
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release: 2017
Rating: 4.5/5
»Live Beyond the Spheres« is the latest live offering from German power/prog metal champions Blind Guardian. It’s only their third ‘live’ release, and a whole fourteen years have passed since the last one, »Live« (2003). Things have obviously changed a lot for the Teutonic metal bards since then. The devotees of the literary worlds of Tolkien, Moorcock, Herbert and King have cut three studio albums and swapped drummers in that time, to name just the most important changes, while their music has grown ever more progressive and orchestral, winning them plenty of new followers. »Live Beyond the Spheres«, recorded on the tour supporting the album »Beyond the Red Mirror« (2015), packs a whopping three discs of live material captured at various venues. The setlist is a downright dream for any Blind Guardian fan and covers practically every chapter of their career. They haven’t forgotten a single past album, and they ‘switch’ between newer standards and unforgettable evergreens with great success.
Among the nicest surprises on the classics front is the ancient »Banish From Sanctuary«, which hadn’t been heard at their gigs in years, while the pompous »The Last Candle«, the epic magnum opus »And Then There Was Silence«, the romantic »Bright Eyes« and the nostalgic »And The Story Ends« are among the highlights of this excellent live document. »The Last Candle« was recorded at the show in Ljubljana, which Hansi doesn’t forget to mention during the improvised vocal chanting at the end. That means Slovenian Blind Guardian fans simply can’t skip this triple live treat.
The other peaks of »Live Beyond the Spheres« include »Lord of the Rings«, »Lost in the Twilight Hall«, »Imaginations from the Other Side«, »A Past and Future Secret« and »Mirror Mirror«, which, even though they play it at every single gig, ranks among the best things they’ve ever done. As tradition (and expectation) dictates, the crowd goes craziest for the classics, helping out with backing vocals since most of them know every word by heart. The vocal harmonies have only gained weight over the years, in keeping with Blind Guardian’s modern style. Here the German masters of epic and drama shine from start to finish of this triple live odyssey. On the instrumental side, too, there’s nothing negative to say, especially when it comes to the contribution of both guitarists and the drummer, while the guest keyboards and bass come off as satisfying, though they could have been better. Still, it has to be mentioned that Hansi’s voice has dropped by an octave over the years, which is most noticeable on the older material. The years slip by quietly, and sadly his voice isn’t immune to that kind of change either.
It was a long wait for a new Blind Guardian live document, but it was worth it: »Live Beyond the Spheres« is their best ‘live’ album to date, and with its superb atmosphere and excellent production it delivers a hugely successful cross-section of an impressive career. Of all the cult German power metal acts that first made a name for themselves in the eighties of the last century, Blind Guardian are today the only band that still surprises in the studio with fresh ideas, even if you have to wait ‘an eternity’ for new albums, while their live shows are drawing ever bigger crowds and growing in esteem. In recent years they’ve even won respect on the other side of the Atlantic, finally breaking onto the sales charts in the USA and Canada with their last two studio albums, which is certainly no small feat for a European power/prog metal band.
Line-up
Hansi Kürsch – vocals and backing vocals
André Olbrich – vocals and guitar
Marcus Siepen – guitar
Frederik Ehmke – drums, percussion
Production
Blind Guardian
Track list
CD 1
1. The Ninth Wave
2. Banish From Sanctuary
3. Nightfall
4. Prophecies
5. Tanelorn
6. The Last Candle
7. And Then There Was Silence
CD 2
1. The Lord of the Rings
2. Fly
3. Bright Eyes
4. Lost In the Twilight Hall
5. Imaginations From the Other Side
6. Into the Storm
7. Twilight of the Gods
8. A Past and Future Secret
9. And the Story Ends
CD 3
1. Sacred Worlds
2. The Bard’s Song (In the Forest)
3. Valhalla
4. Wheel of Time
5. Majesty
6. Mirror Mirror
