Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Blind Guardian
Label: Virgin Records
Released: 1990
Runtime: 40:45
Rating: 4.5/5
»Tales from the Twilight World«, the third studio album from Hamburg power/prog metal champions Blind Guardian, was without a doubt the most important achievement of their colorful career. On it they noticeably dialed back the speed and thrash metal influences that ruled the first two records, while seriously honing their trademark style. Back in the early nineties that style leaned closer to epic power metal, but later, mostly thanks to more symphonic arrangements, it started picking up plenty of prog metal undertones, with the speed metal influences sticking around for years, especially in the rhythmic foundation. You could say that with this record, a bridge between the early sound and their later feats, Blind Guardian somehow found their ‘solid ground’ and their own sonic vision, which they kept building on from album to album. With »Tales from the Twilight World«, packed with plenty of unforgettable Blind Guardian standards that became regulars in their live sets, they finally earned clout and respect beyond Germany too, especially in Central Europe and Japan.
Once again, the four members of Blind Guardian got help from their power metal ‘mentor’ Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray, ex-Helloween), who guested on the classics »Lost In The Twilight Hall« and »The Last Candle«. This time he brought along his old buddy Piet Sielck. Hansen and Sielck later joined forces with longtime Blind Guardian drummer Thomas Stauch in the original lineup of Iron Savior. As a whole, »Tales from the Twilight World« reflects the gigantic leap in style and maturity that Blind Guardian made in less than three years since their openly speed-metal-flavored debut. Hansi Kürsch had thoroughly improved his vocal technique in that time and was establishing himself as one of the best metal singers on a global level, while both guitarists polished their chops even further and contributed the traditionally rich choir harmonies under obvious Queen influence.
On top of the traditional speed metal rhythmic cataclysms and epic guitar harmonies, the band started leaning more and more on acoustic and symphonic arrangements on »Tales from the Twilight World«, played with such subtlety that the listener genuinely feels like they’re traveling between fantasy and sci-fi worlds from one track to the next. The mostly fantasy-themed lyrics and the influence of literary classics became even more important in their music, and this very album gave us one of the most beautiful musical tributes to the timeless masterpiece ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by the legendary English author J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien’s works went on to become an important, if not key, influence on their music in the years to come.
Blind Guardian are still known today for their seriously powerful openers, and the energy-charged »Traveller In Time« is right up there. Its lyrics were inspired by ‘Dune’, the sci-fi literary classic by Frank Herbert, which Iron Maiden had already tackled back in 1983 in »To Tame a Land« from »Piece of Mind«, and which many other metal bands later took a swing at too, mostly with less success. A dramatic intro is followed by a mighty switch into an epic section, driven by superb guitar harmonies, Stauch’s potent drum fills and Hansi’s epic vocal approach, peaking in a fantastic chorus. The balance between speed metal fire and power metal epicness is practically ideal here, and it somehow became the yardstick for their later work too. »Welcome to Dying«, inspired by Peter Straub’s fantasy novel ‘The Throat’… sorry, ‘Plapolajoči zmaj’ (The Flickering Dragon), soon established itself as a favorite live classic, with its uncompromising rhythmic twists and mysterious atmosphere. Its high point is the mighty chorus with royal vocal harmonies and a drumming cataclysm backing it up, while the dual guitar harmonies are a treat for all fans of old-school metal romanticism. That’s followed by the short but excellent instrumental »Weird Dreams«, a nice chance for Blind Guardian’s superb lead guitarist Andre Olbrich to show off with an epic, colorful guitar solo and prove himself one of the greatest masters of his instrument on the European metal scene.
The romantic power ballad »Lord of the Rings« is one of the best-known and best-loved pieces in Blind Guardian’s history. The oddest thing about this acoustic, orchestral-leaning masterpiece is its length, barely over three minutes, which is hardly what you’d expect from an epic saga, yet despite its brevity it conjures up just the right atmospheric magic to bring Tolkien’s ‘Middle-earth’ to life with ease. It also successfully captures the dark message of the dark lord Sauron and his ‘Lord of the Rings’, nicely described in the lyrics from the perspective of the ring-bearer, the hobbit Frodo Baggins. Special props this time go to rhythm guitarist Marcus Siepen, who played a string of wonderfully subtle acoustic arrangements, and to Hansi, who completely lives his role. The praiseworthy contribution of guest keyboardist Mathias Wiesner also deserves a mention, as his epic orchestral arrangements paved the way for later, more complex Blind Guardian exploits in successfully blending power metal and orchestral music.
The somewhat darker, uncompromising »Goodbye My Friend«, yet another Blind Guardian classic, touches on the ordeal of the beloved movie alien E.T. in its lyrics, while the vocal harmonies in the chorus are once again built in a thrilling way. »Lost in the Twilight Hall«, where the lyrics follow Gandalf’s transformation into the White Wizard after his fateful fight with the Balrog and his rebirth, can safely be called one of the highlights of this excellent album. Kai joins Hansi with his contrasting, ‘rasping’ vocals at the crucial moment of the song, right before the main chorus. Thanks to its mighty backing harmonies, that chorus is a truly epic treat and one of the best in the story of the Hamburg metal champions. Next up come two interconnected tracks, »Tommyknockers« and »Altair 4«, which are stylistically related and whose lyrics are both inspired by Stephen King’s sci-fi horror novel ‘The Tommyknockers’. Fittingly, a dark mood dominates both pieces, and the speed metal elements are again a bit more pronounced than on most of the other tracks.
A triumphant return of Blind Guardian’s trademark epicness, which they would go on to perfect, comes with the closer »The Last Candle«. Along with »Lost in the Twilight Hall« it’s a contender for the best moment on the album, and the track that already gives a nice glimpse of their next studio record in terms of style. This time the lyrics are inspired by ‘Dragonlance’, a fantasy saga that’s less known in our parts. After a short intro that sounds like a little nod to their previous record, »Guardian of the Blind«, the dual guitar harmonies kick in, a real feast for the ears, and the dramatic multi-part vocals sound even better, forming the perfect backdrop for Hansi’s epic vocal approach, amid which the characters from that literary work come alive through frequent tempo and time shifts. Early CD versions of »Tales From the Twilight World« featured a rather needless, if not downright misplaced, bonus track: a live version of the standard »Run For the Night« from »Battalions of Fear« (1988). Its stylistic difference alone meant it wasn’t exactly a happy addition.
»Tales from the Twilight World« catapulted Blind Guardian into the ranks of the most thrilling and intelligent acts in Teutonic power metal. By this point in their career it was already clear the foursome had found a very specific style they were set on building on, especially as speed metal slowly started running out of steam at the end of the eighties. With this album Blind Guardian’s sonic evolution picked up serious speed, and by the time they released their fourth studio album, the masterpiece »Somewhere Far Beyond« (1992), fans could with a clear conscience crown them the metal ‘bards’ and champions of ‘Tolkienesque’ metal.
Blind Guardian – Tales from the Twilight World (full album):
Lineup
Hansi Kürrsch – vocals, bass guitar
Andre Olbrich – lead guitar, backing vocals
Marcus Siepen – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Thomas “Thomen” Stauch – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Kai Hansen – backing vocals on “Lost in the Twilight Hall”, guitar solo on “The Last Candle”
Piet Sielck – backing vocals and effects
Mathias Wiesner – keyboards and effects
Rolf Köhler – backing vocals
Hacky Hackmann – backing vocals
Kalle Trapp – backing vocals
Production
Kalle Trapp
Track List
1. Traveller In Time (5:59)
2. Welcome To Dying (4:47)
3. Weird Dreams (1:19)
4. Lord Of The Rings (3:14)
5. Goodbye My Friend (5:33)
6. Lost In The Twilight Hall (5:58)
7. Tommyknockers (5:09)
8. Altair 4 (2:26)
9. The Last Candle (5:59)
10. Run For The Night (live) (3:38)
