It sounds really good. They toned down the classical music a little bit. Which was good because the previous "Beyond the Mirror" was such a great album, but they produced it to be more classical driven, and you couldn't hear the drums, the bass, too much mid tone, not enough treble. Just horrible production. So this is nice & solid. And the songs are pretty solid. I say it's as heavy as "Imaginations"

Haven't given it too many spins yet, but so far I'm really loving it! I wasn't high on American Gods as a single and honestly, I still kinda think its weak. But holy hell, Architects Of Doom and Violent Shadows are AWESOME! As a whole, the album is way better than Red Mirror and that orchestral abomination.

Edit: Absolutely loving this album. As with all great BG albums, the more you listen to it the better it gets! Highlights for me would be Deliver us From Evil, Damnation and Violent Shadows. Though, there really isn't a bad track on this album.

Deliver Us From Evil and American Gods was best songs. To me its their best after Nightfall album ...killer riffs, chorus, energy, melodies.
PS worst album artwork what any power metal band has ever chose.

Album of the year.

Wow, this is a proper Blind Guardian album! I can't think of a time they've sounded this close to their 90s sound since, well, the 90s. Only on my first listen, but I'm digging how much bite there is here

This is a pleasant surprise, it's a fun listen, a more stripped down, heavy BG. I enjoyed this quite a bit, I also think this one is their best since the 90s.

Written by A Real Mönkey on 03.09.2022 at 03:06

These guys haven't released anything worth listening to since the 90s.

At the Edge of Time and A Night At The Opera are very much worth listening to but that's just my opinion.

Another great album from the masters. Cover art is literally a mass production EVA with the Spear of Longinus, designer must be a massive Evangelion fan.

This is a strong return to form after two underwhelming records, in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Secret of the American Gods, Blood of the Elves and Destiny are all really strong and the rest of the album is nothing to scoff at either. I'm really happy with this offering.

Really liked the direction of this album. A notch less operatic than BtRM, and a few extra notches of power. Drums in particular were really punchy, and the guitar-work cut through more than past BG, in my opinion. Felt like the production of a Testament album more than BG, but all in a good way!

Highlight: Blood of the Elves

This is really high quality stuff, I love the fact that there are more fast songs on this one than any other BG album this millennium. Yet I miss a sort of emotional spark that I felt with all previous albums, even with their orchestral album. But well, I'm sure it'll grow on me.

Meh this one just not for me. sorry

Written by Uxküll on 08.09.2022 at 02:00

Another great album from the masters. Cover art is literally a mass production EVA with the Spear of Longinus, designer must be a massive Evangelion fan.

Well, Peter Mohrbacher has stated he was very interested in Evangelion when he made that cover.

Written by Novas on 04.09.2022 at 19:14

It sounds really good. They toned down the classical music a little bit. Which was good because the previous "Beyond the Mirror" was such a great album, but they produced it to be more classical driven, and you couldn't hear the drums, the bass, too much mid tone, not enough treble. Just horrible production. So this is nice & solid. And the songs are pretty solid. I say it's as heavy as "Imaginations"

Luckily for this chance, BG didn't charge all the production, mixing and mastering stuff in Charlie Bauerfeind's hands (THANKS GOD!), but those works were made by different people (Tommy Geiger in engineering, Joost van den Broek and Joos Driessen in mixing, and mastering by Jaakko Viitalähde).

I am surprised by how well received this is.

Yet to listen, but damn that's some ugly cover art!

Imo probably one of the best albums they have put out since A Night At The Opera

Gets stronger after a couple of listenings

Written by IronAngel on 20.09.2022 at 17:03

Yet to listen, but damn that's some ugly cover art!

Have you seen the limited boxset cover? It's a better one

Not a fan of power metal yet this is some quality punchy stuff. Love how it's not overtly melodic, quite heavy, has that metal feel about it. Some of the songs are really well written.

Speed/Power metal is not my fav genre and that's why i haven't added BG to my favorite lust till now. But somehow i liked few tracks from this album especially the speedy "Damnation' and the melodious 'Life beyond the Spheres'.

The quality drops off a little bit later on, with the closer being especially disappointing. The first 5 songs are such belters, however, that it's an easy 8!

This is by far their best since A Twist in the Myth. I'm actually kinda suprised how good this is.

Written by GhostOfPerdition on 08.12.2022 at 21:16

The quality drops off a little bit later on, with the closer being especially disappointing.

I somewhat take back what I said, "Blood Of The Elves" is fantastic, "Architects Of Doom" has grown on me while "Let It Be No More" and "Destiny" are starting to. Might be willing to up my score to a 9.

Wasnt convinced after 3-4 spins, but then just clicked, it often happens with albums

Rated this album a 9 and still think it is. No amazing super songs on it like "Into the Storm" or "Another Stranger Me," but almost every song is solid quality in its own right.

Finally going throught my first listen, and I'm honestly surprised by how good it is. I wasn't expecting something so 90s (yet modern) from Blind Guardian, and I'm honestly impressed Great stuff!