Search - Blind Guardian :: Batallions of Fear

The Dawning of an Era

Tim Jewell | Inland Empire | 06/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first discovered Blind Guardian through their 2002 release "A Night At The Opera" and they pulled off the epic metal so well, I imagined that they had been doing this for a very long time. However, when I discovered that they had originally started off by playing pure, raw speed metal like that of Judas Priest and Metallica, I decided to check it out and see if they had just as much prowess in that vein as they did with their newer music. Therefore, I purchased their debut album and gave it a listen, being amazed at the raw power of it all. The opening of the first track "Majesty" gave me a good laugh with its happy-go-lucky opening and transition into a powerful anthem, but that was the only thing about the album that was funny or amusing. From start to finish, "Battalions of Fear" delivers heavy, fast, unadulterated metal that puts bands like Megadeth and Metallica to shame with melodic vocals, hefty riffing, and intense drumming.



If you're interested, let me break it all down for you. Leading the band is lead singer/bassist Hansi Kursch, whose vocal capacities haven't seemed to develop too much (at least in comparison to their future works, in which Hansi would lay down his bass in order to better his vocals in the tradition of power metal), but even in this albumhe has quite a gruff, powerful voice that compliments the music rather well, matching its scratchy sound. As for his bass playing, it's rather simplistic, but very fast and agile, never missing a beat when combined with his vocals. Lead guitarist Andre Olbrich had already had experience with the band in their previous form Lucifer's Heritage, so there's no messing up or sour notes from him; nothing but exigent, beautiful guitar solos to bring a sense of pure melody to the raw power provided by rhythm guitarist Marcus Siepen, who beats authoritative riffs from his guitar and adds a consistent thickness to the album. Drummer Thomen Stauch is definitely one of the best of the bunch, as he keeps a steady rhythm going in every song while pedaling fervent double-bass unlike almost anything ever heard in this sect of music, leaving him to be one of the most underrated drummers in the history of speed metal (especially when drummers like Lars Ulrich of Metallica and The Reverend of Avenged Sevenfold are thought of as gods among men, despite being only average in the field of metal).



In the end, this album is a must for any speed metal fans who want something a little more melodic, or for someone trying to complete their Blind Guardian collection. If you're looking for some great power metal from this German band you won't find much of it here, but the power and intensity that defines this wonderful band are present and accounted for, leaving nothing to be desired.



Track Selections: "Majesty", "Battalions of Fear", and "Gandalf's Rebirth"



10/10"

Classic Speed Metal

Evil_Tim | 04/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a classic example of Speed Metal majesty. Pun intended. :) This is probably one of the best Blind Guardian albums in the discography.

As much as I love later Blind Guardian works (Post-Follow The Blind, when they began playing Power Metal), I feel BG are at their best when playing pure Speeeeeeeeeed!!

Majesty has got to be my favorite song on this album. Seven and one half minutes of pure Speed Metal awesomeness.

Hansi's voice is quite raw on this album. At this point, he hasn't quite perfected his singing technique. That doesn't mean he isn't amazing, and manages to pull off some crazy high notes.



I definitely recommend this for all BG fans, and Speed Metal fans in general. One of their best albums ever and definitely worth buying. :)"

They Do Have Some Thrash Beats

Absolute Power | U.S. | 09/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Majesty is an awesome song to start the album,then the fast and very powerful Guardian Of The Blind(amazing)the best song!

Trial By The Archon is an instrumental that jumps right into Wizard's Crown which will blow you away.Run For The Night is on this album which of course you can hear the live version on

Tales From The Twilight World.The Martyr rules,Battalions Of Fear isn't that good of a song,By The Gates Of Moria is an instrumental and Gandalf's Rebirth is also an instrumental,this album has three instrumental's.This is a well thought out album,the lyrics,riffs,solo's,bass,drums and of course Hansi's amazing voice is all awesome.They have thrash beats in them but there not thrash.

Buy it you will like it,this is there first album and there best."