Top 10 Blind Guardian Songs

Blind Guardian Songs

Our top 10 Blind Guardian songs list digs deep into the music of one of Germany’s pioneering acts of the power metal sound. The band was formed in 1984 starting its musical pursuits under the moniker Lucifer’s Heritage. However, the name would evolve to Blind Guardian a few years later before the band issued its debut album. While Blind Guardian takes credit as one of the pioneering acts of the power metal genre, the band’s beginnings have less or nothing to do with power metal.

After issuing its first demo release, Symphonies of Doom, in 1985, the band started gaining some following. Symphonies of Doom was soon followed by another demo entitled, Battalions of Fear, issued in 1986. Eventually, the band issued its debut album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988. Battalions of Fear saw Blind Guardian give its fans a taste of its thrash and speed metal sound. “Majesty,” and “Run for the Night” are some of the notable hits from the LP. Battalions of Fear peaked at number fifty-three on the German Albums chart.

Blind Guardian’s Album Releases after Battalions of Fear

One year after the release of Blind Guardian’s thrash/speed metal album debut LP, Battalions of Fear, the band issued its sophomore album, Follow the Blind. At this time, the band was yet to find its signature sound. In fact, guitarist Marcus Siepen revealed that the band’s sound at the time was more thrash owing to influence from songs by Forbidden and Testament. As a result, Follow the Blind maintained some heaviness despite being sonically explorative compared to the band’s debut album.

Despite the album sounding predominantly speed metal, Follow the Blind saw the band start appreciating a more diverse sound that blended the heavy metal sound with speed metal influences (described as power metal). Nevertheless, the album feels more speed metal than a power metal record. Follow the Blind’s sound resembled that of the 1985 album, Walls of Jericho by Helloween. Kai Hansen (member of Helloween and Gamma Ray) is featured as a guest musician on the album. “Valhalla” and “Banish the Sanctuary” are some of the best Blind Guardian songs from the album.

In 1990, Blind Guardian released its third studio album, Tales from the Twilight World. The album has been described as a power metal/speed metal release. Tales from the Twilight World saw rose higher on the charts compared to the band’s previous releases. It settled for position forty-three on the German Albums chart. Its production work was handled by Kalle Trapp, who has also worked with reputable artists including Destruction, Uriah Heep, and Mad Max. “Lord of the Rings,” “Lost in Twilight Hall,” “Traveller in Time,” and “The Last Candle” are some of the biggest Blind Guardian songs from the album.

Blind Guardian continued with its power metal/speed metal sonic influences with its 1992 fourth studio album, Somewhere Far Beyond. The album was a success on the German Albums chart, peaking at number thirty-six. Blind Guardian managed to beat the 1992 power metal albums, Trapped! by Rage and Pile of Skulls by Running Wild. The band’s main competitor on the power metal scene at the time, Helloween had already departed from the genre with the 1991 LP, Pink Bubbles Go Ape.

This left Blind Guardian in the spotlight on the power metal scene. Somewhere Far Beyond featured some of the best Blind Guardian songs including “The Bard’s Song (In the Forest),” “Somewhere Far Beyond,” and “Ashes to Ashes.” The album also sold over one hundred and thirty thousand copies worldwide.

Blind Guardian returned in 1995 with its fifth studio album, Imaginations from the Other Side. The album failed to feature power metal legend, Kai Hansen, as a guest musician for the first time since Follow the Blind. “A Past and Future Secret,” “Bright Eyes,” and “Another Holy War” are some of the popular songs by Blind Guardian from the album. Imaginations from the Other Side peaked at number twenty-one on the German Albums chart. However, its album sales were not as high as Somewhere Far Beyond’s. 

In 1998, Blind Guardian explored the limits of its musical sound with its sixth album release, Nightfall in Middle-Earth. The album saw the band blend power metal with speed metal, symphonic metal, and progressive metal elements. Nightfall in Middle-Earth went on to become the band’s most sought-after album.

“Mirror Mirror,” “Time Stands Still (at the Iron Hill),” “Nightfall,” and “Into the Storm” are the biggest songs by Blind Guardian from the album. Nightfall in Middle-Earth rose to position seven on the German Albums chart. The album sold over three hundred thousand copies worldwide.

The band returned in 2002 with its seventh studio album, A Night at the OperaA Night at the Opera shares its name with Queen’s 1975 fourth studio album. The album was a success making it to the Billboard Top Independent Albums where it peaked at number thirty-seven. On the German Albums chart, the album peaked at number five. “And Then There Was Silence” and “Battlefield” are some of the best Blind Guardian songs from the album. A Night at the Opera has sold over four hundred thousand copies worldwide, making over a hundred thousand copies in Germany.

In 2006, the band released its eighth studio album, A Twist in the Myth. The album was Blind Guardian’s first release issued through Nuclear Blast, home to Fear Factory, Soulfly, Biohazard, Slipknot, Death Angel, Discharge, and Hatebreed. “Another Stranger Me,” “Fly,” and “Skalds and Shadows” are some of the best Blind Guardian songs from the album. A Twist in the Myth reached number thirteen on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It also peaked at number four on the German Albums chart.

At the Edge of Time, issued in 2010, marked the band’s ninth studio album. The album saw the band keep up with its power metal sound blended with symphonic metal and progressive metal influences. The album made it to number one hundred and eight on the Billboard 200, peaking at number one hundred and ninety-seven on the UK Albums chart. “A Voice in the Dark,” “Sacred Worlds,” “Curse My Name,” and “Wheel of Time” are some of the biggest songs by Blind Guardian from the album.

In 2015, the band returned with its tenth studio album, Beyond the Red Mirror. The album was a success, rising to number one hundred and thirty-two on the Billboard 200. On the UK Albums chart, the album peaked at number fifty-four. “Twilight of the Gods” and “The Ninth Wave” are some of the musical gems featured on the album.

Legacy of the Dark Lands, issued in 2019, marked the band’s eleventh and most recent studio album. The album failed to make it to the UK Albums chart and Billboard 200. However, it settled for a peak position of number seven on the German Albums chart. Some of the best Blind Guardian songs from the album include “War Feeds War” and “Point of No Return.” Blind Guardian has its twelve-studio album, The God Machine scheduled for release this September this year.

Blind Guardian’s Legacy

Blind Guardian (together with Helloween, DragonForce, and Sabaton) remains one of the most significant ensembles in the evolution of the power metal sound. However, its music is a little diverse having most of the releases blend power metal with thrash metal, speed metal, progressive metal, and symphonic metal influences. The band is distinguished for its love for fantasy-themed lyrics all across its albums. Here we issue our pick for the ten best Blind Guardian songs of all time.

# 10 – Twilight of the Gods

We open our top 10 Blind Guardian songs list with the splendid hit “Twilight of the Gods.” The song’s lyrics were penned by the band’s vocalist Hansi Kürsch. “Twilight of the Gods” is featured on the band’s tenth studio album, Beyond the Red Mirror. The song is featured in the first chapter of the album, entitled ‘The Cleansing of the Promised Land.’ 

The song features additional backing vocals from Billy King, Thomas Hackmann, and Olaf Senkbeil of The Choir Company. Barend Courbois takes on the bass guitar role on this song and the entire album. 

#9 – Into the Storm

As earlier mentioned, Nightfall in Middle-Earth is the band’s most sought-after album thanks to the sound diversity employed on the record. “Into the Storm” is one of the best Blind Guardian songs from the album. The song’s lyrics were penned by the band’s vocalist Hansi Kürsch.

Like all the songs on the album, “Into the Storm” has its lyrics inspired by The Silmarillion a mythopoeic tales book by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. “Into the Storm,” tells of a row between Ungoliant and Morgoth after the destruction of the Two Trees. The row is fuelled by the desire to possess the Silmarils.

# 8 – Sacred Worlds

Coming in at number eight is the striking hit “Sacred Worlds.” The song is featured on the band’s ninth studio album, At the Edge of Time. Spanning over nine minutes, “Sacred Worlds” is the longest song on the band’s ninth studio album. The song features an orchestral intro that makes its beginning feel a little cinematic. “Sacred Worlds” is featured on the soundtrack of the 2008 action-role-playing video game Sacred 2: Fallen Angel

# 7 – Another Stranger Me

Signing with Nuclear Blast Records was the band’s best move towards achieving success in the US. Songs like “Another Stranger Me” proved to be quite successful in the US as well as in other parts of the world. The song is the second and final single from the band’s eighth studio album, A Twist in the Myth.

One of the most appealing attributes of the song is its infectious hooks. The song also features some aggressive/hard-hitting guitar riffs that add to its heaviness. “Another Stranger Me” alludes to a mentally ill person who discovers his diverse personality as he tries to find a solution for his mental state. The song peaked at number seventy-nine on the German Top 100 Singles chart.

# 6 – And Then There Was Silence

Number six on our top 10 Blind Guardian songs list is the magnificent hit “And Then There Was Silence.” The song is featured on the band’s seventh studio album, A Night at the Opera. “And Then There Was Silence” finds a balance between power metal, progressive metal, and symphonic metal sounds.

The song has its lyrics based on an ancient Greek epic poem, The Iliad by Homer, and the Latin epic poem The Aeneid by Virgil. “And Then There Was Silence,” tells of Troy’s final days as envisioned by the Trojan priestess Kassandra. The song topped the Spanish Singles chart, rising to number forty-one on both the German and Swedish Singles charts.

# 5 – Mirror Mirror

No album by Blind Guardian gives a better blend of power metal and symphonic metal than Nightfall in Middle-Earth, thanks to songs like “Mirror Mirror.” The song was penned by vocalist Hansi Kürsch. “Mirror Mirror” pays homage to “The Magic Mirror” from the 1937 animated musical fantasy movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The song reminisces how Turgon built Gondolin with the help of The Lord of Water, Ulmo. “Mirror Mirror” peaked at number forty-two on the German Top 100 Singles chart.

#4 – Lord of the Rings

“Lord of the Rings” is one of the best Blind Guardian songs from the band’s 1990 third studio album, Tales from the Twilight World. The song is yet another lyrical gem penned by the band’s vocalist and then bassist Hansi Kürsch. “Lord of the Rings” has its lyrics based on the epic high fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings by English writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. 

# 3 – A Voice in the Dark

The third spot on our top 10 Blind Guardian songs list goes to the outstanding hit “A Voice in the Dark.” “A Voice in the Dark” was penned by Hansi Kürsch and André Olbrich. The song is featured on the band’s ninth studio album, At the Edge of Time. Hansi Kürsch delivers quite some alluring vocals on this hit.

“A Voice in the Dark” feels more like a thrash/speed metal ballad. This is especially due to the heavy-strumming drumming and heavy guitar riffs. Its lyrics are based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, telling the story of the fictional character Bran Stark. The song peaked at number sixty-two on the German Top 100 Singles chart.

#2- Valhalla ft. Kai Hansen

“Valhalla” is among the earliest fan-favorite tracks by Blind Guardian. The song is featured on the band’s sophomore album, Follow the Blind. “Valhalla” features Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray and Helloween on the vocals. Kai also delivers an inspirational guitar solo in this song.

The song tells of a magician who hints at the religious transformation from Norse paganism to Christianity. “Valhalla” is among the most covered songs by Blind Guardian. Heaven Shall Burn, Burden of Grief, and Dan Vasc featuring Cederick Forsberg are some of the artists who have released a rendition of the song.

# 1 – The Bard’s Song (In the Forest)

Number one on our top 10 Blind Guardian songs list is the phenomenal hit “The Bard’s Song (In the Forest).” The song was penned by Hansi Kürsch and André Olbrich, and featured on the band’s fourth studio album, Somewhere Far Beyond. “The Bard’s Song (In the Forest)” is surprisingly not a power metal ballad!

This folk-rock ballad beats all odds to become one of the most sought-after Blind Guardian songs and a concert staple. Hansi revealed that “The Bard’s Song (In the Forest)” is related to the time-traveling bard. The song draws inspiration from the 1985 role-playing video game, The Bard’s Tale. “The Bard’s Song (In the Forest)” was a success, peaking at number forty on the German Top 100 Singles chart. The song has been covered by Van Canto and the Mexican singer-songwriter Malukah.

Feature Photo: Lia Koltyrina / Shutterstock.com

Top 10 Blind Guardian Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022

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