Year: 2022
Total Time: 51.08
Label: Nuclear Blast
The German Power Metallers BLIND GUARDIAN is a unique case of a metal band. The eternal battle between those who like pure and powerful Power Metal and those who like experimental or more up to date songs (mostly younger metalheads) finds a breeding ground on Hansi Kursch and the rest of the band. Mostly because BLIND GUARDIAN is one of the bands that changed style and experimented heavily throughout its career (and mostly after «Nightfall in Middle Earth»). They went from straight Power Metal to a more symphonic, epic approach. Add to that battle the “who is the best drummer… Stauch or Ehmke?” and you have an exploding mix…
Their last album “The God Machine” seems to me as a successful attempt to return to the glorious distant past, honoring at the same time the most recent one. It is their most Metal album since the mid ‘90s with hard and speedy songs like “Deliver Us From Evil”, “Damnation”, “Violent Shadows” and the amazing “Secrets Of The American Gods”. Among them we can find some more symphonic songs like the catchy “Life Beyond the Spheres” or “Destiny” (the most uninteresting song of the album). Nice touch the ballad “Let It Be No More”. The guitars are amazing as always, the voice of Hansi stands out while, concerning the drums, I tend to agree with those who prefer Stauch since drumming in this album does not stand out (the very least).
Their new album may bring back memories from the first era of the group (“Imaginations From The Other Side”) but with a fresh look thanks to the excellent production from Charlie Bauerfeind. Power Metal with a lot of speedy thrash elements and a few touches of melodic Metal that are toned by the atmospheric keyboard and some amazing riffs. So everybody is happy! Both traditional metallers and their modern offsprings!
I propose to stop fighting (ok, do not take this seriously, I expect a battle in the comment’s area!) and enjoy a really good album from a band that likes to experiment and returns in discography as well in live shows with full speed (I still remember the epic moments we experienced in Release Athens Festival this summer)!
Rating: 8,5/10
Editor: Kostas Boudoukos
Related Link: BLIND GUARDIAN – Official Page
