Blind Guardian - Follow The Blind

Blind Guardian's Follow The Blind is one of the most underrated Blind Guardian album. I was deceived the first time I heard it. Nevertheless, when I put the ear a second time, I loved this album.

In fact, this Blind Guardian release is the essence of sword and sorcery (Moorcock or Fritz Leiber). All the atmosphere is heavy, dark and doomed. Hansi Kürsch has one of his most guttural voice, whereas the Thomas Stauch's beat can't let the listener free. Marcus Siepen's rythms are truly skilled and repetitives (but it's not a bad point on this release). Added to the André Olbrich's well constructed solos, the Blind wake up, walk, and you must follow him if you don't want to be lost in twilight hall.

Of course, there are speed tracks (it's a speed metal band !) like Banished From Sanctuary, Valhalla, or Don't Break The Circle. And these are fantastics, masterpiece of Speed Metal.
But the other tracks and in particular Follow The Blind have a lower tempo, a damned tempo. But it reprepresents all the album's mind : Damnation. It's not a hazard if two songs are written on Elric, the Moorcock's character, Eternal Champion and eternal damned. And because we're not in Black Metal or Doom Metal, the listener would be surprised to listen so heavier compositions.

So, this release must be listened a lot of time to be marked as well.