Blind Guardian - Tales From The Twilight World

Released in 1990, this album begins the new Blind Guardian's style. Compared with the two precedents: Battalions Of Fear and Follow The Blind, the sound is better and the compositions more technicals.

Nevertheless, I have some difficulty to enter entirely in this album. I think it isn't really complete. The ambiance which is Dark Fantasy again, is intersected by some soft songs. These, Tommyknockers and Altair 4, are not bad, but relatively weak to my mind, contrary to the rest.

In fact, this album proves that Blind Guardian have progressed their music to a certain maturity. Hansi Kürsch's vocals range has increased whereas Thomas Stauch show us a better drums performance. Guitars sound is caracteristic on this album, and this is the first time that the Blind Guardian's sound is so personnal. So, a lot of tracks are actually hits, like Welcome To Dying, Lord Of The Ring, Lost In The Twilight Hall, or The Last Candle. Indeed, Kai Hansen, the master of Helloween sings with Hansi on Lost In The Twilight Hall. The opposition of the two voices is one of the strongest point on this release. And Lord Of The Ring give a timid approach on acoustic performances and ballads.

So, there are a lot of experiences on this release. Blind Guardian built his own style and Tales From The Twilight Hall is finally a transition album. Not bad, but not extremely good.