Blind Guardian: Beyond The Red Mirror

It's so exciting to finally have a new Blind Guardian studio release, another with so much to offer and one that will be welcome by those prefer Blind Guardian at their epic best. The orchestral power metal recording Beyond The Red Mirror is the sort of premier album we would expect from a band with such a glowing record. Packed with so many of Blind Guardian's finest classic ingredients, and showing again what master metal craftsmen they are.

The organisation they have undertaken in getting everything into place is quite an accomplishment, as Blind Guardian have ramped up the extras with not one but three classical choirs that are from Prague, Budapest, and Boston. But that's not all as there are two grand orchestras each with 90 musicians enlisted for the creation of Beyond The Red Mirror. All playing a sizeable role in that epic sound this album exudes and of course there is a great deal of guitar and dynamic drumming in the mix. Beyond The Red Mirror is a concept album which features the continuation of a story that began all the way back on the 1995 release Imaginations from the Other Side. Mirrors serve as portals to different worlds and we find that the boy from that much earlier recording has now reached adulthood, and the only gate that remains is the red mirror and no matter what it must be found, and so the story unfolds.

Those marvellous choirs are promptly introduced on "The Ninth Wave" before Hansi Kursch takes his place steering this mighty musical vessel. From a drumming viewpoint Blind Guardian have always had those tracks that require a truly vigorous performance and "Twilight of the Gods" is one such song. It's a traditional Blind Guardian sound we find on and not limited to "Prophecies", "At the Edge of Time" is a stunner that captivates as it builds in momentum, whilst next is more of a heavy hitter "Ashes of Eternity" . Besides all the sweeping orchestral arrangements and choirs Blind Guardian do get their speed metal on for the blazing "The Holy Grail" in classic style Blind Guardian, "Sacred Mind" is another that has quite explosive eruption of pace. A brief but agreeable ballad "Miracle Machine" is the albums most peaceful tune which lead us to a premier track on Beyond The Red Mirror and the finale "Grand Parade", as the album concludes as it began with one the longest inclusions and more mesmerising Blind Guardian metal. I should mention the bonus tracks, one is on the Digi version titled "Distant Memories" and this plus another called "Doom" are both included with the more expensive Earbook deluxe edition. While yes extra tracks are nothing new from what I am led to believe as having only heard "Distant Memories" for partial confirmation, these two songs do tell part of the story. So you will have fork out the extra funds to immerse yourself in the complete Beyond The Red Mirror experience.

Beyond The Red Mirror is the culmination of much time and effort in a quest for perfection resulting in more of those rewarding powerful compositions. As they build on the unmistakeable vocals of Hansi Kursch and that guitar sound there is only one Blind Guardian, and they've done it again with another sublime release that may one day be considered a classic among their albums.

See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!

Track Listing
1. The Ninth Wave
2. Twilight of the Gods
3. Prophecies
4. At the Edge of Time
5. Ashes of Eternity
6. The Holy Grail
7. The Throne
8. Sacred Mind
9. Miracle Machine
10. Grand Parade

Added: February 27th 2015
Reviewer: Scott Jessup
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
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Language: english

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