Photo by Dirk Behlau

Promising to be one of the most ambitious projects in metal history, BLIND GUARDIAN‘s upcoming release will be well worth the wait. The idea of recording an orchestral album originally formed in the minds of the two leading lights of the BLIND GUARDIAN  universe – guitarist André Olbrich and singer Hansi Kürsch – during the 1990’s when BLIND GUARDIAN started to use orchestral elements to enhance their opulent sound. The monumental project started to take shape over recent years, and mirroring its epic sound cascades, the lyrical concept was developed. To create the concept,  André  and Hansi worked alongside German bestselling author Markus Heitz, whose latest novel »Die dunklen Lande« was released on March 1st, 2019. The book is set in 1629 and contains the prequel to BLIND GUARDIAN TWILIGHT ORCHESTRA‘s opus »Legacy Of The Dark Lands,« which will be out on November 8th, 2019.

To give their fans a first taster of the upcoming record, the band is happy to present the first single, ‘Point Of No Return,’ in the form of a lyric video today. Watch here:

Hansi states, “Finally, after ages of talking about it, it is time to unleash the beast. We have heard your pleas and here it is, a first glimpse of what »Legacy Of The Dark Lands« is about. We have reached the ‘Point Of No Return’ and there for sure will be no taking back. »Legacy Of The Dark Lands« will be released on November 8, 2019. Enjoy listening to the first single of this wonderful album. ‘Point Of No Return’ is a very vivid song and already gives you a very good insight of what to expect from the upcoming release. The song has it all, it is intense, very melodious and epic at the same time. Don’t forget to check out the lyric video for ‘Point Of No Return.’ But now enjoy this first short trip to the »Dark Lands.« Still, this is just the beginning.”

In addition, BLIND GUARDIAN TWILIGHT ORCHESTRA have announced the release of a 7″ vinyl single titled »This Storm,« (its cover art can be seen below) for October 4th, 2019, which can also be pre-ordered in various colours (clear, gold, red/black splattered) here: https://nblast.de/BG-ThisStorm

»This Storm« 7″ Vinyl Single – Track Listing:

Side A: This Storm
Side B: This Storm (Instrumental)

Pre-order »Legacy Of The Dark Lands« here:
http://nblast.de/BGLegacyOfTheDarkLands
Pre-order digitally to receive ‘Point Of No Return’ instantly (via amazon and iTunesonly!) or pre-save the album now via Spotify, Apple Music & Deezer:
http://nblast.de/BlindGuardianTOPreSave
Listen to ‘Point Of No Return’ in the NB New Releases Playlists:
http://nblast.de/SpotifyNewReleases / http://nblast.de/AppleMusicNewReleases

More on »Legacy Of The Dark Lands«: 
Trailer #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW8zzTlp03I
Trailer# 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5381LBJmI8

»Legacy Of The Dark Lands« – Track Listing:

01. 1618 Ouverture
02. The Gathering
03. War Feeds War
04. Comets And Prophecies
05. Dark Cloud’s Rising
06. The Ritual
07. In The Underworld
08. A Secret Society
09. The Great Ordeal
10. Bez
11. In The Red Dwarf’s Tower
12. Into The Battle
13. Treason
14. Between The Realms
15. Point Of No Return
16. The White Horseman
17. Nephilim
18. Trial And Coronation
19. Harvester Of Souls
20. Conquest Is Over
21. This Storm
22. The Great Assault
23. Beyond The Wall
24. A New Beginning

04.10.2014 — Blind Guardian promoshoot at Abteiberg in Mönchengladbach, Germany on 4th October 2014 Photocredit: Hans-Martin Issler

“It’s incredible, that after 20 years we can actually finish this really exciting project. I am so happy and more than satisfied with it. Every single track unveils spectacular worlds and tells its very own story. With this album our biggest creative dream finally becomes reality,“ says frontman/singer Hansi Kürsch whose favourite author was equally excited about the collaboration: “It’s really crazy: As pen & paper role-players we used to listen to BLIND GUARDIAN whilst playing. And years later I get to work together with the band, which was incredible. It’s amazing, the things that can happen sometimes,”  Markus Heitz  remembers. “Of course, I immediately agreed to join! This creative collaboration is very special for me.”

The two protagonists have actively cultivated their creative exchange over the last five years. “Markus is a great story teller; with »Die dunklen Lande« he created the perfect setting and with the mysterious Nicolas, the perfect character for our complex works. His inventiveness seems to be almost infinite. Absolutely impressive and very inspiring,”  praises Hansi Kürsch regarding the fruitful cooperation with the highly renowned fantasy author.

Both sides tell in their own way the story of the mercenary Nicolas and his involvement in the Thirty Years’ War. Author Markus Heitz starts the story off in his book and BLIND GUARDIAN follow suit with »Legacy Of The Dark Lands.« What is the secret surrounding Nicolas? Will he be able to cast off the chains of war and how will his loved ones fare? On »Legacy Of The Dark Lands« via BLIND GUARDIAN TWILIGHT ORCHESTRA, André Olbrich and Hansi Kürsch fulfill their long-time wish of emphasizing imposing choral singing and classical orchestral arrangements. It promises to be an opus unlike any other that the German quartet has ever released, or rather: an opus, as has never been heard ever before.