Early this August just gone, BLIND GUARDIAN performed live for the Wacken World Wide digital festival, and surprised everybody by playing a brand-new track called “Violent Shadows”. The song is a very first taster of their upcoming studio album, to be released in autumn 2021. “Violent Shadows” (live) is available digitally as of today.
“Your wish is our command! So we have heeded the call, or in other words we observed your many requests and wanted to oblige. Here it comes, today we proudly present you with our glorious, virtual Wacken live version of „Violent Shadows“ as a digital single. Enjoy this vicious ride and scream along with us. Stay tuned for more,and come to meet your violent shadows”, comments lead singer Hansi Kürsch.
Join BLIND GUARDIAN in 2021 on their “30 Years SOMEWHERE FAR BEYOND Anniversary Tour”:
16.09. D Saarbrücken Garage 17.09. D München Backstage 18.09. D Memmingen Kaminwerk 20.09. CH Pratteln Z7 22.09. D Frankfurt Batschkapp 23.09. D Hamburg Markthalle 24.09. D Stuttgart LKA 25.09. D Dresden Alter Schlachthof 28.09. D Köln E-Werk 29.09. D Oberhausen Turbinenhalle 30.09. D Berlin Columbia Theater 01.10. D Neuruppin Kulturhaus 02.10. D Osnabrück Hyde Park
Today, metal masters BLIND GUARDIAN kick off the pre-order for the special 25th anniversary edition of their “Imaginations From The Other Side” album, that will be released on December 11th. This edition will contain live recordings and other special versions of the BLIND GUARDIAN classics featured on the album.
Hansi Kürsch comments: “What can I say? A brilliant album celebrates its 25th anniversary. It is great to celebrate this in such a bombastic manner. Luckily we filmed our 2016 show in Oberhausen when we performed the entire album live. This is the perfect moment for us to present this master piece in so many different facets. An ideal resurrection of precious memories long gone, but not forgotten. This album is made for eternity… I hope. Enjoy.”
Watch the live clip from 2016 in Oberhausen to get an impression of the album, here:
“Imaginations From The Other Side” 25th anniversary edition will be available in the following formats:
– CD – Earbook (40p Earbook Live CD, Remixed CD, original instrumental/demos CD, Blu-ray – limited to 2000) – CD-Boxset (Dioarma – Box incl. 40p Earbook (LiveCD, RemixedCD, original instrumental/demos CD, Live Blu-ray) + puzzle + Certificate, signed by the band – limited to 1000) – 2LP BLACK VINYL – 2PIC-LP PICTURE VINYL (limited to 1000) – 2LP BURGUNDY VINYL (limited to 500) – 2LP PEARL WHITE VINYL (limited to 500) – 2LP BRONZE VINYL BAND EXCL. (limited to 300)
1. Imaginations from the Other Side 8:26 2. I’m Alive 5:40 3. A Past and Future Secret 4:13 4. The Script for My Requiem 6:32 5. Mordred’s Song 5:20 6. Born in a Mourning Hall 5:37 7. Bright Eyes 5:41 8. Another Holy War 5:02 9. And The Story Ends 7:18
2LP tracklist:
1 Imaginations from the Other Side 8:26 2 I’m Alive 5:40 3 A Past and Future Secret 4:13
1 The Script for My Requiem 6:32 2 Mordred’s Song 5:20 3 Born in a Mourning Hall 5:37
1 Bright Eyes 5:41 2 Another Holy War 5:02 3 And the Story Ends 7:18
1 Imaginations from the Other Side (Demo) 2 I’m Alive (Demo) 3 A Past and Future Secret (Demo) 4 The Script for My Requiem (Demo)
Earbook tracklist:
Disc1 / CD: Live in Oberhausen 1. Imaginations from the Other Side 8:26 2. I’m Alive 5:40 3. A Past and Future Secret 4:13 4. The Script for My Requiem 6:32 5. Mordred’s Song 5:20 6. Born in a Mourning Hall 5:37 7. Bright Eyes 5:41 8. Another Holy War 5:02 9. And The Story Ends 7:18
Disc2/ CD: Album 2012 Remix and Remaster 1. Imaginations from the Other Side 7:11 2. I’m Alive 5:32 3. A Past and Future Secret 3:44 4. The Script for My Requiem 6:55 5. Mordred’s Song 5:28 6. Born in a Mourning Hall 5:15 7. Bright Eyes 5:15 8. Another Holy War 4:36 9. And the Story Ends 5:58 10. The Wizard 3:20 11. System’s Failing 4:25
Disc3/ CD: Album Instrumental & Bonus 1. Imaginations from the Other Side 7:20 2. I’m Alive 5:33 3. A Past and Future Secret 3:49 4. The Script for My Requiem 6:10 5. Mordred’s Song 5:30 6. Born in a Mourning Hall 5:16 7. Bright Eyes 5:18 8. Another Holy War 4:34 9. And the Story Ends 6:01 10. Imaginations from the Other Side (Demo) 11. I’m Alive (Demo) 12. A Past and Future Secret (Demo) 13. The Script for My Requiem (Demo) 14. A Past and Future Secret (Orchestral Version) – Single version
Disc4/ Bluray: Live in Oberhausen 1. Imaginations from the Other Side 8:26 2. I’m Alive 5:40 3. A Past and Future Secret 4:13 4. The Script for My Requiem 6:32 5. Mordred’s Song 5:20 6. Born in a Mourning Hall 5:37 7. Bright Eyes 5:41 8. Another Holy War 5:02 9. And the Story Ends 7:18
„Exclusive and unique, and only in Germany and Switzerland – for the 30th anniversary of the album, BLIND GUARDIAN will play „Somewhere Far Beyond“live.”
The biggest monument of their first age is celebrating a landmark anniversary: „Somewhere Far Beyond“ is turning 30 years old! The fourth BLIND GUARDIAN studio album epitomised the unbridled sound of speed metal of their founding years combined with middle-earth folk vibes, giving an inkling as to the orchestral storm that was soon to follow – it was a scene-shaping metal classic.
In order to celebrate this important occasion, BLIND GUARDIAN will kick off a “Somewhere Far Beyond” anniversary tour in autumn 2021. For the first time in their long history, BLIND GUARDIAN will play the album in its entirety, exclusively in Germany and Switzerland – from ‘Time What Is Time’ to ‘The Quest For Tanelorn’ until the great title song! It’s the most perfect way to set the mood for a new studio album, due to be released in winter 2021. The new album will undoubtedly bring forth a new level of power. Let the march of time begin…
See the band live at one of the following shows in 2021:
16.09. D Saarbrücken Garage 17.09. D München Backstage 18.09. D Memmingen Kaminwerk 20.09. CH Pratteln Z7 22.09. D Frankfurt Batschkapp 23.09. D Hamburg Markthalle 24.09. D Stuttgart LKA 25.09. D Dresden Alter Schlachthof 28.09. D Köln E-Werk 29.09. D Oberhausen Turbinenhalle 30.09. D Berlin Columbia Theater 01.10. D Neuruppin Kulturhaus 02.10. D Osnabrück Hyde Park
Jimmy Kay from Canada’sThe Metal Voicespoke to Blind Guardian, Demons& Wizards‘ singer Hansi Kursch. Kursch spoke went in depth about the musical themes on the new album and the musical direction of the new Demons & Wizards album 3. He also gave an update on the new Blind Guardian album and the timeline.
Watch the interview here:
When asked about the musical direction of the new Demons & Wizards album 3
“The new album is more defined. I would say the Demons & Wizards first two albums have been very strong and they showcased the direction and we established a style apart from what Blind Guardian and Iced Earth were doing over all these years. On this new album there is a strong atmospheric element almost in every song, there is a lot of diversity, we go from alternative sounding songs like, ‘Invincible’ for example to classic rock songs like ‘Children of Cain’ or the intense music like the song ‘Diabolic’. Demons & Wizards covers everything from almost folk like songs, to classic rock music of the 70’s up to almost intense Thrash Metal. I have to say there is a high variety of different sounding songs on the album, all killer, no fillers. There’s a lot of passion on this album and whatever people liked on the first two album with more variety. On the new album we have a song like ‘Timeless Spirit’ which almost goes into a Pink Floyd direction and another song like ‘Children of Cain’ which goes into a doomy Black Sabbath melancholic directions.”
When asked if the new album is a lot more darker than the first two albums
“Jon and feel the album delivers a glimpse of hope so it’s not so dark as it appears to people, you’re not the first one saying that maybe that’s also related to the album cover which is related to the song Diabolic which deals with the fall of Lucifer or the events after the fall of Lucifer when he’s joining forces with Beelzebub and Satan to establish other war against heaven. There is a lot of darkness also in the songs but I said I also feel that there’s always that light at the end of the tunnel.”
When asked about the lyrical theme off the new album
Midas Disease- This is about a TV preacher who manipulates people and succeeds.
Diabolic -The events after the fall of Lucifer when hell is established and Lucifer’s going to join forces with Beelzebub and Satan.
Invincible- Is inspired by Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ and it deals with a main protagonist called Lyra.
Wolves in Winter- It’s about accepting the beast in yourself.
Final Warning -Another literature inspiration by Brandon Sanderson book Stormlight Archives.
Timeless Spirit- Is about a spiritual journey you’re on and on this journey you will meet your former carnations.
Dark side of her Majesty- It is fictional comic idea John has for the story which he might create later on it’s about a vampire queen who steals young children but it’s pretending, it’s like the wolf amongst lamb.
New Dawn Is one of the songs musically which contains some positive elements. This is about a person which goes to the extreme no matter what and who you know is not willing to give up a wrong position and this person is willing to sacrifice the world for it.
Universal truth – Is an uplifting song about what you can accomplish if you believe in yourself and if you have allies basically.
Children of Can- It’s a dystopian story I came up with and this it is a society living to similar rules than ours but the law of Cain is essential at some point you have to undergo a ritual where you are supposed to kill your brother.
When asked if they will be touring with Demons & Wizards
“I mean we would love to tour but the reality is we have to go back to Blind Guardian and Iced Earth and keep our focus on our main bands and then we will have to see whatever whenever there will be a chance to join forces again, that’s up in the air in the moment because schedules are packed. There are things to come for Demons & Wizards we are intending on releasing the first Demons & Wizards live album.”
When asked about the new Blind Guardian Album
We stopped the first pre-production Blind Guardian yesterday but we will continue in March 2020 and then from April to October November we will finish the Blind Guardian album.It’s another amazing ride the album is more progressive then people probably would expect but it’s typical Blind Guardian. When we spoke last time I’d probably not even have been aware of it because I was the of the opinion that there still is a lot of orchestration . Over the last two months I realized it’s far less than I thought but as I mentioned it goes more into a progressive direction that is the case they are like three speed thrash metal songs on there and the rest is more on on the complex side.”
Metal super act, DEMONS & WIZARDS will release their highly anticipated new studio album, “III”, on February 21st, 2020 via Century Media Records. The band has just released a new single ‘Midas Disease’, which can be listened below:
Hansi Kürsch states: “Meanwhile, you all should have heard the epic ‘Diabolic’ and as second impression of “III” we offer you the complete opposite now: The four and a half minutes of ‘Midas Disease’! The song reminds me of one of these good old hard rock bands, playing on and on for more than 40 years, I guess you’ll know whom I refer to once you hear it. ‘Midas Disease’ has a cunning vibe, which I absolutely love. It is pure honesty.”
Jon Schaffer adds: “I had a working title of ‘Unbroken’ for this song, and when I sent it to Hansi, he instantly liked it. We both feel it added a totally different dimension to an already very diverse album. It’s straight-up fists in the air hard rock/heavy metal song, which was certainly inspired by the riffing and rhythmic abilities of Malcolm Young and I personally dedicate it to his memory. You are missed Sir Malcolm!”
DEMONS & WIZARDS is one of the most legendary collaborations in the history of heavy metal, uniting the talents of Jon Schaffer(Iced Earth) and Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) who are friends for nearly three decades.
DEMONS & WIZARDS musically embodies both musician’s stylistic trademarks and has resulted so far in two hugely celebrated studio albums, “Demons & Wizards” and “Touched by the Crimson King”. Both records have been reissued in 2019 on time with the group’s extremely successful return to the world’s stages. Throughout the year, DEMONS & WIZARDS presented an impressive stage production and intense sets, toured North America for the first time, performed at renowned festivals such as Wacken Open Air (DE), Hellfest (F), Sweden Rock (SE), GMM (BE), Barcelona Rock Fest (ES), Copenhell (DK), Chania Rock (GR), Metaldays (SI), and played shows in Moscow, London and many more.
METALHEADS FOREVER, one of the biggest metal entities out there (having today 154K+ members, led by David Maloney) and Alpha Omega’s partner since February 2018, have posted online their November+December 2019 issue, featured interviews w/ Alpha Omega’s STEVE DI GIORGIO’s QUADVIUM and SON OF A SHOTGUN alongside ANNIHILATOR, AGNOSTIC FRONT, BLIND GUARDIAN + several reviews & More!
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 