Album Review - Blind Guardian - Live

Ha, Ha! At last these guys have finally released the long awaited double live album. Not since Tokyo Tales have Blind Guardian been able to showcase their tight live set on record, so alas, we now have their latest offering simply titled "Live."

With cuts spanning their whole career recorded during their 2002/2003 tour, in various locations spanning the globe, Blind Guardian prove themselves as being one of the tightest live acts, with an enthusiastic audience to match.

Besides the inclusion of regular members Kürsch, Olbrich, Siepen, and Stauch; "Live" features Oliver Holzwarth on Bass, Micheal Schuren on keys (playing most of the orchestration) and additional drummer Alex Holzwarth, adding to the tight structure surrounding the quartet.

The whole plethora of Blind Guardian's career is represented here, coming off the heals of the release of last years acclaimed "A Night at the Opera" album, from that record we get cuts such as "Punishment Divine," and "The Soulforged" in the setlist, as well as "War of Wrath," "The Bard's Song - In the Forest", "Journey Thorough the Dark," and "Nightfall," from more recent releases, but it is cuts like "Valhalla," "Majesty," and "Welcome to Dying" that also keep the fans on their feet through the whole show, with material from their earlier days.

Sound quality and mix are up to par, a feat that is mandatory due to this band's sound, and in many cases you can hear the audience singing along more clearly, which compliments these songs due to the fact that they have to take place of the choir that was used on the some of the original recordings, but never the less, the crowd noise is kept to a minimum during most of the performances; however, it's the incorporation of the crowd on "Valhalla" puts you in the audience. Besides the sound being at the stature of top-notch live album, the musicianship takes center stage, with guitar solos played with total precision, with the occasional extension, not to mention that vocalist Hansi Kürsch's sings his tenor with perfect pitch, not hitting one flat note.

Songs flow perfectly from one another, with the perfect spot for intermission when you change discs, starting the second half off with the energetic "Under the Ice." The band and the title should say it all; I mean, all expectations are sincerely met with this record, especially coming from someone who is dying to see them live here in the U.S., I guess this will have to tie most of us over, for which this record is the perfect way to do so, but it more or less keeps us all in suspense, whether we have seen them or not.

Written by Hashman
Monday, October 20, 2003
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