Battalions of Fear

Battalions of Fear
Studio album by Blind Guardian
Released May 17, 1988
Recorded October-November 1987 at Karo Studios, Münster, West Germany
Genre Speed metal, thrash metal
Length 39:20
Label No Remorse, Virgin, Century Media
Producer Kalle Trapp
Blind Guardian chronology
Battalions of Fear
(1988)
Follow the Blind
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Sputnikmusic [1]
Metal Storm8.6/10[2]
Rock Hard(9/10)[3]

Battalions of Fear is the debut album by German metal band Blind Guardian released in 1988. The album is a raw and unpolished speed metal effort that touches on thrash metal. It lacks many of the stylistic flourishes that would mark the band's music in later years, focusing more on speed and aggression. The opening track "Majesty" remains a fan favorite and is often featured in the band's live performances. This album was remastered, remixed and re-released on 15 June 2007, with the whole first demo tape, Symphonies of Doom, of the band (at the time called Lucifer's Heritage) as part of the bonus tracks. The album was again re-released as part of the A Traveler's Guide to Space and Time boxset with minor adjustments to the mixing and with new mastering.

Track listing

All songs written by André Olbrich and Hansi Kürsch, except where noted. All lyrics written by Kürsch.

No. Title Length
1. "Majesty"   7:28
2. "Guardian of the Blind" (André Olbrich, Hansi Kürsch, Marcus Siepen, Thomas Stauch) 5:09
3. "Trial by the Archon"   1:41
4. "Wizard's Crown"   3:48
5. "Run for the Night"   3:33
6. "The Martyr"   6:14
7. "Battalions of Fear"   6:06
8. "By the Gates of Moria"   2:52
Bonus track
No. Title Length
9. "Gandalf's Rebirth"   2:10
2007 re-release bonus tracks
No. Title Length
10. "Brian" (Demo version (André Olbrich, Hansi Kürsch, Markus Dörk)) 2:41
11. "Halloween (The Wizard's Crown)" (Demo Version) 3:22
12. "Lucifer's Heritage" (Demo Version) 4:36
13. "Symphonies of Doom" (Demo Version) 4:08
14. "Dead of the Night" (Demo Version) 3:33

Note: "Gandalf's Rebirth" is featured on all releases other than the LP.

Personnel

Guest musicians

Lucifer's Heritage (tracks 10-14)

Other

Lyrical and musical themes

References

  1. Sputnikmusic review
  2. Metal Storm review
  3. Lerch, Uwe. "Rock Hard". issue 24. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
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