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Blind Guardian: The God Machine

Classic Power Metal

5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 07.09.2022 | Released: 03.09.2022

I find it somewhat curious that iconic and seminal power metal heroes Blind Guardian released their latest and eleventh album, The God Machine the same day Amazon Prime video released Lord Of The Rings prequel, The Rings Of Power. Famous for their songs and lyrics from fantasy, Tolkein, and epic myths and legends, 1998's Nightfall in Middle-Earth gave the Tolkein mythos a power metal shot in the arm. Blind Guardian vocalist and principal lyricist Hansi Kürsch continues to be inspired by modern fantasy fiction.

Blind Guardian

This time he draws from Patrick Rothfuss, Neil Gaiman (American Gods), Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archives), and the The Witcher novels, currently being cast by Netflix. The album art, conceptually quite different from early albums was created by American artist Peter Mohrbacher, known for his art for gaming and fiction like Magic The Gathering, Dragons Of Atlantis, and Angelarium.

Moving on the metal, I found the album a mixture of both early and new Blind Guardian, perhaps more the former. Recent albums bumped up the orchestra culminating with profound and epic Twilight Orchestra: Legacy of the Dark Lands. But The God Machine turns more upon classic European power metal with the sin qua non elements of assertive riffs, boundless speed, and epic guitar solos. This quite apparent with Deliver Us From Evil, Damnation, and Violent Shadows. That last song turns upon a thrash metal motif made heavy by the intense bass line. But Blind Guardian does not forget their subtle voyages into progish power metal. Let It Be No More and Secrets Of The American Gods add more twists than just riffs and gusto. And, though reduced, you'll still hear some orchestration, most notable within Secrets Of The American Gods.

All things considered, The God Machine finds iconic power metal band Blind Guardian in excellent and creative form. This album delivers the power and punch of true power metal, yet never fails to engage and entertain the listener. Easily recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The God Machine finds iconic power metal band Blind Guardian in excellent and creative form. This album delivers the power and punch of true power metal, yet never fails to engage and entertain the listener. Easily recommended.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]

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