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 1990s when BLIND GUARDIAN started to use orchestral elements to enhance their opulent sound.In recent years the giant project started to take shape, and parallel to its epic sound cascades, the lyrical concept was developed. For this, BLIND GUARDIAN was able to find support in 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’s opus Legacy Of The Dark Lands, which will be out on November 8th, 2019.
Today, the band reveal their second trailer, in which they offer an insight into the recording process with the orchestra and choir. Watch the new clip here: https://youtu.be/OUqLsIQWABU – filmed by Dirk Behlau.
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 now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIP3tbE-gXA
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 titledThis Storm,(its cover art can be seen below) for October 4th, 2019, which can also be pre-ordered in various colors (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)
The Legacy Of The Dark Lands tracklist:
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
“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 front man/singer Hansi Kürsch whose favorite 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“, MarkusHeitzremembers. “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‘s 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.
