| CD review: Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth |
| Virgin Records, 1998 | Review published: 2007/08/12 | Power Metal |
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 Nightfall in Middle Earth is perhaps the most argued about power metal album that there is. Some people claim it to be complete crap, while others, say that it is a great album that capture’s Tolkien’s Silmarillion. Because, yes, it is a concept album, and as everyone knows, it is very hard to create a good concept album without messing something up.
At first, the album starts off with a short intro song entitled “War of Wrath”. Basically, you hear a war going on in the background. After awhile, you start hearing someone speak. (I’m pretty sure it’s Morgoth, but I can’t say for sure). It’s a very nice epic start, and for once, there is no very slow start to Blind Guardian’s album.
Soon, after, almost instantly, you hear the amazing song “Into the Storm”. Amazing as this song is, it could use a more melancholic feel as the song before it was full of despair. Still, as this song starts to flood your ears, you will begin to realize that this album was worth every cent you paid. Unless you obtained it by other means ;).
After this, we have a terrible mistake, the interlude/transition songs. This one being possibly the most annoying, It’s 28 seconds of wind. Waste of time if you ask me.
You’ll soon forget about that though. The next song Nightfall, is simply drenched in emotion. It’s also the song that got me into Blind Guardian. It does not have a very heavy feel, and the first time through you may think that there are barely any guitars. This is however, untrue as the song is progressed by guitars, although they are not always very noticeable. This song, however, focuses mostly on vocals, with Hansi singing, and sometimes being accompanied by back up singers to make a very epic effect. It’s the kind of feeling you get when you hear 1,000 people singing a chorus of a song at a concert. This song, to put it in the simplest words possible, is amazing. If you don’t listen to the whole album, at least listen to this one.
Next up, well, another transition song. Though this one has lyrics. It’s not much, so I won’t bother elaborating. FYI its 32 seconds long.
Wow, another amazing track after the transition song. It is called “The curse of Feanor”. Tolkien fans like myself will remember Feanor. He’s a great character, but let’s get back on topic, shall we? The song is very powerful, from the start the guitars will get you in the correct mood for this song, a kind of melancholic hope. It goes hand in hand with the chapter the song is based on. Angry, frustrated, and at times hopeful. Powerful vocals and back up singers singing the emotional lyrics is just… breathtaking for fear of not giving the song credit it deserves. After you listen to this one, you may even want to turn it on again.
Urgh, the next one is, you guessed it, transition. Though, this one does go along with the story. And it really does help the next song along.
Next we explore the melancholy and depression of the next song” Blood Tears”. This is probably one of the most sad Blind Guardian songs. And it goes hand in hand with the transition song, as soon as you listen to about 30-50 seconds of it. While it is very slow, and does not have many heavy parts, though they are there, it focuses on emotion and on lyrics more than instrumentals. The lyrics give a sense of hopelessness. Honestly, it creates a deep feeling in you, especially if you are familiar with the Silmarillion. The song itself will give you the nostalgic feeling, and you may find yourself opening up the silmarillion after listening.
Next we have Mirror, Mirror. One of the most popular Blind Guardian songs as far as I can tell. There is a great deal of notes here that you don’t notice right away, but that give the song a special feeling. It is very strong and hopeful, upbeat, almost as a war cry after the depressive sounds of the previous song. It has some sing-along, parts, along with some great vocals. I cannot even start on the lyrics, excellently done. I won’t spoil it for you however, buy the album and listen to it.
“Face the Truth” is next. Guess what, it’s a transition. But it too, fits the next song.
Noldor(Dead Winter Regins) is the title of the next song. This song is great. It has a very sad sound, but at parts rips through you with the powerful blasts it features. Not to mention being one of the saddest songs on the album, except that it describes the entire group of people called the Noldor, instead of just one person. I believe Hansi Kursch once said it was based on the Chapter, “Flight of the Noldor”, in the Silmarillion. Another song for the ages.
A very short “Song” comes now. It is peaceful, and has a very pleasant sound to it.
Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill) comes next. Right from the start, it is very fast and heavy. It slows up just enough for Hansi to get in his haunting lyrics, which I believe there were some special effects added to make his voice fit the song more. It is a very uplifting song, that will give you a rush of adrenaline and make you want to listen to it.
It has less emotion than some of the other songs on the album, this one is more about being strong and entertaining than being meaningful or emotional. This song is one heck of musical worksmanship.
The next song is a transition song, entitled Dark Elf, and isn’t very good, but it goes hand in hand with the start of the next song.
Thorn is the title of that song. Very slow at first, then you hear the drums come in, and soon, you are taken away with the great song. Although it’s not very fast at any part, it is another sad song. Listening to it will give you that feeling you have when there is just a bit of hope left, and you cling onto it. Lots of loud singing by Hansi here, and he does it extremely well. This is a definite great song, although it does get a bit repetitive.
Next we have a song entitled “The Eldar”. There is not much to say about it. It is another very slow song, no metal instruments, just the piano, and of course Hansi’s voice. Not much to say, other than it is very well done. I’m not one who regularly listens to the piano and singing, but you can tell they worked hard on this, and the effect in very nice.
Nom the Wise comes after this. It is literally an old man talking about miserable things, and the death of someone.
The next song we have is “When Sorrow Sang”, which is a heavy song. Right from the start, it’s heavy and fast, but not an inspiring song like Time Stands Still. The chorus is very nice, it takes a whole different direction from the rest of the song, and creates a really haunting and actually pleasant sound. It’s surprising that Blind Guardian can put in all this sad stuff into their album and not make themselves sound stupid.
Then, we have two more transition songs. Out on the Water and Steadfast. One is instrumental, the other is someone talking. As soon as he finishes, A Dark Passage will begin.
This song is not very heavy at first, and you hear all the general metal instruments, as well as some orchestral and symphonic elements.Hansi’s voice comes in with the normal Blind Guardian performance, which generally simply means great. Once again, this song focuses more of lyrical work than instrumentals. Still, the instruments provide a great background for the words, and they fit. Again, one of the most important things in any song, that everything fits. I think most will agree with me, this is a nice “sing along” song, with a soft feel and powerful lyrics. Nothing for people to call corny, but nothing really short of epic.
The album finishes off with Final Chapter (Thus Ends). Which is a narrator speaking to you about a war.
Two more songs are on the album, but they are instrumental or orchestral versions. May provide interest for some.
So, whew, finally the end of this lengthy album. Since so many of the songs fit together, I decided just to write a short blurb about each one, hopefully it will make this as high quality a review as you will find.
I think most people will guess what lost this album most of the points. 1.7 were lost for the transition songs, which could have been turned into good regular songs, or else the narration could have been worked into the song. .3 were lost for minor problems with songs, very small mistakes in the songs that are barely noticeable, or parts that could have been better. A superb album, no matter that the rating is 8.0, this album is great, if not for those transition songs, it would have gotten around a 9.7. But still, it’s a good listen for any Tolkien fan, as they will no doubt recongnize the sillmarillion here, and a good listen for any power metal fan. Happy Listening!
Patrick Burent
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01. War Of Wrath
02. Into The Storm
03. Lammoth
04. Nightfall
05. The Minstrel
06. The Curse Of Feanor
07. Captured
08. Blood Tears
09. Mirror Mirror
10. Face The Truth
11. Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)
12. Battle Of Sudden Flame
13. Time Stands Still (At The Iron Hill)
14. The Dark Elf
15. Thorn
16. The Eldar
17. Nom The Wise
18. When Sorrow Sang
19. Out On The Water
20. The Steadfast
21. A Dark Passage
22. Final Chapter (Thus Ends...)
--[Japanese bonus]--
23. Nightfall [orchestral version]
24. A Dark Passage [instrumental version]
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 Read also: Blind Guardian - A Night At The Opera, Blind Guardian - A Twist In The Myth, Blind Guardian - Battalions Of Fear, Blind Guardian - Bright Eyes, Blind Guardian - Fly, Blind Guardian - Follow The Blind, Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side, Blind Guardian - Mirror Mirror, Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond, Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond, Blind Guardian - Tales From The Twilight World, Blind Guardian - The Bards Song (In The Forest), Blind Guardian - The Forgotten Tales
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