Review: Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera

[alexofbodom]

I am not saying it is the greatest because of its complexity. SPiral Architect is complex and I can totally live without them. I just pointed this out because almost everybody that dislikes this album dislikes it because it is to "complex" or "overproduced". I also enjoy simple music such as Sentenced or Lost Horizon, but I also can enjoy complex and overproduced music when it sounds good to my ears. I don't like Anthrax or Marylin Manson just because I don't. (Matter of taste not complexity). Just as everybody criticizes ANATO, I criticize Manson and Anthrax because I could totally live without them.
It is all a matter of taste and I totally respect that.

 

[JayKeeley]

Originally posted by alexofbodom
I also enjoy simple music such as Sentenced or Lost Horizon, but I also can enjoy complex and overproduced music when it sounds good to my ears.

I know it's all relative and a matter of opinion, but as far as power metal goes, Lost Horizon has some seriously complex drumming going on. That really stands out too.

Remember, I said 'as far as power metal goes' - thereby comparing Lost Horizon to, say, Hammerfall before anyone jumps down my throat and screams Bumblefoot or whatever.

 

[Chrisf]

BG's newest is by far their most progressive. As far as I can tell, no one else has ever done anything equivalent, or even close. I realize it's a departure from what they sounded like just 2 albums ago, but that doesn't mean it's not great.

I think it's a real bummer that they've totally broken new ground, and people immediately label it "boring", or "tiresome to listen to", or whatever. You can have your opinion, but I hope you've given it enough spins to "get it", because this is no simple power metal album like dozens of other bands put out every year. I for one really appreciate the work put into this one and hope they do more along these lines in the future.

Chrisf

 

[Se7enChurches]

Originally posted by alexofbodom
Just as everybody criticizes ANATO, I criticize Manson and Anthrax because I could totally live without them.
It is all a matter of taste and I totally respect that.

I agree you can probably completely live without Marilyn Manson (though I still own and listen to Portrait), but I'd put money on there being at least some band you do listen to on a regular basis that wouldn't be around or would sound very different if not for Anthrax (or maybe SOD) being there first.

Ryan

 

[alexofbodom]

Originally posted by Se7enChurches

but I'd put money on there being at least some band you do listen to on a regular basis that wouldn't be around or would sound very different if not for Anthrax (or maybe SOD) being there first.

The same goes for Blind Guardian.

 

[Se7enChurches]

Originally posted by alexofbodom
The same goes for Blind Guardian.

I never said it didn't. I like ANATO (not to mention Imaginations, Nightfall, Follow the Blind, etc...). I'm just trying to get you to admit that you probably couldn't live entirely without Anthrax. I realize they're essentially a hardcore band now, but they were extremely important to metal in their day. (besides, if their current lineup all had never been born, we wouldn't have had Armored Saint)

Ryan

 

[JayKeeley]

By the way, after reading all these posts, I don't think anyone said they didn't like ANATO. On the contrary, it's probably the best album of the year so far (along with Damage Done and Darkened Shrines etc but this list changes by the week).

However, I only think we're saying that some of the tracks could be replaced by others for a LIVE concert - making the experience a little better overall perhaps by playing more songs in the time saved?

The same would apply to any band in that respect - for my own personal tastes, I don't need the 17 minute live renditions of any song when I can get three shorter tracks instead. I remember seeing Metallica on their Justice tour, and even then thinking that the song "And Justice for All" is just waaay too long to be played live...(although it's phenomenal on the CD).

 

[lady_space]

lol, I was way too enthralled to have thought anything even remotely critical of 'Tallica back then (you know, before they sucked . That concert was a dream come true for me (my two favorite bands at the time), and I was only 14, so... I thought it was perfect. I still have my Operation:mindcrime shirt from that show, though it's almost see-through now!

Swinging back to the original topic, though--let me reiterate: I don't think ANATO is bad *at all*. I don't think it's "too complex" or "over-produced;" I simply think they went overboard in places on the vocal effects Hansi seems to prefer. It's, like someone said, simply a matter of taste and I'm sure mine are very different from most BG fans. I'm okay with this.

Shaye

 

[JayKeeley]

Originally posted by lady_space
lol, I was way too enthralled to have thought anything even remotely critical of 'Tallica back then (you know, before they sucked . That concert was a dream come true for me (my two favorite bands at the time), and I was only 14, so... I thought it was perfect. I still have my Operation:mindcrime shirt from that show, though it's almost see-through now!

Yeah you're right - maybe that was a bad example...d'oh! In fact, slap me now, because on the Justice tour they would actually have Lady Liberty fall to pieces during that song...

my brain hurts.

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

*slaps JayKeeley*

How DARE you speak ill of the AJFA tour?! That was the greatest show I've ever seen...of course, not all of us grew up in Great Britain during Iron Maiden's heydey, so...

 

[JayKeeley]

Originally posted by markgugs
*slaps JayKeeley*

How DARE you speak ill of the AJFA tour?! That was the greatest show I've ever seen...

Yeah I was trying to make a comparison, and it failed. It failed miserably.

*JK walks into backyard and starts digging hole*

of course, not all of us grew up in Great Britain during Iron Maiden's heydey, so...

True - but Metallica did become the best live act in the world at some point, and they peaked on Justice...those were the days...

*sigh*