Battalions of Fear

Infobox Album
Name = Battalions of Fear
Type = studio
Artist = Blind Guardian


Released = May 18, 1988
Recorded = October-November 1987 at Karo Studios, Münster, West Germany
Genre = Power metal, speed metal
Length = 39:20
Label = No Remorse, Virgin, Century Media
Producer = Kalle Trapp
Reviews =
* [http://soundofmetal.se/ Sound Of Metal] Rating-10|8.5 [http://soundofmetal.se/index.php?page=blindguardianbattalionsoffearreview link]
* Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:7szsa9ygi23h link]
Last album = "Battalions of Fear" (demo) (1986)
This album = "Battalions of Fear" (1988)
Next album = "Follow the Blind" (1989)

"Battalions of Fear" is the debut album by German metal band Blind Guardian. It was released in 1988 and is a straightforward metal album, greatly inspired by Helloween's works. The album is a raw and unpolished speed metal effort that touches on thrash metal. This album lacks many of the stylistic flourishes that would mark the band's music in later years. Remastered, remixed and re-released on 15th 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. It is a significant Power metal album along with Stratovarius's Fright Night and Helloween's first albums.

Track listing

All songs written by André Olbrich

# "Majesty" – 7:28
# "Guardian of the Blind" – 5:09
# "Trial by the Archon" – 1:41
# "Wizard's Crown" – 3:48
# "Run for the Night" – 3:33
# "The Martyr" – 6:14
# "Battalions of Fear" – 6:06
# "By the Gates of Moria" – 2:52
* Bonus Track

9. "Gandalf's Rebirth" – 2:10

* "'2007 Re-release Bonus Tracks

10. "Brian" (Demo Version) – 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: the 2007 re-release has "Gandalf's Rebirth" bonus tracks, although it is not listed as such.

Lineup

* Hansi Kürsch – vocals and bass
* André Olbrich – lead guitar and backing vocals
* Marcus Siepen – rhythm guitar and backing vocals
* Thomas "Thomen" Stauch – drums

Credits

* van Waay Design – cover painting
* Kalle Trapp – Recording, mixing and producing

Lyrical references

* "Majesty" is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings". One can also find references to "The Lord of the Rings" from the songs "Wizard's Crown" and "Run For the Night"
* "By the Gates of Moria" and "Gandalf's Rebirth" are instrumentals and thus contain no lyrics but are also based on the same work. "By the Gates of Moria" is derived from Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World".
* "Guardian of the Blind" is based on Stephen King's "It".
* "The Martyr" is about Jesus Christ.
* "Battalions of Fear" is criticism against Ronald Reagan and his politics as the President of the United States of America.
* "Wizard's Crown" is about Aleister Crowley.