At the edge of time
| At the edge of time | ||||
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| Blind Guardian studio album | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | Nuclear Blast Records | |||
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Format (s) |
CD, LP |
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Title (number) |
10 |
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running time |
63:54 |
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At the Edge of Time is the ninth studio album by the German metal band Blind Guardian .
Emergence
The band's two previous albums ( A Night at the Opera and A Twist in the Myth ) had met with great criticism from many fans, as the reason was often mentioned, in addition to excessive orchestral influences, the concept of overproduction. Therefore, Blind Guardian wanted to return to their musical roots with At the Edge of Time . Immediately after the release of A Twist in the Myth in 2006, the band began with the first conceptions. The choirs for the album were sung by Thomas “Hacky” Hackmann, Olaf Senkbeil, Billy King and Stefan Schmidt ( Van Canto ).
success
The album entered the German charts at number 2 in August 2010, making it the most successful Blind Guardian album to date. 9th place in Austria also meant the highest position to date.
Songs
The album consists of ten tracks, some of which are explained in more detail below:
Sacred Worlds
The album begins with the longer version of the song Sacred Worlds , which was cut in October 2009 at a concert by the band in the role-playing game Sacred 2: Fallen Angel .
The piece begins with an orchestral intro that alternates between quieter sections and parts with swelling music accompanied by a choir. The alternation between calm and louder, faster parts runs through the whole piece, but towards the end and in the choruses the piece gets louder and faster for the most part. In some parts, lead singer Hansi Kürsch is supported by a choir.
It freely tells the ordeal of the shadow warrior existing in Sacred 2 and the situation in the world of Ancaria.
Tanelorn (Into the Void)
This song is based on Michael Moorcock 's End of Time cycle. Specifically, it's about Elric von Melniboné .
Road of No Release
This song is in position three on the album and a stark contrast to the song before it, as it has a fairly slow tempo at the beginning.
This song is introduced by piano sounds, which are later drowned out in drum and electric guitar sounds. The melody spreads a somewhat depressed mood quite early on.
The song itself is the story of a revival from the perspectives of several people, all sung by Hansi. He only has support with the chorus.
Ride into Obsession
In this piece, the protagonist of the fantasy series The Wheel of Time is the theme. In particular, the topics of his reincarnation across the different ages of the world, as well as his fate inevitably falling into madness.
Curse my name
This song is based on The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates, a political writing by John Milton in which the latter justifies the execution of Charles I of England .
Wheel of Time
The second track on the album, which deals with the world of the wheel of time. The core theme of the song is the cyclical nature of this fictional world, in which the ages of the world repeat themselves over and over again without beginning or end - just like a wheel.
War of the Thrones
"War of the Thrones" describes George RR Martin's A Game of Thrones . The song is about the march of the others and the thoughts of the main characters.
A Voice in the Dark
This song is also about A Game of Thrones . It deals with the dream Bran Stark had during his coma after being pushed off a tower. In the dream a three-eyed crow appears to him, which wants to teach him to fly while he also falls in the dream.
Track list
- Sacred Worlds - 9:17
- Tanelorn (Into the Void) - 5:58
- Road of No Release - 6:30
- Ride into Obsession - 4:46
- Curse My Name - 5:52
- Valkyries - 6:38
- Control the Divine - 5:26
- War of the Thrones - 4:55
- A Voice in the Dark - 5:41
- Wheel of Time - 8:55
- Bonus CD
- Sacred Worlds (pre-production version) - 6:49 • version in the video game Sacred 2 has been released
- Wheel of Time (Orchestral Version) - 8:55
- You're the Voice (Radio Edit) - 3:36 • Cover version of the single You're the Voice by John Farnham
- Tanelorn (Into the Void) (demo) - 5:59
- Curse My Name (Demo) - 4:42
- A Voice in the Dark (Demo) - 5:40
- Sacred - 6:17 AM • Video of the band's “concert” in Sacred 2 , titled Sacred Worlds
- A Journey to the Edge of Time (Studio Documentary) - 7:18 pm • Documentation on the creation of the album
Editions
| Surname | content | Available | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| CD | album | CD dealer, internet | |
| DIGI 2 CD | Album, bonus CD | CD dealer, internet | Special edition available from EMP * |
| Picture 2-LP | Album on 2 LPs | CD dealer, internet | |
| LTD. Box set 4-LP | Album on 2 LPs, bonus CD on 2 LPs | Internet |
* The Internet mail order company EMP sold the DIGI 2 CD exclusively with a flag on the album cover
Individual evidence
- ↑ At the Edge of Time in the Austrian charts
Web links
- At the Edge of Time as CD at musicline.de
- At the Edge of Time as LP at musicline.de