Follow the Blind

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Follow the Blind
Studio album by Blind Guardian
Released	October 25th, 1989
Recorded	January-February 1989 at Karo Studios, Münster, West Germany
Genre	Power metal, speed metal
Length	43:06
Label	No Remorse, Virgin, Century Media
Producer	Kalle Trapp
Professional reviews
Sound Of Metal link All Music Guide link
Blind Guardian chronology
Battalions of Fear (1988) Follow the Blind (1989) Tales from the Twilight World (1990)

Follow the Blind is the second full-length album from the German metal band Blind Guardian, released in 1989. Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray and ex.Helloween sings in the song Valhalla. The album is a raw style of thrash metal compared to the style that would later define the band's unique sound.

The opening track "Inquisition" is a repetition of the Latin phrase Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem (O sweet Lord Jesus, grant them rest in English) chanted as it would be by monks. The phrase forms part of the Roman Catholic Requiem Mass, and is also identical to that which is chanted by the monks in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Remastered, remixed and re-released on 15th June 2007, with the whole second demo tape, Battalions of Fear, of the band (at the time called Lucifer's Heritage) as part of the bonus tracks.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Lineup 2.1 Band 2.2 Personnel 3 Lyrical References

[edit] Track listing

1. "Inquisition" – 0:40
2. "Banish from Sanctuary" – 5:27
3. "Damned for All Time" – 4:57
4. "Follow the Blind" – 7:10
5. "Hall of the King" – 4:16
6. "Fast to Madness" – 5:57
7. "Beyond the Ice" – 3:28
8. "Valhalla" – 4:56
9. "Barbara Ann" (The Regents and Beach Boys cover) – 1:43

• Bonus Track

10. "Don't Break the Circle" (Demon cover) – 3:28

• 2007 Re-release Bonus Tracks

11. "Majesty" (Demo Version) – 7:28

12. "Trial by the Archon" (Demo Version) – 1:41

13. "Battalions of Fear" (Demo Version) – 6:06

14. "Run for the Night" (Demo Version) – 3:33

Note: the 2007 re-release and other special releases have "Barbara Ann" moved to the 10th position, and the bonus track "Don't Break the Circle" being on 9th position. In the 2007 re-release, "Don't Break the Circle" is still a bonus track, although it is not listed as such.

[edit] Lineup

[edit] Band

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

[edit] Personnel

• Kai Hansen - vocals on "Valhalla", Guest Guitar solo on Hall of the King.
• Kalle Trapp – recording, mixing and producing
• van Waay Design – cover painting

[edit] Lyrical References

• "Damned for All Time" and "Fast to Madness" are based on Michael Moorcock's characters from Eternal Champion series.
• "Banish from Sanctuary" is based on the life of John the Baptist.
• "Follow the Blind" is based on Stephen King's Talisman.
• "Hall of the King" is about the faith and being faithful.
• "Valhalla" is about the "heaven" of Norse mythology.

v • d • e Blind Guardian Hansi Kürsch | André Olbrich  | Marcus Siepen | Frederik Ehmke Former members Thomen Stauch | Markus Dörk | Christof Theißen | Hans-Peter Frey Demo albums as Lucifer's Heritage Symphonies of Doom | Battalions of Fear Studio albums Battalions of Fear | Follow the Blind | Tales from the Twilight World | Somewhere Far Beyond | Imaginations from the Other Side | Nightfall in Middle-Earth | A Night at the Opera | A Twist in the Myth Live albums Tokyo Tales | Live Compilations The Forgotten Tales Singles "A Past and Future Secret" | "Bright Eyes" | "Mr. Sandman" | "Mirror Mirror" | "And Then There Was Silence" | "The Bard's Song (In the Forest)" | "Fly" | "Another Stranger Me" DVDs Imaginations Through the Looking Glass