New Blind Guardian

If you've missed the mid 90s sound you're going to love this. 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4clhiuUkPnw

I’ve got it on my list to check out. Gotta find the time! Probably after I get through the new Deth.

I'm stoked they stripped down some. My favorite euro power metal band.

They’d be up pretty high on my list, mainly for those mid to late 90s albums.

Yes! My favorite as well. They have done nothing but good-to-perfect albums

If anyone loves that 90s BG sound (Somewhere Far Beyond, Imaginations from the Other Side, Nightfall in Middle Earth), then definitely check this out!

If anyone asked me what my favourite metal band is I'd reply with either Blind Guardian or Theocracy. Preorder was a no brainer, but I kinda forgot... digipack's underway though!

Sometimes Helloween pushes in as being my favorite euro power metal band but BG always comes back to the number one spot.

Andreas89 wrote:If anyone asked me what my favourite metal band is I'd reply with either Blind Guardian or Theocracy. Preorder was a no brainer, but I kinda forgot... digipack's underway though!

Wait… you like power metal???

One of my favorites for a while was Edguy. But I got tired of some of their lyrics. BG has such a solid catalogue.

Black Rider wrote:Sometimes Helloween pushes in as being my favorite euro power metal band but BG always comes back to the number one spot.

 
Mine usually goes between Helloween and Stratovarius. 

If Angel Dust had kept going, they might have been near the top as well.

Angel Dust had two great albums but didn't seem as consistent imo.

Pethead wrote:Wait… you like power metal???

Occasionally

Here's a breakdown of the new song
"Blood of the Elves"
from the album
"The God Machine"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blCO1qO1Vws
and lyrics
Honor, it's easy to dispose
In this darkest hour we're alone
From behind closed doors it aims for her
Magic's reaching out to draw her in
To the eye of the storm
The storm

Get her out of the way, she is your destiny
Now better hide when chaos breaks loose
Chaos's breaking loose

Just take her away, stay silent
Just take her away, no matter
The poet lied (The poet lied)
The poet lied to save her life

Queen, follow the sign
Share our sorrows, clear your mind
Despite the writing on the wall
Hope grows from now on
For our brotherhood stands strong
Queen, follow the sign
Blood of the elves, predestined child

There's danger when everything's at stake here
It follows wherever you may roam
Well, then at last there's a choice, a path
Dedicate yourself to the innocent
All praise to her in glory
Gracious lioness Elven seed

Horror, come to meet me
I'm here to erase thee
Black or white, just pay me
In between there hardly is a line

Black
White
Black
White

White Wolf
The source inside her
It's not a shallow river
It can't grow wild
It's hard to bind
It can't grow wild
We need advice

Queen, follow the sign
Share our sorrows, clear your mind
Despite the writing on the wall
Hope grows from now on
For our brotherhood stands strong
Queen, follow the sign
Blood of the elves, predestined child

I tell you, consider you are wrong here
I tell you, there's more than meets the eye
Your secret rites
Fools, you better think twice
Tribulation's caused by your ignorance
The world it bleeds
Ignore its cries
But soon there is a path to choose

Queen, follow the sign
Share our sorrows, clear your mind
Despite the writing on the wall
Hope grows from now on
For our brotherhood stands strong
Queen, follow the sign
Blood of the elves, predestined child

The hill will claim you, keep on running
Your name's engraved, you know it's true
Yes, death has cold blue eyes
Die, die, time to die!

After more than a month listening to this album, I must say that I have a difficult relationship with it. I can actually hear that it is very good and enjoy it more than Beyond the Red Mirror. But contrary to several songs on BtRM I'm not really feeling it with these songs. Luckily I have less emotional needs when it comes to their speedy songs and they have like four on the album, so there's still enough reason for me to keep revisiting the album.

For being into cheesy power metal, you sure are picky. No worries, we like what we like. It's AOTY for me.

I need to spend more time with it, but at this point there are several other power metal releases that grabbed me more.

Black Rider wrote:For being into cheesy power metal, you sure are picky. No worries, we like what we like. It's AOTY for me.

Only the best cheese is good enough for André-boy