Blind Guardian returned in September 2022 with “The God Machine”, their first album in seven years — and the eleventh full-length of their career. The German “bards” of power metal, active since 1984, left behind the big orchestral productions of their previous record and returned to a more direct, stripped-down sound: thrashy power metal with solid riffs, the characteristic vocal harmonies of Hansi Kürsch and choruses made to be sung along to.
Country: Germany
Genre: Power Metal
For fans of: Kamelot, Sabaton, Iced Earth
The listen
“Deliver Us From Evil” opens the record with one of the band’s most aggressive tracks, while “Violent Shadows” is considered one of their best songs in years — with their thrash past coming to the fore in a modern way. “Secrets of the American Gods”, inspired by Neil Gaiman’s book, is the closest thing to an “epic” track here, with a wonderful chorus and a big finale. The tracks are full of their familiar excesses: harmonized guitar solos, choirs and melodies that recall their classic albums.
Unlike its predecessor, “The God Machine” is more restrained: the orchestral arrangements are limited, the guitars of Siepen and Olbrich sound clearer and the longest track lasts just seven and a half minutes. “Blood of the Elves” offers classic Blind Guardian sound with big choruses, while “Life Beyond the Spheres” tries new paths with a more prog, spacey mood. The ballad “Let It Be No More” would sound over the top in another band, but here it fits perfectly.
What’s missing is a big, gripping moment in the style of their best records — instead of peaks and valleys, we get steady quality from start to finish, without a single bad track. The sound recalls “At the Edge of Time” more than its orchestral predecessor, and that works in its favor. It’s one of Blind Guardian’s most consistent records in a long time — big, catchy and powerful, one that does justice to both old and new fans. Kürsch, after all, has shown his strength outside the band too, as when he sang on ACCEPT’s “Losers and Winners”.
See also
KAMELOT: They present the new single “Sanctuary” · Sabaton – Legends
Source: angrymetalguy.com/blind-guardian-the-god-machine-review/
