BLIND GUARDIAN - Battalions Of Fear 12" Vinyl LP Album
- Limited Edition Pressed on Light Blue Vinyl
This album is the limited to 500 light blue LPs with the remixed 2007 / remastered 2018 version of Blind Guardian's debut in gatefold cover
- Limited Edition Pressed on Light Blue Vinyl
This album is the limited to 500 light blue LPs with the remixed 2007 / remastered 2018 version of Blind Guardian's debut in gatefold cover
Blind Guardian's 1988 debut album, "Battalions of Fear," marked the German band's bold entry into the burgeoning speed metal scene. In 2018, Nuclear Blast reissued this iconic album on a limited edition light blue vinyl, giving fans a chance to revisit this early chapter in the band's history with a unique collector's item.
Historical Context and Musical Exploration
Released at a time when thrash metal was dominating the metal scene, Blind Guardian's "Battalions of Fear" carved out its own niche within the speed metal subgenre. The album's fast tempos, aggressive riffing, and soaring vocals showcased the band's technical prowess and youthful energy.
While the album drew inspiration from classic heavy metal acts like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian also began to incorporate elements of power metal, evident in the epic song structures and fantastical lyrics. This early experimentation with power metal would become a defining characteristic of the band's later work.
Musical Genre
"Battalions of Fear" is a prime example of speed metal, a subgenre of heavy metal characterized by its fast tempos, aggressive riffing, and high-pitched vocals. However, the album also contains hints of the power metal elements that would later become synonymous with Blind Guardian's sound.
Production Team and Recording Studio
The album was produced by Kalle Trapp, a German producer known for his work with other metal bands like Helloween and Gamma Ray. The recording sessions took place at Karo Musikstudio in Brackel, Germany.
Power Metal, Speed Metal
Nuclear Blast – NB 4322-1
Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 280 gram
2018 Europe
This 12" LP vinyl music record comes comes in a Fold Open Cover (FOC), which is also also known as a Gatefold cover. The inner pages of this album cover contain artwork by Filipe Machado and
Also included is a lyrics insert with lyrics of all the songs and production details.
Kalle Trapp - Producer
Charlie Bauerfeind - Sound Engineer
Darcy Proper - Sound Mastering Engineer
Holger Schreiber - Sound Engineer
Karo Musikstudio
Detlef Van Waay - Album Artwork
Felipe Machado - Album Artwork
Charly Rinne - Photography
The cover art of Blind Guardian's debut album Battalions of Fear. The artwork is a vibrant and intense fantasy illustration that showcases two large, ghostly hooded figures with shadowed faces, emerging from a dark void, reaching towards a battlefield below. The center of the composition features a menacing blue and orange monstrous face with piercing eyes that dominates the background. In the foreground, muscular, warrior-like figures are engaged in combat or fleeing from an imposing, blue-armored figure standing on a chessboard-like platform.
Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )
- Blind Guardian: The Early Power Metal Legacy (1988-1990)
Blind Guardian is a pioneering German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, West Germany. Originally called "Lucifer’s Heritage2, the band gained recognition for blending speed metal intensity with symphonic and fantasy-inspired elements. Their lyrics often draw from mythology, folklore, and classic literature, and their music is known for its intricate arrangements, vocal harmonies, and Hansi Kürsch’s powerful vocals.
Nuclear Blast – NB 4322-1 , 2018 , Europe
Blind Guardian's 1988 debut, "Battalions of Fear," now on limited-edition light blue vinyl, is a speed metal time capsule. Before elves and epic tales, this was raw, youthful fury. Production may be rough, but the energy is undeniable. Hansi Kürsch's vocals soar over galloping riffs, hinting at the power metal
Learn more
NRR No Remorse Records NR 1005 , 1989 , Germany
In 1989, Blind Guardian unleashed "Follow the Blind," a pivotal album in their career. Marking a heavier turn towards speed metal, this record solidified their presence in the German heavy metal scene while hinting at the epic power metal sound they'd later become known for.
Learn more
No Remorse Records – NRR 1014 , 1990 , Germany
Blind Guardian's 1990 "Tales from the Twilight World" marked a turning point, showcasing their evolving power metal sound. Blending intricate arrangements, literary themes, and mythological narratives, the album solidified their status as genre pioneers.
Learn more