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'A Twist In The Myth'. Oggi I Blind Guardian sono questo.
Gli anni di Imaginations e Nightfall sono andati oramai. Ma non c’è da stupirsi, i Bardi sono sulle scena Metal non certo da ieri, e il calo artistico è fisiologico per ogni artista, e i Blind ne sono coscienti. Ora dunque la domanda è “Come stanno invecchiando Hansi e soci ?” In maniera dignitosa o meno? Tentiamo di scoprirlo.
Dopo la dipartita del glorioso Stauch e l’arrivo dietro le pelli di Ehmke tutti noi abbiamo temuto il peggio. Abbiamo temuto che i Blind non sarebbero più stati quelli di una volta. “Squadra che vince non si cambia”, si dice in questi casi. Il problema è che con ANATO i Bardi non avevano propriamente vinto. Il disco aveva un potenziale ottimo, ma una produzione non all’altezza che ne minava la qualità finale. Forse allora non tutti i mali vengono per nuocere. Con questo ATITM i nostri provano il colpaccio. Colpaccio che, avverto da subito, non è riuscito. Abbandonato lo stile pomposo, barocco e orchestrale del disco precedente, questa nuova relase punta sull’immediatezza, sfiorando in certi momenti l’hard rock.
L’incipit è dei migliori: il disco si apre con “This Will Never End”, ed ecco che il riff iniziale, potente e tagliente, si stampa subito in mente. Ma dopo pochi secondi si palesa il vero punto debole dell’album: Hansi. Ebbene si, Hansi in questo disco canta in maniera, personalmente, poco presentabile. Dove è la carica, il pathos, l’unicità del timbro vocale a cui ci aveva abituati? Un lontano ricordo ormai. Ecco dunque che a risentirne è proprio la melodia delle tracce stesse, che non colpiscono l’ascoltatore come dovrebbero. Tracce si ottimamente suonate e tecnicamente ineccepibili, ma a volte prive di mordente. Come non notare che il refrain (non certo indimenticabile) della già citata prima canzone è dannatamente simile a quello della seconda, “Otherland“, per esempio? O che Lionheart parte con un intro da brividi per poi sfociare in una nenia decisamente evitabile? “Carry the Blessed Home”, poi, ballata atipica per i tedeschi, pur non essendo un esperimento del tutto fallito, non rappresenta comunque un capitolo particolarmente originale: è una ballad piuttosto stereotipata, e puzza di già sentito. E’ da gettare nella spazzatura dunque il disco? Direi di No.
In primis non dimentichiamoci di “Fly”, traccia sperimentale che personalmente reputo ben riuscita, in cui la voce di Hansi questa volta ben si amalgama con il resto del gruppo, e con quel solo nella parte centrale che si lascia ascoltare con piacere, incastonato nella struttura vagamente prog-metal della canzone. “Turn the Page”, forse la migliore del lotto, che richiama alla mente la folkeggiante “Mirror Mirror”, un piccolo capolavoro di stampa Guardian. “Another Stranger Me” (prossimo singolo) , è la più hard, con un refrain finalmente convincente. Senza dimenticare “Straight Throught the Mirror” (e basta con sti specchi!), epica e potente e la medievale “Skalds And Shadows” , che si riallaccia direttamente alla leggendaria “the Bard’s Song”, che farà la felicità dei fans di vecchia data. Evitabile “the Edge”, buona invece “the New Order, che chiude dignitosamente un disco tutto sommato discreto (certo non imperdibile).
Capitolo, questo “A Twist in the Myth”, che ho la sensazione verrà apprezzato maggiormente dai “ on fans”, che dai fans più ortodossi e poco inclini alle novità e ai cambi di stile… certo è impossibile non notare il desiderio costante dei Bardi di tentare di rinnovarsi disco dopo disco, non rischiando di cadere in clichè poco simpatici e interessanti, e di questo ne va dato atto ai tedeschi, indipendentemente poi dal risultato finale, che ripeto merita qualche ascolto ma non è certo imprescindibile… a buon intenditor…
Elenco tracce testi e video
02 Otherland (05:15)
They rule the land
They are in command
They hold all strings in hand
They are invisible
Out of sight
They've designed
A secret place
To play their games
A world they're in control
Divine law
Divine law
Be aware
Now
Mind your steps
We are uninvited guests
They may find and catch us
Don't forget
Do what I say
Now connect
Don't even ask
Until we're out of it
Everything's at highest stake
Come take a look
We are in
Take a breath
Don't forget
It isn't real
It isn't true
An illusion
Nothing more
You're part of the game
You're slave to the grind
Oblivion
Is your key to the Otherland
You're part of the game
You're cursed
You're damned
By now you understand
You're part of the game
You're slave to the grind
Oblivion
You're welcome to the
Otherland
You're part of the game
You're cursed
You're damned
By now you understand
We get closer
There's no better way
Lullaby Lane
Fate is on its way
The inner district
Is the place you need to know
It's overwhelming
So let's rest here for a while
Someone else appears
Silently
Watch me when I fall down
Everything seems real
Suddenly
A perfect simulation
Come take a look
Breathe it in
Artificial wonderlands
We are wandering around
Things shall vanish
They won't last
Now I know
You understand
This world is not true
Nothing is real
Nothing at all
It's bits and pieces
We walk through
You're part of the game
You're slave to the grind
Oblivion
Is your key to the Otherland
You're part of the game
You're cursed
You're damned
By now you understand
You're part of the game
You're slave to the grind
Oblivion
You've reached the promised land
You're part of the game
You're cursed
You're damned
Welcome to the Otherland
Wait
I can feel things are not right
Do not breathe
Don't look behind
There's someone else
The observer
A trick of light
A fading line
The entrance is gone
We can't get out of it
We are slightly losing ground
Quick
It is time
We shall go
We better leave
And don't come back
No way to run
Nowhere to hide
I fear
We're walking aimlessly
You're part of the game
You're slave to the grind
Oblivion
Is your key to the Otherland
You're part of the game
You're cursed
You're damned
By now you understand
You're part of the game
You're slave to the grind
Oblivion
Welcome to the Otherland
You're part of the game
You're cursed
You're damned
You've reached
The promised land
You've crossed the line
You've reached the end
03 Turn the Page (04:18)
Hunter
We're here to praise your name
Blazing sun
And bitter death
You're the guardian
Cross the gate
Wake up it is a new dawning
Wake up the witches wait
For you
Remember the mirror
When she looked in
You were born in the void
In the middle of none
There was nobody else
There was nothing at all
Well sons and daughters
Joy's in the air
The horned one dies
Renewal
Everywhere
Turn the wheel again
A new beginning
Another end
Dried out the land needs blood
Inside the ring we're waiting
Give up yourself
Enter life
It's set up for you
Come turn the wheel
There is nothing to fear
Come turn the wheel
Come turn the page
Come turn the page
We do not believe in lies
Do not believe in lies
There's someone coming
There's someone coming
We hear a voice
From the underworld
Now everything should move
When a new day begins
God of wind and god of rain
Turn the wheel
Oh you better be aware
The mermaids
They will sing for you
The nymphs will bless the child
Reunite them
Sacrifice him
We will be with you until the end
Come move our hearts
We know
There is light beyond the dark
Dried out we cry for blood
Conquer your fear and join us
Come guide us now
The time is right
It's set up for you
Come turn the wheel
There is nothing to fear
Come turn the wheel
Come turn the page
Come turn the page
A new beginning
Another end
The myth of life
You hold in your hand
We cry out
The land needs blood
The change of season
Praise to the newborn king
It's set up for you
Come turn the wheel
There is nothing to fear
Come turn the wheel
Come turn the page
Come turn the page
04 Fly (05:45)
(Kürsch/Olbrich)
Stop be quiet now
Out with the light and
Then up and down it goes
Fly
Out with the light
There at the door
The inspiration I've looked for
The spirit of the youth appears
No one ever dares to speak
It's nothing else but fantasy
It's make believe
Make believe
No one ever dares to speak
It's nothing else but fantasy
But one day it all will come to life
Step out of line
And I'll teach you how to fly
Then away we'll go
Leave your mark,
Leave your mark in the land of mine
The second one to the right
And then straight on until morning light
Stop be quiet now
No irritation
No, not the slightest doubt
We go at once
Quick -- we better hurry
There from the road I sense
The end of fun gets near
Wonderful thoughts and imaginations
These things will lift you up
What is it like? You ask me, my dear
Will there be fairies or things to fear?
For fairies sake I'd say you better come with me
So soon you'll see
Now up and down it goes and round
Round and round and round
Praise to my cleverness
They all follow me
All praise to innocence
That's everything it needs
Fly in
Fly out
They'll leave it all behind
No one ever dares to speak
It's nothing else but fantasy
It's make believe
Make believe
No one ever dares to speak
It's nothing else but fantasy
But one day it all will come to life
Step out of line
And I'll teach you how to fly
Then away we'll go
Leave your mark land of mine
Leave your mark in the land of mine
Life is a map and it is quite confusing
The lights are up now let the play begin
She flies, she flies
Into the light she flies
No words like "Just" in mind
She's finding Neverland
There on the day she dies
Don't stop it now
She still enjoys the scene
Don't stop it now
Don't stop it now
Don't stop it now
Don't stop it now, now, now
No one ever dares to speak
It's nothing else but fantasy
It's make believe
Make believe
No one ever dares to speak
It's nothing else but fantasy
But one day it all will come to life
Step out of line
And I'll teach you how to fly
Then away we'll go
Leave your mark land of mine
Leave your mark in the land of mine
06 Another Stranger Me (04:37)
A seed of doubt
It exists
And it grows
A glimpse of life
From somewhere deep within
Awake and understand
Is there anyone else here?
Somebody's screaming
Please help me
Let's find out now
That I am not dreaming
Welcome to my damnation
Here it comes the real me
I didn't know
I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank
I should've known
I hold it back but somehow
There is someone else
Another stranger me
Another stranger me
That's
When the ice
Will break away
I can't get out of here
Anymore
Cause none of my keys
Fit the door
There's fear and anger
Hate and love
I must confess
It's out of hand
It's physic
It's cynic
Still cynic
All my laughter
It's cynic
Just manic
It's cynic
All her laughter
If there's anyone in
It soon will be over
We'll burn out
Our soul's aflamed
And we're on our own now
Give up you cruel invasion
You're insane I'll show you
I didn't know
I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank
I should've known
I hold it back but somehow
There is someone else
Another stranger me
Another stranger me
Out and gone
Can't resist
Cold and sore
The bolt of pain
Keeps ripping through my head
I can take no more
Don't tell anyone else but I
Do not believe her
She hates me
I cloud my mind
She's a deceiver
I can feel cruel bivrations
Would you like to meet me
I didn't know
I couldn't hear the answer
My mind was blank
I should've known
I hold it back but somehow
There is someone else
Another stranger me
Another stranger me
08 Lionheart (04:17)
Just let me out of here
Speak to me
It all would be easier
I want to talk to you
Who is that?
Do I hear a whisper?
Or do I hear a cry?
Across the brown land
The stumps of time
Oh turn the wheel and heal me
Since moonlights fade
I'm empty - heal me
I'm in search of the Lionheart
I am ashamed
I myself can't make it
Drown Ulyssess
Drown here in the silence
Cause down to Hades I've gone
But I cannot get out
Down below
I can't free my mind
Soon I will fade away
Down below
I can't free my mind
Soon I will fade
"Tic Tac" is the message
And the lunatic fears
He is no more
Speak to me
It all would be easier
While I'm passing by
What's that?
Do I hear a whisper?
Or do I hear a cry?
Across the brown land
The ghost arrives
Pick up my bones and
Tell me
Is this the "Lake of Fire"?
Hell?
Please
I'm in search of the Lionheart
Nobody else
But the pure can save me
Drown Ulysess
Drown here in the silence
Cause down to Hades I've gone
But I cannot get out
Ruins rule my memories
I can't recall the signs
Invite the dead
Then silence struck my mind
Silence is madness
Tic Tac Tic Tactic
Says the clock
Just let me out of here
Speak to me
It all would be easier
I want to talk to you
Hear me
Welcome to this sad place
And hand me what is mine
I'm the Theban prophet
The dead and blind
And from the sea you'll feel me
Then you'll breath out gently
Leave me
I'm in search of the Lionheart
I am ashamed
I myself can't make it
Drown Ulyssess
Drown here in the silence
Cause down to Hades I've gone
But I cannot get out
09 Skalds and Shadows (03:13)
Would you believe in a night like this?
A night like this, when visions come true
Would you believe in a tale like this
A lay of bliss, we're praising the old lore
Come to the blazing fire and
See me in the shadows
See me in the shadows
Songs i will sing
Of runes and rings
Just hand me my harp
And this night turns into myth
Nothing seems real
You soon will feel
The world we live in is another skald's
Dream in the shadows
Dream in the shadows
Do you believe there is sense in it
Is it truth or myth
They're one in my rhymes
Nobody knows the meaning behind
The weaver's line
Well nobody else but the Norns can
See through the blazing fires of time and
All things will procede as the child of the hallowed
Will speak to you now
See me in the shadows
See me in the shadows
Songs I will sing of tribes and kings
The carrion bird and the hall of the slain
Nothing seems real
You soon will feel
The world we live in is another skald's
Dream in the shadows
Dream in the shadows
Do not fear for my reason
There's nothing to hide
How bitter your treason
How bitter the lie
Remember the runes and remember the light
All I ever want is to be at your side
We gladden the raven now I will
Run through the blazing fires
That's my choice
Cause things shall procede as foreseen
10 The Edge (04:29)
The world turned innocent
Can you hear me?
I confess I'm no redeemer
Can you hear me?
What shall I do?
I witnessed everything
Faith won't leave me
Mind my tongue
It's like a fire
Faith don't leave me
Glow into words
This is the edge now
It's all we're living for
Rain on me
Love you will rain on me
And at the end I
Boast in the cross
And now
Love reigns -
The god incarnation
I've shaped
Out there is a world on fire
Acursed the hanged one
Divine love for free
What a fateful night
And a grafeful life
The choir echoes
Every man his price
Price
Light my agony
And crucify me
Void the law
At the ninth hour
Void the law
At the ninth hour
This is the edge now
It's all we're living for
Rain on me
Love you will rain on me
And at the end I
Boast in the cross
And now
Love reigns -
The god incarnation
I've shaped
The world turns flesh again
Mistified are the final hours
No more fear in
No more fear in
Passover
The brook
Time it is at hand
Obscure the facts
A passion play
This is the edge now
It's all we're living for
Rain on me
Love you will rain on me
And at the end I
Boast in the cross
And now
Love reigns -
The god incarnation
I've shaped
Hallowed be thy name
Hallowed be thy name
No more fear in ...
Come take a look
The old symbols they move
Wounds still bleed
That's creed
No more fear in ...
Can you see me?
Come take a look
At the depth of my soul
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