Blind Guardians 4 release has proven to be their best in many aspects. It still sits between the line of Power Metal and Speed Metal, but there's a sense of the band shifting towards the Power Metal side during this album. Unlike their first 3 albums, and especially their first 2, you can tell that this album started Blind Guardian's Power Metal journey. The production is great, and there's very few flaws throughout the album.
Somewhere Far Beyond begins with "Time What is Time", which starts the album out to perfection. The intro features a nice acoustic piece, and then it builds up into one of Blind Guardian's best tracks. Catchy as hell, nothing wrong with "Time What is Time" here.
Following, "Journey Through the Dark", doesn't slow down the album one bit. It's fast speed metal right from the get-go. Again, Catchy as hell, and this song has some wicked riff work. Thomen's double-pedal work couldn't be better. Great song!
"Black Chamber" is a piano/vocal track, which is nothing special, unless you enoy slow filler tracks such as this. There's nothing great that happens in its 58 seconds.
"Theatre of Pain" is kind of a mismatch for this album. The intro is pretty cheesy, and theirs various dissapointing sections in it. Some areas you can appreciate the song, but overall it doesn't meet the quality of most of the other tracks.
Next up, "The Quest for Tanelorn", begins off with another acoustic section. It's a nice beggining of a song, and when it builds up, it doesn't lose any of it's quality. Overall it's a good song with some nice chanting sections and solos. There's quite a few variations to this track. Good song.
"Ashes to Ashes" is often pointed out to be the albums pinicle, but don't get me wrong it is a good song, but I don't feel it is as great as it is said to be. It takes a while to build up, but once it gets going it's got some pretty sweet *** in it. A few sweet riffs are featured in it, and like most of the other tracks it's pretty damn catchy.
The first of the Bard's Songs, "In the Forest", is a fairly breif song, played all acousticly. It's a nice calm track, but when you've heard tracks like "Time What is Time" and "Journey Through the Dark", you're not really looking all to forward to this.
"The next Bard Song, "The Hobbit", is a medium paced track, but with full equipment. There's nothing really special in it, and the last minute is another acoustic section.
"The Piper's Calling" is a good funny track which is just bagpipes (or someother similar instrument) for just 58 seconds.
Now at last, you get to hear the Title track, and yes, the best track. "Somehwhere Far Beyond" simply kicks ass. There's not one thing wrong in it for its 7 and a half minutes. The song is fast, catchy, and perfect. If you want to hear a Blind Guardain song, listen to me, and get this one. Don't worry about it's length, I *** you not, you won't be dissapointed.
"Spread Your Wings" is a decent song, but the beginning pisses me off. It's to mellow to really make for a powerful song of any type.
"Trial By Fire" is a great listen. Of the bonus tracks, it's easily the best. Good Speed Metal, and good from start to finish. I'd recommend it, but not before a few of the previous tracks.
"Theatre of Pain (Classic Version)" doesn't have to be talked about much. It's self explanitory.
Overall, this is my favorite Blind Guardian album, and it's often mentioned as Blind Guardian's best along with "Nightfall in Middle Earth". The mix of Power Metal and Speed Metal I prefer over straight Speed or Power. Truly an honorable mention for one of the best of its kind. My recommended tracks would be: "Time What is Time", "Journey Through the Dark", "Ashes to Ashes", "Somewhere Far Beyond" and "Trial By Fire".
Original Review written for http://www.entertainment-forums.tk
This Message Edited On 09.23.08
