Background:

Nightfall In Middle Earth is arguably (who am I arguing with???) my favorite Metal album ever. I also really enjoy ANATO and ATITM. However, mid-era BG leaves me wanting more. I traded/sold Somewhere Far Beyond, Imaginations and Tales. They weren't bad, just didn't move me.

So, I've avoided Battalions Of Fear and Follow The Blind for a couple years now. I didn't think going further back would reveal an improvement.

I was wrong.

I just listened to Battalions..today (twice now) for the first time ever. Though not as technically tight or as well produced as later stuff, I love the full on speed metal approach. Very good song writing and nice crunchy metal speed. I'm am very happy with BOF and I'd say it's my favorite of the first 5.

This being said, I might have to try the middle three again. As I've re-embraced my speed and thrash leanings from the late 80's and early 90's those three might appeal to me more than even a couple years ago at the peak of my Powermetal wonderment.

Scott, I am just now getting into these guys (on the advice of a 22 year old girl I work with; hey, she's really pretty and I am single, so it's a conversation piece for us) and bought NiME as my first foray into the realm of Blind Gaurdian. I absolutely love it. I just bought Imaginations from the Other Side tonite and will probably spin it tomorrow night. I also have two singles from them for Fly and Another Stranger Me. Cool extras on both of these discs. Peace.

I really like every Blind Guardian album. I don't know if I prefere the early or the later ones more. I admire Battalions of Fear because of its Speed Metal and even some Thrash influences. This album reminds me to Maiden, Priest and especially to early Helloween. They use the standard elements of the classic Helloween EP and add some brutal but melodic Metal. This album is IMHO perfect.

That's how I feel, Ghost! I think they mix speed, melody and even some brutal playing quite nicely.

I prefer the earlier BG to the later stuff. SOMEWHERE FAR BEYOND (from 92) is my fave. Stuff like NIGHTFALL IN MIDDLE EARTH and especially A NIGHT AT THE OPERA just put me to sleep.

Thats cool to hear you like it, Blind Guardinan was the first true metal band I ever discovered and Nightfall in middle earth was the first album of theirs that I bought. It was awesome at the time but now like you, having heard the earlier stuff a little later, I would totally rank the first two as fav's. Nightfall in middle earth didnt put me to sleep like Fat Freddy but after a while the constant vocal portions(story arcs??) just pissed me off. A night at the opera was pretty cool though.

I don't care much for the early ones, I'm not much into straight up speed metal. I think ANATO is one of, if not the best power metal lp ever! :metal:

I am listening to Imaginations from the Other Side right now and I really like it (it's my second spin of the disc so far). At times, Hansi's voice reminds me a bit of Mike Howe when he was with Heretic. Great band. I will definately explore their whole catalog.

For reasons I can't fully explain some 2 2 1/2 years ago I traded away the middle 3 of their catalogue. I plan on getting them back at some point.

I like all their stuff. The early speed, the middle power and the more recent hugely layered stuff with it's more folk influence.