Blind Guardian is a part of the German heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s. The band was formed in 1984 as Lucifer's Heritage by Kürsch (then also bassist), Olbrich, other guitarist Markus Dörk, and drummer Thomas Stauch. Dörk and Stauch both left the following year and were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively, who left as well before the end of the year. In 1987, Siepen joined, and Stauch returned; under this lineup, which lasted 18 years (the longest in the band's history), the band changed their name to Blind Guardian and released their first album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988. They have since released ten more studio albums, including an orchestral album that was released under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.
Over the releases, Blind Guardian established themselves as a notably successful band and as pioneers of the power metal movement. In 1996, Kürsch stopped acting as the band's bassist to focus on vocals. Various session members replaced him, mainly Oliver Holzwarth. However, in 2005, Stauch left the band, disapproving of Blind Guardian's transition into a more complex progressive sound with a heavy use of backing vocals, and was replaced by Ehmke.
Most of Blind Guardian's albums were well received by fans and critics alike: Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), and Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998), are especially seen as influential works. The music is mostly composed by Kürsch and Olbrich together, and the lyrics, written by Kürsch, are mostly inspired by the fiction of fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordan, as well as traditional legends and epics. Over the years, a theme has developed which personifies the band members as traveling storytellers, leading fans to refer to the band affectionately as "The Bards." Blind Guardian has been referred to in one article as one of power metal "big four" bands, along with Helloween, Sabaton, and DragonForce.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Guardian
Discography
Battalions of Fear (1988)
Follow the Blind (1989)
Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
A Night at the Opera (2002)
A Twist in the Myth (2006)
At the Edge of Time (2010)
Beyond the Red Mirror (2015)
Legacy of the Dark Lands (2019)
The God Machine (2022)
Symphonies of Doom
Blind Guardian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Hansi:]
In the dark night (they) defend their missiles,
where it's the night we all die.
Enthralling power, who searches to be masters.
They play their game with your life.
The burning fire comes around, the heat is on
[Marcus:]
The East Sun is burning hard.
See, your life is short.
See the rainbow in the mirror.
See the rainbow in the sky.
See the desert in front of you.
See the desert of life.
Standing in the cold rain, waiting for the end.
See the shadows of the night.
I have told you, but now it is too late.
These are Symphonies of Doom.
[Hansi:]
Feel the danger, this final battle.
It will imply us all God's agony.
The endless blitzes just blind your eyes shut
And blow your life out to nothingness.
Black shadows storming in the East, but you can't see.
The liec has set that power free.
[Guitar solo]
[Marcus:]
The East Sun is burning hard.
See, the life is short.
See the rainbow in the mirror.
See the rainbow in the sky.
See the desert in front of you.
See the desert of life.
I'm no sinner. I'm no fool.
I have heard these chants before.
I have told you, but now it is too late.
These are Symphonies of Doom.
The opening verse sung by Hansi in Blind Guardian's song Symphonies of Doom sets the tone for the song with its ominous imagery. The verse paints a picture of missiles being defended in the dark night, and everyone dying. The power brokers behind this are enthralling, as they play a game with people's lives. The burning fire and heat allude to the impending danger, and it's all sad blues for this day. The second verse sung by Marcus talks about the impermanence of life; the East Sun is burning hard, and life is short. The lyrics suggest that one should see the mirror and the rainbow in the sky, but also the desert in front of them, which stands for the struggles of life. The shadows of the night are a metaphor for death, as the songwriter explains how he had warned people in the past, but now it's too late. This is a symphony of doom that awaits everyone.
In the next verse, Hansi again talks about danger in the final battle, with everyone suffering the agony of God. The blitzes being endless and blinding and blowing one's life out to nothingness. The black shadows storming towards the East yet being obscured suggest that there is something that could occur, but the people aren't seeing it; they are blind to it. The power brokers have set this power free and left the people to the mercies of the elements. The song ends with Marcus saying that he is no sinner or fool; he has heard these chants before and warned everyone about it. However, it's too late as they have only listened to these symphonies of doom.
Line by Line Meaning
In the dark night (they) defend their missiles,
Under the veil of darkness, those in control protect their weapons of mass destruction.
where it's the night we all die.
This is the night when all of our lives come to an end.
Enthralling power, who searches to be masters.
Those with this intoxicating power seek to be the ultimate rulers.
They play their game with your life.
These people play with your life as if it's a mere game.
The burning fire comes around, the heat is on
The intense flames approach and the pressure is on.
Just for this day, it's all sad blues.
This day will be nothing but sorrowful memories.
The East Sun is burning hard.
The scorching sun in the East shines relentlessly.
See, your life is short.
You realize how brief your life is.
See the rainbow in the mirror.
You notice the reflection of a rainbow.
See the rainbow in the sky.
You see a rainbow in the sky.
See the desert in front of you.
The arid desert lies before you.
See the desert of life.
This represents the barren and unsatisfying aspects of life.
Standing in the cold rain, waiting for the end.
In the chilling downpour, you await the inevitable.
See the shadows of the night.
You perceive the obscure outlines of the nocturnal world.
I have told you, but now it is too late.
I warned you, but you ignored me and now it's too late.
These are Symphonies of Doom.
This is a prelude to an imminent disaster.
Feel the danger, this final battle.
The danger is palpable in this ultimate war.
It will imply us all God's agony.
This will inflict unbearable suffering upon us all, comparable to God's agony.
The endless blitzes just blind your eyes shut
The unending attacks blindfold you and leave you helpless.
And blow your life out to nothingness.
These attacks leave your life as nothingness.
Black shadows storming in the East, but you can't see.
Intangible forces are advancing from the East, but they cannot be seen.
The liec has set that power free.
This lie has liberated that power.
I'm no sinner. I'm no fool.
I am not a sinner nor foolish.
I have heard these chants before.
I've listened to these chants previously.
These are Symphonies of Doom.
This is an acclamation of an inevitable and disastrous fate.
Contributed by Tyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
random acc
on Don't Talk To Strangers
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