At the Edge of Time

Untitled

At the Edge of Time is the upcoming ninth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian. A two CD version of the album is also being released with the second disc containing 8 tracks. The artwork for the album was done by Colombian artist Felipe Machado Franco. The official release date is set for July 30, 2010.

Track listing

All music written by André Olbrich and Hansi Kürsch. All lyrics written by Kürsch.

1. "Sacred Worlds" – 9:17
2. "Tanelorn (Into the Void)" – 5:58
3. "Road of No Release" – 6.30
4. "Ride Into Obsession" – 4.46
5. "Curse My Name" – 5:52
6. "Valkyries" – 6:38
7. "Control the Divine" – 5:26
8. "War of the Thrones" (piano version) – 4:55
9. "A Voice in the Dark" – 5:41
10. "Wheel of Time" – 8:55

• Digipack Bonus CD

1. Sacred Worlds (Extended "Sacred" Version)
2. Wheel of Time (Orchestral Version)
3. You're the Voice (Radio Edit)
4. Tanelorn (Into the Void) (Demo Version)
5. Curse My Name (Demo Version)
6. A Voice in the Dark (Demo Version)
7. Sacred (Video Clip)
8. Studio Documentary

Song Information

• Sacred Worlds

An edited version of the original song 'Sacred,' which has a new orchestral intro and outro. It was written by Blind Guardian for the video game Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.

• Tanelorn (Into the Void)

Based on Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion series.
(Hansi: "Oh, it’s behind Elric already and as far as I remember the entrance is denied anyway to him. And, he is still crying for it so there's going to be the essential sentence in the song. He sings "I cry for Tanelorn" but he is more crying for the whole universe and we meet him at the very last steps just before he sacrifice himself to Stormbringer.")
It is an old style song which seems to be taken from Somewhere Far Beyond; it has very fast rhythm thrashy guitar and raspy voice.

• Road of No Release

Based on Peter S. Beagle's "The Innkeeper's Song." Introduced by piano and clean voice, the song grows until the very melodic chorus with huge choirs.

• Ride Into Obsession

Based on Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series.
(Hansi: "An introduction to the main characters, the Dragon Reborn and the Dark Lord Ba'alzamon.)
It has very fast rhythms and a powerful chorus.

• Curse My Name

It's based on "The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates," a political writing by John Milton where he legitimates the killing of a king who didn't carry out his duties. It's the first ballad of the album, with a medieval mood and several instruments, such as flutes.

• Valkyries

Inspired from Norse mythology, especially Valkyries, as well as perception of time. One of the less immediate songs of Blind Guardian, it has many time changes more akin to progressive rock.

• Control the Divine

Based on John Milton's "Paradise Lost" poem.
(Hansi: "That one is about Paradise Lost and it’s telling something about the downfall of Lucifer and the way he tries to motivate the other angels to follow him and the way he is justifying his deeds and ideas. He is standing for his motives and there’s a certain logic in what he is doing and I just tried to feature that a little stronger.")
It has rich dynamics like many songs of A Night at the Opera

• War of the Thrones

Based on George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. It's the second ballad on the album with a happy refrain and sad verses.

• A Voice in the Dark

Based on George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. It tells the story of Bran Stark, a key character in the series A Song of Ice and Fire. Like Tanelorn, it's a return to the band's earlier style. It contains very fast and heavy guitar and a melodic chorus, and is also the first single from the album.

• Wheel of Time

Based on Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series.
(Hansi: "This one is about "Wheel of Time" but mainly about the true source of power which controls all male who have that power so there's no chance for a male to become the master of this true source.")
It starts with an orchestral, oriental mood. It is reminiscent of "And Then There Was Silence," with many time changes and two different choruses sung together towards the end of the song.

Release history

Country	Release Date
Europe	July 30, 2010 (2010-07-30)
United States	August 24, 2010 (2010-08-24)

External links

• Samples of all tracks at Blind Guardian's website.