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Battalions of Fear is the debut album by German power metal band Blind Guardian, released in 1988. The album is a raw and unpolished speed metal effort that touches on thrash metal. It lacks many of the stylistic flourishes that would mark the band's music in later years, focusing more on speed and aggression. The opening track "Majesty" remains a fan favorite and is often featured in the band's live performances. This album was remastered, remixed and re-released on 15 June 2007, with the whole first demo tape, Symphonies of Doom, of the band (at the time called Lucifer's Heritage) as part of the bonus tracks. The album was again re-released as part of the A Traveler's Guide to Space and Time boxset with minor adjustments to the mixing and with new mastering.

Battalions of Fear
Studio album by Blind Guardian
Released	17 May 1988
Recorded	October–November 1987
Studio	Karo Studios, Münster, West Germany
Genre	Speed metal thrash metal
Length	39:20
Label	No Remorse
Producer	Kalle Trapp
Blind Guardian chronology
Battalions of Fear (1988) Follow the Blind (1989)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Sputnikmusic	[1]
Metal Storm	8.6/10[2]
Rock Hard	9/10[3]

Track listing

All songs written by André Olbrich and Hansi Kürsch, except where noted. All lyrics written by Kürsch.

Lyrical and musical themes

This section does not cite any sources. (June 2021)

• The songs "Majesty" and "Run for the Night", as well as the titles of instrumentals "By the Gates of Moria" and "Gandalf's Rebirth", are based on J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
• Parts of "By the Gates of Moria" are derived from Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World".
• "Majesty" opens with a barrel organ version of Johann Strauss II's waltz The Blue Danube.
• "Guardian of the Blind" is based on Stephen King's It.
• "The Martyr" is about Jesus Christ's passion.
• "Battalions of Fear" refers to US president Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative.
• "Wizard's Crown" is about Aleister Crowley. The song was originally titled "Halloween" on the Symphonies of Doom demo tape (1985) while the band was still Lucifer's Heritage. The song name was changed probably to avoid confusion with a song of the same name by fellow German power/speed metal band Helloween.
• "Brian" is about the film Monty Python's Life of Brian.

Personnel

Blind Guardian

• Hansi Kürsch – vocals and bass, producer on "Gandalf's Rebirth"
• André Olbrich – lead guitar and backing vocals, producer on "Gandalf's Rebirth"
• Marcus Siepen – rhythm guitar and backing vocals
• Thomas "Thomen" Stauch – drums

Guest musicians

• Hans-Peter Frey – drums on "Gandalf's Rebirth"
• Christof Theisen – rhythm guitar on "Gandalf's Rebirth"
• Rolf Köhler, Michael Voss – backing vocals

Production

• Kalle Trapp – production, engineering, mixing
• Holger Schreiber – engineering on "Gandalf's Rebirth"
• van Waay Design – cover art

Lucifer's Heritage (tracks 10–14)

• Hansi Kürsch – vocals and bass
• André Olbrich – lead guitar
• Markus Dörk – rhythm guitar, additional vocals on "Symphonies of Doom"
• Thomas "Thomen" Stauch – drums

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[4]	53

References

На других языках

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- [en] Battalions of Fear

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[es] Battalions of Fear

Battalions of Fear es el primer disco del grupo de power metal alemán Blind Guardian. Fue lanzado a la venta el año 1988 con nueve canciones, entre las que hay clásicos de la banda, como «Majesty». La producción corrió a cargo de Kalle Trap y fue grabado en los meses de octubre y noviembre de 1987 en Alemania.

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[ru] Battalions of Fear

Battalions of Fear (рус. Батальоны страха) — дебютный альбом группы Blind Guardian, выпущенный в 1988 году.

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