Blind Guardian - [Box Set] A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time

Todos aquellos fans que descubrimos a BG en nuestra adolesencia (casi 20 años ya en mi caso) o las "nuevas incorporaciones" estamos de enhorabuena. Tenemos motivos para celebrar la salida de esta pedazo de edición especial (limitada a 8000 en todo el mundo) que lanza el grupo el 5 de Febrero.

En mi caso tengo todos los discos del grupo, desde el "Battalions", "Tokyo Tales", hasta el último "Memories Of A Time To Come" pasando por el absolutamente incomparable (cima de su obra) "Imaginations". Aun teniendo toda la discografía, voy a lanzarme a por esta edición que a mí me parece acojonante y muy cuidada. 15 discos con temas remasterizados y remezclados, ediciones inéditas, "canciones perdidas", libro con fotos y comentarios, púa...

Se que es una pasta (entre 100 y 120 luros) pero en mi caso, como seguidor absoluto de la banda desde mis primeros años metaleros, voy a pillármelo. A muchos les parecerá más de lo mismo y una excusa barata para colarte "poco más o menos lo mismo de siempre con alguna chorradilla" por más de 100 pavos. Si al final se confirma que sólo lanzarán 8000 a nivel mundial, puede ser una obra de gran valor para coleccionar.

Colgaré aquí las fotos cuando lo tenga.

Saludos a todos!




Os dejo varias reseñas en inglés con el contenido de esta edición (la primera de su propia web).


Save up your Christmas money for February when A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time, a strictly limited edition Blind Guardian box set with 15 CDs in 13 high quality digipacks and only 8000 copies worldwide, is released.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland have a release date of February 1, 2013 and the rest of the world on February 4, 2013. The box set can now be pre-ordered from your favorite record shop!

Looking back over Blind Guardian’s career from the here and now in 2013, you see a success story gone global, the likes of which very few other German metal bands have ever experienced. This band from Krefeld has been just about everywhere, conquering the North American market in the same way as they stormed the charts in Asia or packed concert venues in South America and even South Africa. From their (at that point purely) German beginnings with debut album Battalions of Fear (1988), followed by their first international recognition with the second album Follow the Blind (1989) and the euphoria which went round the world when Tales from the Twilight World (1990) and Somewhere Far Beyond (1992) came out, right through to their masterpiece of composition in A Night at the Opera (2002), the name of the band developed to become an unmistakable world brand. There are lots of reasons for this, but no doubt much of it is down to the extraordinary skill of everyone involved, their virtuoso dexterity and that gift for bringing mystical themes in tune with unusually complex metal directives. Something else which really makes Blind Guardian stand out is the way they have always kept so close to their fans. Even more proof of their unconditional commitment to the huge fan-base is being released now; A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time, a strictly limited edition deluxe box set with a total of 15 CDs in 13 high quality digipacks, which the musicians and the record company have been working on together for almost a year. A particularly long time to create a compilation you may think, but a glance at just how much this box set encompasses explains why their conscientious and time-consuming preparation took so long.

A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time not only includes all the albums released during the so-called Virgin years (the record company brought out all the bands’ records between 1988 and 2004) but also all their previously unreleased demo recordings, rare bonus tracks and alternative versions of famous pieces from this era, and all of them have been remastered and some even remixed. To be precise; it includes the seven studio albums Battalions of Fear, Follow the Blind, Tales from the Twilight World, Somewhere Far Beyond, Imaginations from the Other Side, Nightfall in Middle-Earth and A Night at the Opera, and on top of all that you get the live albums Tokyo Tales and Live as well as The Forgotten Tales compilation, all of them now with 2012 mastering and some of them with new mixes. Above and beyond that, Blind Guardian have dug deep into their archives and come up with some real treats: in Imaginations Through the Looking Glass for the very first time the phenomenal concert they put on in Coburg, Germany in June 2003 appears in audio format on two CDs. And another first, in a special edition of Nightfall in Middle-Earth, the musicians also present the legendary 1998 studio album without any breaks (including a new mix of “Blood Tears”). This precious box is rounded off with An Extraordinary Tale, which includes so far unreleased demo versions of the pieces “Welcome to Dying”, “Lord of the Rings”, “The Bard’s Song (In the Forest)”, “The Bard’s Song (The Hobbit)”, “Theatre of Pain”, “Trial by Fire” and “I’m Alive” and the never before released, around 90 seconds longer version of the song “The Quest for Tanelorn” as well as the comparatively rare number “Harvest of Sorrow”.

So, there is so much to find, enjoy and rediscover in this outright opulent deluxe box which is accompanied by a 20 page glossy booklet (size: 27cm x 27cm) containing comments from the members of the band and more than 100 rare and mainly unpublished photos belonging to the musicians. A limited edition and numbered Blind Guardian art print on special paper (sized 27cm by 27cm) and a guitar plectrum engraved with the band’s logo have also been added to the box. Blind Guardian are rightly proud of this glorious package. “With A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time we document how much has Blind Guardian developed between 1988 and 2004 in, as I see it, a particularly impressive and vivid way”, explains singer/bassist Hansi Kürsch who, together with original members André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen, still controls the destiny of this amazing group. Kürsch adds: “The brand new mastering also makes sure that all 15 CDs are on the same level as far as the dynamics are concerned so theoretically you can listen to the whole box at one go, without having to adjust the volume level at all.”

Of course this jam-packed compilation also includes all the compositional climaxes and milestones along Blind Guardian’s career path; “Majesty” from their debut album Battalions of Fear was the first time the band presented their unusual song writing combined with the boundless energy which still makes Blind Guardian stand out so much today. “Traveler in Time” from Tales from the Twilight World then puts the band’s epic approach into focus. “The Bard’s Song” has developed into a real classic, creating that perfect symbiosis between band and audience at concert after concert and reinforcing the folklore element within the typical Blind Guardian sound.

Of course, in this box, Blind Guardian also present the sublime title track from the album Imaginations from the Other Side with its capable mixture of anthemic power metal and progressive directives, as well as the downright cinematic number “Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)” from the album Nightfall in Middle-Earth. The experts reckon the fantastic “And Then There Was Silence” from A Night at the Opera was the icing on the cake of those Virgin years and you can hear it in all its glory on A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time.

With A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time Blind Guardian stay true to their reputation of not doing anything only halfway. As always with this band you get the full-on thing, on both the composition and technical production sides. This box is also full of rare photos from the musicians’ private collections as well as previously unreleased demo recordings, once again documenting how far this group will go to give their fans the best possible product. And as Hansi Kürsch put it: “We poured our heart and soul into A Traveler’s Guide to Space and Time making it a well worthwhile box for our fans which fully meets the demands we make of ourselves as well as those of our fans. And that is exactly what we were aiming for.”



"Blind Guardian perfected a fusion of gothic and fantasy tinged European power metal with the velocity and technical precision of speed metal.

A traveller's Guide to Space and Time' includes pearls of the BLIND GUARDIAN Catalogue, completely new mixed and re-mastered.

This box will only be released physically, no digital release and will be a one off limited edition. Includes 7 studio albums - all remastered & 3 live albums - all remastered.

Imaginations Through the Looking Glass is available on CD for the first time. CD 15 is a new compilation of rarities and previously unreleased tracks"

The box set comes with individually numbered artprint and guitar plectrum.

CD 1 - Battalions of Fear

1. Majesty (2012 - Remaster)

2. Guardian of the Blind (2012 - Remaster)

3. Trial By the Archon (2012 - Remaster)

4. Wizard's Crown (2012 - Remaster)

5. Run for the Night. (2012 - Remaster)

6. The Martyr (2012 - Remaster)

7. Battalions of Fear (2012 - Remaster)

8. By the Gates of Moria (2012 - Remaster)

9. Gandalf's Rebirth (2012 - Remixed)



CD 2 Follow The Blind

1. Inquisition (2012 - Remaster)

2. Banish from Sanctuary (2012 - Remaster)

3. Damned for All Time (2012 - Remaster)

4. Follow the Blind (2012 - Remaster)

5. Hall of the King (2012 - Remaster)

6. Fast to Madness (2012 - Remaster)

7. Beyond the Ice (2012 - Remaster)

8. Valhalla (2012 - Remaster)

9. Don't Break the Circle (2012 - Remaster)

10. Barbara Ann (2012-Remaster)



CD 3 - Tales from Twilight

1. Traveler in Time (2012 - Remixed)

2. Welcome to Dying (2012 - Remixed)

3. Weird Dreams (2012 - Remixed)

4. Lord of the Rings (2012 - Remixed)

5. Goodbye My Friends (2012 - Remixed)

6. Lost in the Twilight Hall (2012 - Remixed)

7. Tommyknockers (2012 - Remixed)

8. Altair 4 (2012 - Remixed)

9. The Last Candle (2012 - Remixed)

10. Run For The Night (Remastered)



CD 4 - Somewhere Far Beyond

1. Time What Is Time (2012 - Remixed)

2. Journey Through the Dark (2012 - Remixed)

3. Black Chamber (2012 - Remixed)

4. Theatre of Pain (2012 - Remixed)

5. The Quest for Tanelorn (2012 - Remixed)

6. Ashes to Ashes (2012 - Remixed)

7. The Bard's Song - In the Forest (2012 - Remixed)

8. The Bard's Song - The Hobbit (2012 - Remixed)

9. The Piper's Calling (2012 - Remixed)

10. Somewhere Far Beyond (2012 - Remixed)

11. Spread Your Wings (2012 - Remixed)

12. Trial By Fire (2012 - Remixed)

13. Theatre of Pain (Classic Version) [2012 - Remixed]



CD 5 - Tokyo Tales

1. Inquisition - Live (2012 - Remaster)

2. Banish from Sanctuary - Live (2012 - Remaster)

3. Journey Through the Dark - Live (2012 - Remaster)

4. Traveler in Time - Live (2012 - Remaster)

5. The Quest for Tanelorn - Live (2012 - Remaster)

6. Goodbye My Friend - Live (2012 - Remaster)

7. Time What Is Time - Live (2012 - Remaster)

8. Majesty - Live (2012 - Remaster)

9. Valhalla - Live (2012 - Remaster)

10. Welcome to Dying - Live (2012 - Remaster)

11. Lost in the Twilight Hall - Live (2012 - Remaster)

12. Barbara Ann - Live (2012 - Remaster)



CD 6 - Imaginations from the Other Side

1. Imaginations from the Other Side (2012 - Remixed)

2. I'm Alive (2012 - Remixed)

3. A Past and Future Secret (2012 - Remixed)

4. The Script for My Requiem (2012 - Remixed)

5. Mordred's Song (2012 - Remixed)

6. Born in a Mourning Hall (2012 - Remixed)

7. Bright Eyes (2012 - Remixed)

8. Another Holy War (2012 - Remixed)

9. And the Story Ends (2012 - Remixed)



CD 7 - The Forgotten Tales

1. Mister Sandman (2012 - Remaster)

2. Surfin' USA (2012 - Remaster)

3. Bright Eyes (2012 - Remaster)

4. Lord of the Rings (2012 - Remaster)

5. The Wizard (2012 - Remaster)

6. Spread Your Wings (2012 - Remaster)

7. Mordred's Song (2012 - Remaster)

8. Black Chamber (2012 - Remaster)

9. The Bard's Song (In the Forest) [2012 - Remaster]

10. Barbara Ann (2012 - Remaster)

11. A Past and Future Secret (2012 - Remaster)

12. To France (2012 - Remaster)

13. Theatre of Pain (2012 - Remaster)



CD 8 - Nightfall in Middle Earth

1. War of Wrath (2012 - Remaster)

2. Into the Storm (2012 Remix and Remaster)

3. Lammoth (2012 - Remaster)

4. Nightfall (2012 Remix and Remaster)

5. The Minstrel (2012 - Remaster)

6. The Curse of Feanor (2012 Remix and Remaster)

7. Captured (2012 - Remaster)

8. Blood Tears (2012 Remix and Remaster)

9. Mirror, Mirror (2012 Remix and Remaster)

10. Face the Truth (2012 - Remaster)

11. Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns) [2012 Remix and Remaster]

12. Battle of Sudden Flames (2012 - Remaster)

13. Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill) [2012 Remixed and Remaster]

14. The Dark Elf (2012 - Remaster)

15. Thorn (2012 Remix and Remaster)

16. The Eldar (2012 Remix and Remaster)

17. Nom the Wise (2012 - Remaster)

18. When Sorrow Sang (2012 Remix and Remaster)

19. Out on the Water (2012 - Remaster)

20. The Steadfast (2012 - Remaster)

21. A Dark Passage (2012 Remix and Remaster)

22. Final Chapter (Thus Ends) (2012 - Remaster)



CD 9 - A Night at the Opera

1. Precious Jerusalem (2012 Remix and Remaster)

2. Battlefield (2012 Remix and Remaster)

3. Under the Ice (2012 Remix and Remaster)

4. Sadly Sings Destiny (2012 Remix and Remaster)

5. The Maiden and the Minstrel Knight (2012 Remix and Remaster)

6. Wait for an Answer (2012 Remix and Remaster)

7. The Soulforged (2012 Remix and Remaster)

8. Age of False Innocence (2012 Remix and Remaster)

9. Punishment Divine (2012 Remix and Remaster)

10. And Then There Was Silence (2012 Remix and Remaster)



CD 10 - LIVE

1. War of Wrath (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

2. Into the Storm (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

3. Welcome to Dying (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

4. Nightfall (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

5. The Script for My Requiem (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

6. Harvest of Sorrow (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

7. The Soulforged (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

8. Valhalla (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

9. Majesty (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

10. Mordred's Song (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

11. Born in a Mourning Hall (Live) [2012 - Remaster]



CD 11 - LIVE continued

1. Under the Ice (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

2. Bright Eyes (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

3. Punishment Divine (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

4. The Bard's Song - In The Forest (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

5. Imaginations from the Other Side (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

6. Lost in the Twilight Hall (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

7. A Past and Future Secret (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

8. Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill) [Live] [2012 - Remaster]

9. Journey Through The Dark (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

10. Lord of the Rings (Live) [2012 - Remaster]

11. Mirror, Mirror (Live) [2012 - Remaster]



CD 12 - Imaginations Through the Looking Glass

1. War of Wrath (Remaster 2012)

2. Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill) (Remaster 2012)

3. Banish from Sanctuary (Remaster 2012)

4. Nightfall (Remaster 2012)

5. The Script for My Requiem (Remaster 2012)

6. Valhalla (Remaster 2012)

7. A Past and Future Secret (Remaster 2012)

8. Punishment Divine (Remaster 2012)

9. Mordred's Song (Remaster 2012)

10. The Last Candle (Remaster 2012)

11. Bright Eyes (Remaster 2012)



CD 13 - Imaginations Through the Looking Glass Continued

1. Lord of the Rings (Remaster 2012)

2. I'm Alive (Remaster 2012)

3. Another Holy War (Remaster 2012)

4. And Then There Was Silence (Remaster 2012)

5. Somewhere Far Beyond (Remaster 2012)

6. The Bard's Song - In The Forest (Remaster 2012)

7. Imaginations from the Other Side (Remaster 2012)

8. And the Story Ends (Remaster 2012)

9. Mirror, Mirror (Remaster 2012)



CD 14 - Nightfall in Middle Earth (special)

1. Into the Storm (2012 - Remixed)

2. Nightfall (Remaster 2012)

3. The Curse of Feanor (Remaster 2012)

4. Blood Tears (Vocal Remix) This is a new vocal mix

5. Mirror, Mirror (2012 Remaster)

6. Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns) [2012 Remaster]

7. Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill) (2012 Remaster)

8. Thorn (2012 Remaster)

9. The Eldar (2012 Remaster)

10. When Sorrow Sang (2012 Remaster)

11. A Dark Passage (2012 Remaster)



CD 15 - An extraordinary Tale includes unreleased curiosities

1. Welcome to Dying (Demo)

2. Lord of the Rings (Demo)

3. The Bard's Song - In The Forest (Demo)

4. The Bard's Song - The Hobbit (Demo)

5. Theatre of Pain (Demo)

6. Trial By Fire (Demo)

7. The Quest for Tanelorn (Extended Version)

8. Harvest Of Sorrow (2007 Digital Remaster)

9. I'm Alive (Demo)