Battalions of Fear

Battalions of Fear is the debut album by German 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]

Lyrical and musical themes

• 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.

Track listing

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

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Majesty"	7:28
2.	"Guardian of the Blind" (André Olbrich, Hansi Kürsch, Marcus Siepen, Thomas Stauch)	5:09
3.	"Trial by the Archon"	1:41
4.	"Wizard's Crown"	3:48

Side two

No.	Title	Length
5.	"Run for the Night"	3:33
6.	"The Martyr"	6:14
7.	"Battalions of Fear"	6:06
8.	"By the Gates of Moria"	2:52

Cassette and CD edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
9.	"Gandalf's Rebirth"	2:10

2007 re-release bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
10.	"Brian" (Demo Version) (André Olbrich, Hansi Kürsch, Markus Dörk)	2:41
11.	"Halloween (The Wizard's Crown)" (Demo Version)	3:22
12.	"Lucifer's Heritage" (Demo Version)	4:36
13.	"Symphonies of Doom" (Demo Version)	4:08
14.	"Dead of the Night" (Demo Version)	3:33

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 – producer, engineer, mixing
• Holger Schreiber - engineer 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"
• "Thomen" Stauch – drums

Charts

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

References

1. Sputnikmusic review
2. Metal Storm review
3. Lerch, Uwe. "Rock Hard". issue 24. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
4. "Offiziellecharts.de – Blind Guardian – Battalions of Fear" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 September 2018.