Blind Guardian’s last release (under the Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra banner), 2019’s Legacy of the Dark Lands, was their attempt at doing an orchestral concept record. It was not what any fan of the band wanted. Maybe some of the European ones? It totally lacked the fist-pumping sing-along fantasy anthems the German power metal institution excels at. If the pre-release singles are any indication, they’ve course corrected on their latest, The God Machine, which now has a release date: September 2.
In addition, they’ve dropped another of said pre-release singles, this one based on The Witcher video games. It has all the qualities mentioned above and you can check out the video below. Singer Hansi Kursch had this to say about it:
“‘Blood Of The Elves’ features a pretty heavy side that the avid fan of BLIND GUARDIAN hopefully enjoys. More than enjoys, I’d guess. Instrumentally, the track has some kind of an early nineties appeal that blends well into the vocal parts of the opera/twist era and catapults both epochs into a new era for the band. A perfect hybrid. The chorus has some very strong sing-along vibes, despite its complexity. What else do you need? Inspired by the ‘The Witcher’ computer game series, the lyrics even reinforce the power of this banger and the clip by Dirk Behlau fits perfectly to the whole setting. Let me tell you: The God Machine has even more to offer. And that’s no promise – that’s the ultimate truth. Stay tuned.”
04.06. DE Gelsenkirchen – Rockhard Festival
11.06. ES Zamora – Z! Live Rock Fest 2022
23.06. CZ Spálené Poříčí – Basinfire Festival
24.06. IT Verona – Rock the Castle
25.06. FR Clisson – Hellfest
01.07. ES Barcelona – Rock Fest Barcelona
14.07. AT Leoben – AREA 53 Open Air 2022
15.07. DE Neukirchen-Vluyn – Dong Open Air
16.07. LX Esch-sur-Alzette – Rockhal
21.07. GR Athens – Release Athens 2022
31.07. UK Durham – Dominion Festival
05.08. ES Villena (Alicante) – Leyendas del Rock XV
07.08. RO Râșnov – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
19.08. DE Giessen – Giessener Kultursommer
20.08. DE Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze Festival
02.09. DE Saarbrücken – Garage
03.09. DE Memmingen – Kaminwerk
04.09. CH Pratteln – Z7
05.09. DE Frankfurt am Main – Batschkapp
06.09. DE Stuttgart – KA
08.09. DE München – Backstage
09.09. DE Dresden – Alter Schlachthof
10.09. DE Neuruppin – Kulturhaus
11.09. DE Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt
13.09. DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
14.09. DE Köln – E-Werk
16.09. DE Osnabrück – Hyde Park
17.09. DE Osnabrück – Hyde Park
10.-17.10. ES Barca Trencada – Full Metal Holiday @ Iberostar Club Cala Barca
12.10. NL Sittard – Poppodium Volt
13.10. DE Hamburg – edel-optics.de-Arena