Classical Composer Reacts to And Then There Was Silence (Blind Guardian) | The Daily Doug (Ep. 170)

#BlindGuardian #BlindGuardianReaction #AndThenThereWasSilence

In this episode of #TheDailyDoug, I'm reacting to And Then There Was Silence by the German band Blind Guardian. This was my first time listening to music by this band. Epic sounds!

[adrianmedeiros]

"It's almost like Lord of the Rings" said Doug.

Funny you should say that.

[phred]

"It's like making a song about the Lord of the Rings".

Funny you should mention (Their album "Nightfall on Middle Earth" is entirely based on the lore of JRRT's

[chrisrpg]

Basically lyrics are about Cassandra's visions of the war of Troy, as you said, but with a bunch of chronologic jumps.
The song starts with her violent vision (Turn your head and see the fields of flame) of Troy in flames. She is with Priamo (king of Troy) on the terrace of the palace, waiting for Paride. Priamo is excited, but Cassandra is worried because she feels something is going wrong (He's on his way, he'll bring decay). Paride will come with Elena (the most beautiful woman on earth, "she's like the sunrise, Outshines the moon at night"), wife of Menelao, which will follow with his brother Agamennone to "rescue" her and take revenge (In darkness grows the seed of man's defeat: Jealousy. I can clearly see the end now). The song then shows the visions of Cassandra, Achille chasing Paride around the walls of Troy (Don't you think it's time to stop the chase around the ring? Just stop running around the ring), Ettore's death (The coin has been placed below my tongue), Achille again slaughtering the troyans (As the lion slaughters man, I'm the wolf and you're the lamb), men and babies throwed off the walls (bodies falls).
But then something not expected happens: the greeks are gone, a wooden stallion has been placed in the battlefield. Troyans are happy (The nightmare shall be over now, There's nothing more to fear, Come join in our singing) but Cassandra warns (They'll truly believe in the lie, With blossoms they'll welcome the old foe).

Then her visions are over, the song come back to the terrace, with Priamo been informed that the troyan ships are coming (Your handsome son is coming home!). Wind is moving the ships (Still the wind blows, Calm and silent, Carries news from a distant shore), the same that Cassadra saw as the "betrayer" at the start of the song (We have been betrayed by the wind), because with the ships is coming Elena and the war.
But there is no hope, because "the blind leads the blind", and so the only logical end is "Sorrow and defeat".

These are my 2 cents about this gorgeous piece. There is a lot more which I cannot understand, and I could be wrong with some details. Hope it helps.

[ukaszkozinski]

There's only one choice now - "Nightfall" from "Nightfall in Middle Earth" please :)

[chiefmangotv]

The vocalist you hear here in Blind Guardian, Hansi Kürsch, you actually partially reacted to in Ayreon's "The day that the world breaks down" where he had the part as The Astronomer!

[gringochucha]

Band only repeats chorus three times in a 14-minute song:

"I think they've done this to many times." : D

Dude, that chorus is amazing -- possibly the most epic one they've ever written, and they've written some EPIC choruses.

It's so weird watching somebody listen to this for the first time when I've heard it hundreds and hundreds of times and always know exactly what's coming next.

And yep, it's relentless and over-the-top, just like the whole "A Night at the Opera" album, but I personally love it. It took me a while to digest that album when it came out, because as you say there's so much going on the whole time, but it really rewards you on repeated listens, because you're constantly discovering new things. All in all I think it's an amazing album and it's one of my favorites.

[nberedim]

- "The newborn child will carry ruin to the hall, the newborn's death will be a blessing to us all." This is clearly the prophecy about Paris, which is not however attributed to Cassandra but fits the theme of the song
- "So the judgement's been made, to the fairest the graceful says, badly he fails". A clear reference to the story of Paris presenting the golden apple to Aphrodite (an incident known as the Judgement of Paris). Just before that it was "Power and wisdom, You deny" ---> The gifts offered by Hera and Athena when asking for the apple.
- "Fear the heat of passion ...". Cassandra when seeing Paris bringing Helen to Troy.
- "I feel that something's wrong, suprise they're gone". When the Greeks appeared to have deserted their camp (just before the whole trojan horse story comes into play) --> "They'll tear down the wall to bring it in,  They'll truly believe in the lie", "Mare or Stallion, there's far more inside"
- "we'll cheerfully die". The celebrations just before the sack of Troy.

I would suggest giving a listen to "Nightfall in Middle-Earth".

[LeonardoPostacchini]

Blind Guardian is an impressive band. The most impressive thing is that they manage to always make something different and yet sound clearly Blind Guardian, if you liked this mythological theme, I strongly suggest doing a full album review for Nightfall in Middle Earth, believe me, you are not going to be disappointed.

Another one of my favourites in the same category is The Maiden and the Minstrel Knight based on the Arthurian tale, it is absolutely necessary to follow the lyrics on this one.

[thenomad]

Blind Guardian's worst problem in their latest albums are indeed mixing. They try to bring many diverse layers, orchestral parts etc to their songs, but in the end some instruments becomes muffled and flat. Their last album is the most glaring one about this unfortunately. This mix is even better compared to some songs in that one. Too many highs problem is present only in this song I think.
I think if you want to go on with this band the next song could be Wheel of Time. Other chocies can be The Bard's Song - In the Forest, Mordred's Song, or Nightfall.

[RenatoRamonda]

I saw Blind Guardian perform this song live the first year after the release of the album (A Night at the Opera); they were headliners at the "Summer Day in Hell" festival in Italy in 2003 and... frankly, the general consensus was that this ultra-long and super complex and hyper-produced song was a "studio song" that they wouldn't be able to play live.

Not only they did, they performed it FLAWLESSLY. I was blown away.

It's not my favorite Blind Guardian song, but it was a very badass. "THOUGHT WE COULDN'T, UH. CHECK THIS OUT"

[MetalHeadReacts]

Personally, I always saw the frenetic nature of the song sort of represented the chaos of battle, like it's fast and relentless with only short moments of reprieve, which is where the quiet moments come in, and then the "celtic" moment towards the end kind of represents the feast/celebration after the battle has been fought.
This track is by far one of my favourite ever tracks by Blind Guardian, and the chorus moment always stirs something almost primal within me when it comes around, and I just love it.

[BlackGoliath]

Welcome to Blind Guardian ... They always blow me away especially the lead singer and his vocals 👌🏿🤘🏿💪🏿

[themadmattster]

One of the best Metal bands of all time

[ruancarlos]

Listen to "WHEEL OF TIME" and "SACRED WORLDS" from this same band. It was recorded with a real orchestra and a choir.

[HellionT]

Blind Guardian - “Wheel of Time”

The most intricate piece of metal/classical music ever

[michanowak]

Oh Boy! Blind Guardian is epic! I think their song Sacred Worlds will be sooo much in your alley! Symphonic through and through!

[malefactor]

It's awesome how you read the scales.
I think 'Sacred Worlds' of Blind Guardian is way more condensed and thus more interesting. But nevertheless I like 'And then there was Silence'. The key part that really remains in my brain is that minor-major switch at 13:24. I will definitely do that in one of my songs as well - and let it last for some bars longer.

[Dosenpruegel]

The vocals are mainly done by Hansi Kürsch alone, even the quire-like parts and synchronized/harmonized vocal parts. Although, sometimes he has an little choire supporting him in his awesomeness.
Thank you for this reaction, I've been waitin for this day to come. Greetings from germany. :)

[loadedcouchpotato]

If by all the singers in Blind Guardian, you mean Hansi recording himself doing 11 different vocals and then putting them all together then... yes... singers. He's a mad lad.

[Lessmedborgare]

Yes finally some Blind Guardian! Can't wait for the next episode with this truly underrated band!