Blind Guardian - Fly (1 tracks) +Album Reviews

First Impressions and Later Impressions

Lens Fortwright | United States | 04/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here's my impressions of the single.

The first time I listened to it, I thought the song Fly had a Weird intro. I was like what the hell is making that scratchy noise? Then I got into the song, and I liked it as it got going. It has some very epic elements, but it is also very succinct. Not as elaborate as "And Then There Was Silence," but in many ways more understandable. The guitar solo I thought was one of Andre's best and most definable.

Then Skalds and Shadows came on and I was by this time fairly psyched to be blown away. I had read about this song being "in the tradition of 'Bards Song' and 'Past And Future Secret'," but I guess I was hoping for more. It's a good song by itself, but the problem is that it doesn't bring anything new to the table. That's why I really liked "Maiden/Minstrel Knight." It was entirely BG ballad, but at the same time it was completely different from any ballad they had done previously. Skalds and Shadows just doesn't differentiate itself from the BG ballad sound enough for me.

Inna Gadda Da Vida was a nice bonus. The riff was cool, but Hansi's vocals sounded a little weird. Like he was trying to be true to the original singer but couldn't do it.

Those were my first impressions of the single.

After several weeks of listening to Fly on and off I have changed my mind about a few things. Firstly, the song Fly is one of the best songs the band has ever done. It builds tension in just the right places and releases it like sex. The guitar solo is a thing of beauty in its initial simplicity and in building complexity. I still think the beginning is weird, but the rest of the song is so perfect that I say, who cares. Skalds and Shadows is still too much of a template song, though it stands alone as a beautiful ballad. Inna Gadda Da Vida has grown on me. What at first seemed like bad vocals now seem to be exactly what they were intended to be. A mixture of Iron Butterfly and Blind Guardian.

There are a lot of people who are going to say "this isn't Blind Guardian" simply because while the band are maturing and developing a more complex style, these "naysayers" have stayed behind in the dust. These are the same people who think Batallions of Fear was Blind Guardian's finest work, and who also think Metallica is the greatest metal band of all time. So unless you think Batallions was the band's best album (raises eyebrows), or Metallica the greatest thing since sliced bread (smiles), pay these naysayers no heed. If you want Blind Guardian to "return to their roots," then think again. This has been done before, and it's never worked out. Remember Iron Maiden's "No Prayer For The Dying"? It was exactly a return to Maiden's roots, and it tanked. The wonderful thing about Blind Guardian is that they have improved from each of their albums to the next, and this single, Fly, is a perfect example of how the band continue to broaden and improve their music. "Just when you think they couldn't get any better" is a phrase not uncommon among Blind Guardian fans, and there's a reason for that."

Can't wait for the full album

George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 04/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The only other music I've heard by Blind Guardian was A Night at the Opera. That album didn't really do it for me, but after listening to the melodic metal powerhouse "Fly," my interest in the group has been renewed. Two more songs are featured on this single release. The group harkens back to Medieval Times with the acoustic version of "Skalds and Shadows," and delivers one of the most energetic and progressive versions I've ever heard of "In a Gadda Da Vida." Can't wait for the full album."

Blind Guardian is THE BEST!!!!!!

Karen Jaime | 04/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In Hansi and Jon Schaffer's side project Demons & Wizards you could see changes in Hansi's vocal style, and im happy to say that the new vocals have been added to the newest Blind Guardian efforts. Fly is a perfect song and i hope that the new album has plenty more where this came from. It's very different, but in my oppinon it is some of the most complex writing the band has come up with yet. Im so happy that Blind Guardian isnt going downhill and you'd think that with so many good albums before them there's bound to be a bad one - THINK AGAIN!!!"

Excellent Song

charlieheston | Portland, Or United States | 05/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't let anyone tell you that this song sucks. I can't wait for the new album and am pleased that Blind Guardian continue to grow instead of re-making "Nightfall..." over and over.

This song has an odd beginning, and takes a couple spins to really grow, but it's a phenomenally crafted song and definitely sounds like Blind Guardian, completely with only slightly-less sludgey and layered production than usual.

Good for them for being creative. Shame on the close-minded members of their fanbase."

Not as essential as other Blind Guardian singles

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 11/18/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The CD single Fly was originally intended to give fans a preview of their (then) upcoming album A Twist in the Myth. And what a preview it was! "Fly" bursts out of the gate with pure energy. This song is every bit as powerful, progressive, and well-orchestrated as we've come to expect from Blind Guardian, who continue to remind us with every album why they are the absolute best power metal band on Earth. "Fly" is a great indicator of what ATITM has to offer.

Also included on this single is an acoustic version of another ATITM track, Skalds and Shadows. This is a folksy, vintage Blind Guardian ballad, and to be quite honest I can't really hear that much of a difference between this version and the one found on ATITM.

As is so often the case with these import singles, Fly features one track that you won't find anywhere else. Blind Guardian always picks the best (and least expected) cover songs to perform, whether they are metal staples like Judas Priest and Dio or head scratchers like the Beach Boys. I don't think anyone expected the band to take on Iron Butterfly's classic "In a Gadda da Vida". Blind Guardian gives a double-speed rendition of the acid laced tune that sadly, just comes across as hurried and uninspired. It's a decent track, but is nowhere near the band's best cover tunes, and is probably one that only die-hard Blind Guardian fans will be compelled to buy a CD single for. I'm of the opinion that every BG song is worth having, so if you're into the band, you'll want to add this disc to your collection.

PS - "In a Gadda da Vida" is now available individually as a (legal) download right here from Amazon. If you don't want to pay for the full EP, you can get the one non-album track digitally for less than a buck."

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	Blind Guardian Fly Genres: Pop, Rock, Metal Track Listings (1) - Disc #1 In a Gadda Da Vida - Blind Guardian, Ingle, Douglas Limited Edition First Pressing Only Comes in a Digipak.
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