Search - Blind Guardian :: Forgotten Tales

If only for one song, everyone should have this.

Lord Chimp | Monkey World | 08/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"first of all, Blind Guardian does really bad cover songs. so just skip all of those. You want to get this album for the wonderful variations of Blind Guardian originals. And for that, EVERYONE NEEDS THIS ALBUM. "Lord of the Rings", acoustic/orchestral version, is the greatest single nugget of song perfection ever. incredible vocals, a chorus that will break your soul into pieces, and masterful arrangements (some of the instruments are out-of-tune -- i think it was self-produced, but either way it add HUGE character to the sound). oh whatever, you don't even have to get this album -- just hear this disc's version of "Lord of the Rings" at all costs! sell your soul if you have to. i will buy it. I HAVE NEVER HEARD A BETTER SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! who would have thought a song about magic rings, dwarves, elves, and evil dark lords would be the greatest thing ever."

Killer Collection of Blind Guardian Rarities

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 10/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released in 1998 (and re-released in 2005), the Forgotten Tales is one of my absolute favorite Blind Guardian albums, even though it's not one of their proper studio albums. The Forgotten Tales is basically a compilation of the various cover songs the band has performed as well as some alternate versions of some (at the time) recent Blind Guardian songs. The various demo/acoustic/live/instrumental versions are cool enough - and the live version of the Bard's Song is pretty spectacular - but I love this album because of the cover songs.



If there's one thing that Blind Guardian does better than any other band, it's their ability to record the most diverse (yet always powerful) covers. Well, that and the whole epic power metal thing that they do that no other band will ever touch even in their wildest dreams, but you get the general idea. From oldies like Mr. Sandman, Surfin' USA and Barbara Ann, to classic rock tracks like the Wizard (Uriah Heep) and Spread Your Wings (Queen), Blind Guardian always delivers unique cover songs. Some are obviously done just for laughs (you have to chuckle at a speed metal version of Mr. Sandman), and others, like the Uriah Heep and Queen songs are done to pay tribute to bands that had a profound influence on the band's sound. Whatever the reason, I've yet to hear a less than great cover song from this band, and it's particularly nice to have so many collected in one place.



My only gripe about this disc is that it doesn't capture all of the band's cover songs. It is missing the band's version of Don't Break the Circle (Demon). Their breathtaking covers of Judas Priest's Beyond the Realms of Death and Dio's Don't Talk to Strangers are also absent. I know they were released after the Forgotten Tales, but they would have made great bonus tracks on the 2005 reissue.



Omissions aside, the Forgotten Tales is a fantastic collection of unique material from the best power metal band on the planet. I wouldn't recommend it to new Blind Guardian fans right away, but once you have a handful of the band's great studio albums, you owe it to yourself to check this compilation out.



NOTE: There is a version of this album with a 14th song - a live version of Lord of the Rings - added as a bonus track."

Soft and satisfying!!!

Metal_Head | NJ | 07/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although this album has gotten bad reviews in the past, I found it to be awesome!!! Some of the songs aren't as satisfying as their original versions, their still awesome. The covers aren't the best, but still pretty cool.



I highly reccomend this CD to anyone who likes ballads."