NIGHTFALL IN MIDDLE-EARTH

Definitely a sold album. While I would recommend starting with A Night at the Opera, this one also is certainly quality. The whole Silmarillion concept is swallowable, and actually enables the band to squeak some emotion in there without singing about themselves. Hansi is in fine form, creating epic choirs all by his lonesome. That alone is something worth hearing. The rest of the musicians are spot on, especially their drummer, who always blows my mind with his speed and technique. Not my favorite, but certainly a fun one to listen to.

If you can enjoy the sound of Blind Guardian at all, this is a good album to go for. The interludes are mostly nonmusical, and thus a bit obnoxious, but the songs are worth having the addenda. Heck, buy it just to own a copy of Mirror Mirror.