Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth (1998)
Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth
WV+CUE+LOG - 482 MB | 65:40 min | Covers - 138 MB
The first EU pressing / Virgin Schallplatten # 845899-2
Nightfall in Middle-Earth is a concept album by Blind Guardian, released in 1998. The album is based upon J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, a book of tales from the First Age of Middle-earth, recounting the War of the Jewels. The album contains not only songs but also spoken parts narrating parts of the story. The music is much darker and more "melodic" on this album, compared to their previous works, and have much more fluency, without losing any of the traditional speed or guitar solos and leads. It was the first album by Blind Guardian to be released in the U.S.
Tracklist:
Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth (1998)
![Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth (1998)]()
Complete with anthemic choruses, spoken word story lines, and plenty of bombastic power metal punctuating every dramatic turn, Nightfall in Middle-Earth is perhaps Blind Guardian's most triumphant effort. After spending ten years and numerous releases building a large following in Europe and Japan, Blind Guardian took on the task of creating this progressive concept record based on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Silmarillion. The story recounts events from the first age of Middle-Earth, Tolkien's parallel world that serves as the mythological backdrop for his classic Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Blind Guardian interpretation features bassist/vocalist Hansi Kürsch's first-person character portrayals and narrations of the medieval quest for truth and glory. It's really quite grandiose. Except for a couple of quick-paced numbers, Blind Guardian favors an operatic prog rock approach on Nightfall in Middle-Earth, suggesting comparisons to Queen, with dense choir-like vocal harmonies set against swirling multi-part guitar lines. Kürsch lacks the technical abilities of metal's most theatrical frontmen, but his conviction and craftiness make up for these limitations as the vocalist stretches and twists his voice to create that rarest of metal attributes, a genuine sonic signature. Plainly, this music is not for everyone. Listeners who can't take the theatricality of Manowar, Hammerfall, or Helloween probably won't be able to stomach Nightfall in Middle-Earth either. However, power metal aficionados and prog fans with a taste for Celtic minstrel counterpoint, shredding guitar solos, thousand-voice marching choruses, and just about everything in between should have more than a passing interest is this hyper-ambitious release.~ Vincent Jeffries, all media guide
01. War Of Wrath
02. Into The Storm
03. Lammoth
04. Nightfall
05. The Minstrel
06. The Curse Of Feanor
07. Captured
08. Blood Tears
09. Mirror Mirror
10. Face The Truth
11. Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)
12. Battle Of Sudden Flame
13. Time Stands Still (At The Iron Hill)
14. The Dark Elf
15. Thorn
16. The Eldar
17. Nom The Wise
18. When Sorrow Sang
19. Out On The Water
20. The Steadfast
21. A Dark Passage
22. Final Chapter (Thus Ends…)
The album retells the events in The Silmarillion, beginning at the end:
01. In "War of Wrath", Sauron advises his master Morgoth to flee the triumphant Valar in the War of Wrath. Morgoth sends him away and reflects on the events leading up to his defeat.
02. In "Into The Storm", Morgoth and Ungoliant, fleeing from Valinor after having destroyed the Two Trees, struggle for the possession of the Silmarils.
03. "Lammoth" is the scream of Morgoth with which he fights off Ungoliant.
04. In "Nightfall", Fëanor and his seven sons mourn the destruction wrought by Morgoth and swear to get revenge on him, in spite to the Valar.
05. "The Minstrel" most likely its about Maglor, son of Fëanor, who composed the song "The Fall of the Noldor" based on the Kinslaying.
06. In "The Curse of Fëanor", Fëanor expresses his wrath and anger and relates the misdeeds he commits, especially the Kinslaying, in pursuit of Morgoth.
07. In "Captured", Morgoth addresses the captive Maedhros, Fëanor's son, and chains him to the Thangorodrim mountains.
08. In "Blood Tears", Maedhros relates the horrors of his captivity and his deliverance by Fingon. A line "Welcome to where time stand still / No one leaves and no one (ever) will." is a quote from Metallica's song "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)".
09. "Mirror Mirror" recounts how Turgon, in view of inevitable defeat, builds the city of Gondolin, aided by Ulmo ("The Lord of Water").
10. In "Face The Truth", Fingolfin reflects about the destiny of the Noldor.
11. In "Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)", Fingolfin recounts his Noldor army's passage from the icy waste of Helcaraxë, the prophecy by Mandos about the Noldor's fate and he reflects on his own and his people's guilt and foreshadows their ultimate defeat.
12. "The Battle of Sudden Flame" talks about the battle in which Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband using his Balrogs and dragons.
13. "Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)" is about Fingolfin riding to the gates of Angband to challenge Morgoth to a duel. Fingolfin wounds Morgoth seven times but is eventually killed.
14. "The Dark Elf" refers to Eöl who seduced Turgon's sister and fathered Maeglin, who would eventually betray Gondolin.
15. In "Thorn", Maeglin reflects on his situation and decides to betray Gondolin to Morgoth.
16. "The Eldar" is Elven king Finrod's farewell to his people, dying from wounds received in saving his human friend Beren from a werewolf.
17. In "Nom the Wise", Beren mourns his friend Finrod. Nóm means "wise" and was the name given to him by Beren's forefather Bëor.
18. In "When Sorrow Sang", Beren sings about his love to the Elven princess Lúthien and his death at the teeth of Morgoth's wolf Carcharoth.
19. "Out on the Water" refers to the last dwelling-place of Beren and Lúthien.
20. In "The Steadfast", Morgoth curses his captive Húrin who steadfastly refused to reveal the secret of Gondolin.
21. In "A Dark Passage", Morgoth ponders his triumph in the fifth battle. The song also relates the origins of the kindred of men and Morgoth's curse on Húrin to be witness to his children's tragic fate.
22. "Final Chapter (Thus ends …)" concludes the album, speaking of Morgoth's victory by the "treachery of man" but also of the hope for a new day.
The cover art for the album features Lúthien dancing before Morgoth, from The Tale of Beren and Lúthien.
Album dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien
01. In "War of Wrath", Sauron advises his master Morgoth to flee the triumphant Valar in the War of Wrath. Morgoth sends him away and reflects on the events leading up to his defeat.
02. In "Into The Storm", Morgoth and Ungoliant, fleeing from Valinor after having destroyed the Two Trees, struggle for the possession of the Silmarils.
03. "Lammoth" is the scream of Morgoth with which he fights off Ungoliant.
04. In "Nightfall", Fëanor and his seven sons mourn the destruction wrought by Morgoth and swear to get revenge on him, in spite to the Valar.
05. "The Minstrel" most likely its about Maglor, son of Fëanor, who composed the song "The Fall of the Noldor" based on the Kinslaying.
06. In "The Curse of Fëanor", Fëanor expresses his wrath and anger and relates the misdeeds he commits, especially the Kinslaying, in pursuit of Morgoth.
07. In "Captured", Morgoth addresses the captive Maedhros, Fëanor's son, and chains him to the Thangorodrim mountains.
08. In "Blood Tears", Maedhros relates the horrors of his captivity and his deliverance by Fingon. A line "Welcome to where time stand still / No one leaves and no one (ever) will." is a quote from Metallica's song "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)".
09. "Mirror Mirror" recounts how Turgon, in view of inevitable defeat, builds the city of Gondolin, aided by Ulmo ("The Lord of Water").
10. In "Face The Truth", Fingolfin reflects about the destiny of the Noldor.
11. In "Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)", Fingolfin recounts his Noldor army's passage from the icy waste of Helcaraxë, the prophecy by Mandos about the Noldor's fate and he reflects on his own and his people's guilt and foreshadows their ultimate defeat.
12. "The Battle of Sudden Flame" talks about the battle in which Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband using his Balrogs and dragons.
13. "Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)" is about Fingolfin riding to the gates of Angband to challenge Morgoth to a duel. Fingolfin wounds Morgoth seven times but is eventually killed.
14. "The Dark Elf" refers to Eöl who seduced Turgon's sister and fathered Maeglin, who would eventually betray Gondolin.
15. In "Thorn", Maeglin reflects on his situation and decides to betray Gondolin to Morgoth.
16. "The Eldar" is Elven king Finrod's farewell to his people, dying from wounds received in saving his human friend Beren from a werewolf.
17. In "Nom the Wise", Beren mourns his friend Finrod. Nóm means "wise" and was the name given to him by Beren's forefather Bëor.
18. In "When Sorrow Sang", Beren sings about his love to the Elven princess Lúthien and his death at the teeth of Morgoth's wolf Carcharoth.
19. "Out on the Water" refers to the last dwelling-place of Beren and Lúthien.
20. In "The Steadfast", Morgoth curses his captive Húrin who steadfastly refused to reveal the secret of Gondolin.
21. In "A Dark Passage", Morgoth ponders his triumph in the fifth battle. The song also relates the origins of the kindred of men and Morgoth's curse on Húrin to be witness to his children's tragic fate.
22. "Final Chapter (Thus ends …)" concludes the album, speaking of Morgoth's victory by the "treachery of man" but also of the hope for a new day.
The cover art for the album features Lúthien dancing before Morgoth, from The Tale of Beren and Lúthien.
Album dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien
Based on the story The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
all lyrics & concept stories by written by Hansi Kürsch
all music by Olbrich/Kürsch except "6" by Olbrich/Kürsch/Stauch/Siepen, & "16" by Olbrich/Kürsch/Schüren.
Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 5 from 4. May 2009
EAC extraction logfile from 12. August 2009, 19:31
Blind Guardian / Nightfall In Middle-Earth
Used drive : PLEXTOR CD-R PREMIUM2 Adapter: 1 ID: 1
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 30
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : Yes
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Installed external ASPI interface
Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.32 | 1:50.08 | 32 | 8289
2 | 1:50.40 | 4:24.30 | 8290 | 28119
3 | 6:14.70 | 0:28.47 | 28120 | 30266
4 | 6:43.42 | 5:34.53 | 30267 | 55369
5 | 12:18.20 | 0:32.30 | 55370 | 57799
6 | 12:50.50 | 5:41.32 | 57800 | 83406
7 | 18:32.07 | 0:26.18 | 83407 | 85374
8 | 18:58.25 | 5:25.32 | 85375 | 109781
9 | 24:23.57 | 5:06.13 | 109782 | 132744
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11 | 29:54.10 | 6:51.20 | 134560 | 165404
12 | 36:45.30 | 0:44.00 | 165405 | 168704
13 | 37:29.30 | 4:53.67 | 168705 | 190746
14 | 42:23.22 | 0:23.33 | 190747 | 192504
15 | 42:46.55 | 6:19.50 | 192505 | 220979
16 | 49:06.30 | 3:39.27 | 220980 | 237431
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18 | 53:19.05 | 4:25.02 | 239930 | 259806
19 | 57:44.07 | 0:44.70 | 259807 | 263176
20 | 58:29.02 | 0:21.53 | 263177 | 264804
21 | 58:50.55 | 6:01.20 | 264805 | 291899
22 | 64:52.00 | 0:48.07 | 291900 | 295506
Range status and errors
Selected range
Filename C:\200\Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth (Virgin '1998)\Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth (Orig).wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Range quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC BC1D6D19
Copy OK
No errors occurred
AccurateRip summary
Track 1 accurately ripped (confidence 88) [15422E58]
Track 2 accurately ripped (confidence 88) [10F4E803]
Track 3 accurately ripped (confidence 87) [82C08C07]
Track 4 accurately ripped (confidence 88) [A3887031]
Track 5 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [9B55797E]
Track 6 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [2FEDA374]
Track 7 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [1119257B]
Track 8 accurately ripped (confidence 88) [D786E988]
Track 9 accurately ripped (confidence 89) [8C9B6EB3]
Track 10 accurately ripped (confidence 83) [AEBF23DD]
Track 11 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [0F06D4C2]
Track 12 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [C0F674E2]
Track 13 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [DEBFE36A]
Track 14 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [7DE0063D]
Track 15 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [BB223F51]
Track 16 accurately ripped (confidence 87) [AD7D501E]
Track 17 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [A58078FD]
Track 18 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [FB40FAA0]
Track 19 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [E12736AA]
Track 20 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [46F256CC]
Track 21 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [D3366046]
Track 22 accurately ripped (confidence 82) [376940E4]
All tracks accurately ripped
End of status report
EAC extraction logfile from 12. August 2009, 19:31
Blind Guardian / Nightfall In Middle-Earth
Used drive : PLEXTOR CD-R PREMIUM2 Adapter: 1 ID: 1
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 30
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : Yes
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Installed external ASPI interface
Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.32 | 1:50.08 | 32 | 8289
2 | 1:50.40 | 4:24.30 | 8290 | 28119
3 | 6:14.70 | 0:28.47 | 28120 | 30266
4 | 6:43.42 | 5:34.53 | 30267 | 55369
5 | 12:18.20 | 0:32.30 | 55370 | 57799
6 | 12:50.50 | 5:41.32 | 57800 | 83406
7 | 18:32.07 | 0:26.18 | 83407 | 85374
8 | 18:58.25 | 5:25.32 | 85375 | 109781
9 | 24:23.57 | 5:06.13 | 109782 | 132744
10 | 29:29.70 | 0:24.15 | 132745 | 134559
11 | 29:54.10 | 6:51.20 | 134560 | 165404
12 | 36:45.30 | 0:44.00 | 165405 | 168704
13 | 37:29.30 | 4:53.67 | 168705 | 190746
14 | 42:23.22 | 0:23.33 | 190747 | 192504
15 | 42:46.55 | 6:19.50 | 192505 | 220979
16 | 49:06.30 | 3:39.27 | 220980 | 237431
17 | 52:45.57 | 0:33.23 | 237432 | 239929
18 | 53:19.05 | 4:25.02 | 239930 | 259806
19 | 57:44.07 | 0:44.70 | 259807 | 263176
20 | 58:29.02 | 0:21.53 | 263177 | 264804
21 | 58:50.55 | 6:01.20 | 264805 | 291899
22 | 64:52.00 | 0:48.07 | 291900 | 295506
Range status and errors
Selected range
Filename C:\200\Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth (Virgin '1998)\Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth (Orig).wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Range quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC BC1D6D19
Copy OK
No errors occurred
AccurateRip summary
Track 1 accurately ripped (confidence 88) [15422E58]
Track 2 accurately ripped (confidence 88) [10F4E803]
Track 3 accurately ripped (confidence 87) [82C08C07]
Track 4 accurately ripped (confidence 88) [A3887031]
Track 5 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [9B55797E]
Track 6 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [2FEDA374]
Track 7 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [1119257B]
Track 8 accurately ripped (confidence 88) [D786E988]
Track 9 accurately ripped (confidence 89) [8C9B6EB3]
Track 10 accurately ripped (confidence 83) [AEBF23DD]
Track 11 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [0F06D4C2]
Track 12 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [C0F674E2]
Track 13 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [DEBFE36A]
Track 14 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [7DE0063D]
Track 15 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [BB223F51]
Track 16 accurately ripped (confidence 87) [AD7D501E]
Track 17 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [A58078FD]
Track 18 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [FB40FAA0]
Track 19 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [E12736AA]
Track 20 accurately ripped (confidence 85) [46F256CC]
Track 21 accurately ripped (confidence 86) [D3366046]
Track 22 accurately ripped (confidence 82) [376940E4]
All tracks accurately ripped
End of status report
Produced by Blind Guardian
Recorded at Twilight Hall Studios, Krefeld, Karo Musik Studios, Brackel (HH, Germany)
& Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark from September 1998 - March 1998 except .. (- see booklet!)
Mixed by Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixing engineeres: Flemming Rasmussen, Charlie Bauerfeind, Piet Sielck.
• Hansi Kürsch – lead and backing vocals
• André Olbrich – lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars
• Marcus Siepen – rhythm guitars
• Thomas "Thomen" Stauch – drums & percussion
additional musicians:
- Oliver Holzwarth – bass guitar & fretless bass
- Mathias Weisner – keyboards & orchestral effects
- Michael Schüren – grand piano
- Max Zelzner – flutes & alto-flute
- Norman Eshley, Douglas Fielding – narration
- Billy King, Rolf Köhler, Olaf Senkbeil, Thomas Hackmann – the choir company
Release Date: April 27, 1998
Format: Original Recording
Label: Virgin Schallplatten GmbH.
Catalog No.: 845899-2
Original CD -> EAC Image, embedded cuesheet & more, foobar2000 ready, etc.
lossless*
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525127/BGD198NME995V.part1.rar
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525129/BGD198NME995V.part2.rar
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525137/BGD198NME995V.part3.rar
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525139/BGD198NME995V.part4.rar
complete artwork
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525143/BGD198NME360C.rar
PASSWORD: www.AvaxHome.ru
_______________________________
lossless*
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525127/BGD198NME995V.part1.rar
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525129/BGD198NME995V.part2.rar
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525137/BGD198NME995V.part3.rar
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525139/BGD198NME995V.part4.rar
complete artwork
http://www.sharingmatrix.com/file/12525143/BGD198NME360C.rar
PASSWORD: www.AvaxHome.ru
_______________________________