Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Ten musicians have been a part of the band's line-up in its history, which has consisted of singer Hansi Kürsch, guitarists André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen, and drummer Frederik Ehmke since 2005.
Blind Guardian is a part of the German heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s. The band was formed in 1984 as Lucifer's Heritage by Kürsch (then also bass guitarist), Olbrich, other guitarist Markus Dörk and drummer Thomas Stauch. Dörk and Stauch both left the following year, and were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey respectively, who left as well before the end of the year. In 1987, Siepen joined and Stauch returned; under this line-up, which lasted 18 years (the longest in the band's history), the band changed their name to Blind Guardian and released their first album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988.
The realm's bleeding
It suffers
Old and weak
No further arguing
There is war at hand
The system's failing
Engines running
Then after all
I sense the end is dawning
These lunatics deny the truth
I know I will not fail
There'll be
War it's now or never
We shall stand together
One by one
This world is sacred
(I'm coming home)
War it's now or never
We shall stand together
One by one
This world is sacred
I'm coming home
Coming home
You chase in twilight
And you know
You will be on your own
On your own
The misery shown
I'll be alone in this hour
I'll face the unknown
Witness the end
I'm bleeding, I'm fading
Here in my final hour
When long-lost memories return
And a voice keeps calling
"All dead and gone
It's out of hand
Life is in motion"
I'm wishing, I'm fading
"Time to wake up
Face the truth"
I'm sinking
I'm drowning
There's no doubt, no regret
"Time to reveal now"
This is no illusion
It is real
Carry on the flame
It's not over now
Watch me, I will rise
Time to reveal now
I know I will not fail
Anymore
I'll go on forever
All that really matters
Blessed realm
This world is sacred
(I'm coming home)
War it's now or never
We shall stand together
One by one
This world is sacred
(I'm coming home)
Yesterday's gone
There's no today, no tomorrow
I'm raised from the dead
The ritual failed
There at the gates
I'm left alone in this hour
Driven insane
I am left alone
And now I drown in deepest shadows
While the golden hall is sealed
I'm wishing
I'm fading
And I'm part of the machine
My eyes are the eyes of a dead man
And I feel the unholy stream
The source of my power
T-energy
I'm in control
I will live forever
All that really matters
Find the one
This world is sacred
(I'm coming home)
War it's now or never
We shall stand together
One by one
This world is sacred
I'm coming home
I spread my wings
But keep on falling
I should have known
I can see it coming
The war is over
There's whispering in the wind
Just let me out of here
There is no way
There's no end
While all the suffering goes on
All that I know
Is that I'm not insane