Album Review: Blind Guardian – Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited (Nuclear Blast Records)

Following their performance at this year’s mighty Wacken Open Air, Blind Guardian will present their Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited album, on 2nd August via Nuclear Blast Records. The record will include a complete re-recording of the classic as well as a live celebration of 1992’s Somewhere Far Beyond, a landmark record for Germany’s heavy metal titans.

What can be possibly said about Somewhere Far Beyond that hasn’t been said countless times before? It’s not just an iconic Blind Guardian album, or an iconic power metal album, it’s an iconic metal album, full stop. One that still holds up today, which makes this re-recording a little questionable. Bear in mind though, like most re-recordings, this ‘Revisited’ release isn’t replacing the original, it’s complimenting it.

That does make it a much more palatable listen, because no amount of experience can make up for the youthful hunger vibe that the original gives off. For many, that vibe is more important than an album played more competently and skilfully. This ‘Revisited’ version might sound better, but it doesn’t capture the time and place that Blind Guardian were in when they made it.

Don’t let that fool you in believing it doesn’t have so much merit, and isn’t thoroughly enjoyable. Not only is this a phenomenal album before, now, and another couple of decades into the future, it has been refreshed to such a state that it has the power to draw in previous naysayers of Blind Guardian. Alongside the re-recording is the entire album played live at Rock Hard Festival 2022 (except Black Chamber which comes from Hellfest 2022) and for many, the biggest selling point of this record. Anyone who has seen Blind Guardian live (and we certainly have) can attest to the band’s greatness in this environment and so many of the Somewhere Far Beyond tracks sound immense on this record’s live tracks.

There’s so much bang for your buck too. The release coming as a limited edition 3CD Digipak including the re-recorded album on CD1, CD2 with a 2022 live version of the entire album plus Blu-Ray with the anniversary sets at Rock Hard Festival and Hellfest 2022. The re-recorded version will also be available as gatefold LP with 24-page LP booklet and jewel case CD as well as digital album.

On a personal note, I have a lot of love for this record, even if it’s not even close to my favourite Blind Guardian record. In fact, I don’t think it’s top 3 and it might struggle to get into the top 5. However, there are some of my favourite tracks on this album and the likes of Time What Is Time, Journey Through the Dark, The Bard’s Song, the title track, and The Quest for Tanelorn still put the biggest smile on my face. In the case of the latter track, it was the first Blind Guardian track I ever heard.

There’s nothing necessary about this release, unless you’re a Blind Guardian superfan, but it’s still an exceptionally well put together re-recording of a classic record. There’s a ton of content, the re-recordings are complimentary to the original, and it captures the brilliance of this band as they were, as they are now, and as they will be in years to come.

Blind Guardian – Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited Track Listing:

Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited Track Listing:

1. Time What is Time (Revisited)
2. Journey Through the Dark (Revisited)
3. Black Chamber (Revisited)
4. Theatre of Pain (Revisited)
5. The Quest for Tanelorn (Revisited)
6. Ashes to Ashes (Revisited)
7. The Bard’s Song – In the Forest (Revisited)
8. The Bard’s Song – The Hobbit (Revisited)
9. The Piper’s Calling (Revisited)
10. Somewhere Far Beyond (Revisited)

Somewhere Far Beyond Live Track Listing:

1. Time What is Time (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)
2. Journey Through the Dark (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)
3. Black Chamber (Live at Hellfest 2022)
4. Theatre of Pain (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)
5. The Quest for Tanelorn (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)
6. Ashes to Ashes (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)
7. The Bard’s Song – In the Forest (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)
8. The Bard’s Song – The Hobbit (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)
9. The Piper’s Calling (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)
10. Somewhere Far Beyond (Live at Rock Hard Festival 2022)

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