Legendary German heavy metal pioneers Blind Guardian recently announced the release of an epic re-recorded version of their classic 1992 breakthrough album, “Somewhere Far Beyond.”
Today, they are pleased to unveil ‘Ashes To Ashes (Revisited)’, another single from the re-recorded version. ‘Ashes To Ashes (Revisited)’ is a brand-new, re-imagined version of one of the heaviest tracks in the history of Blind Guardian, combining aggressive thrash riffs and rhythms with majestic melodies. Originally inspired by the terminal cancer of his father, vocalist Hansi Kursch reveals his personal feelings in a highly intense manner. ‘Time isn’t here to stay‘ he sings, but this monumental track is meant to stay forever.
An epic live video of the song being performed at Hellfest 2022 can be watched below.
“Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited,“ which was recorded in 2022 and 2023, is a refreshing and powerful tribute to one of the most influential albums in German metal history. It paved the way for Blind Guardian’s international career that is still going strong today and this re-recording impresses with all the class and quality these pioneers have been known and respected for since forming as Lucifer’s Heritage three decades ago.
“The original idea wasn’t to do a re-recording,” explained Blind Guardian mastermind Hansi Kürsch. “When rehearsing for the anniversary gigs, corona hit and we couldn’t be certain that those shows would take place. We still wanted to celebrate the anniversary of the album and if we wouldn’t be able to include a live version, we initially thought we could at least record the rehearsals.”
Kürsch added: “We tried to recapture what we did in 1992 but compensate youth with skillful experience, though in a hungry way. We never discussed any major changes but with over 30 years of experience, and our current line-up, those ingredients already add a new flavor to it.”
The album returns in a completely new form. The album, known for classics such as “The Bard’s Song – In the Forest”, “The Quest for Tanelorn” and “Time What is Time“, has been completely re-recorded to present its legendary melodies and epic stories with state-of-the-art technology and fresh vigor. Every track, from the soulful ballads to the energetic anthems, has been carefully reworked to redefine the depth and intensity that Blind Guardian fans worldwide have come to love.
“Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited” will be released on August 2nd, 2024 coinciding with Blind Guardian‘s triumphant return to this year’s edition of Wacken Festival, and a wide selection of physical variants can be pre-ordered as of today. Pre-order / pre-save HERE.
