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To say that the new Blind Guardian album is one of the highly anticipated albums of the year would be an understatement. For fans of the band that got a small taste of what to expect with the release of the single "And then there was Silence" the waiting has been nearly unbearable. That's why I consider myself extremely lucky in the fact that I am fortunate enough to get a few promos here and there and so I get the chance to hear this before the March 19th street date. After just a couple of listens to this album I can sum up this album in just three words…ABSOLUTELY F**KING BRILLIANT!!!

After the incredible release of their last album "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" I was wondering how they were going to top themselves and the answer was received loud and clear with "A Night at the Opera". To simply call Blind Guardian good songwriters and musicians would be an insult. This album is just filled with songs that run the full width and breadth of brilliance. From the opening-pounding track of "Precious Jerusalem" to the light acoustical ending track of "Mies Del Dolor" (Bonus track for North America) there isn't one song on here that can even be remotely thought of as filler. The musicianship is as incredible as you have come to expect from them and the fact that there hasn't been a line-up change in their entire history really shows in how tight and precise everything is. The star of the album however is as it should be…the songs themselves. The arrangements are mind numbing when you consider everything that is going on within the short time frame of a single song. This would be a detriment to some bands but the talent level of this band is such that they can do this and has it integrate so seamlessly you are simply astonished by the end result. Blind Guardian is one of those bands that after listening to one of their albums you feel out of breath and simply spent.

Overall I would say a triumphant return for one of the best bands out there today with an album that you need to sell a kidney to get if you don't have the cash handy. With the entire unadulterated ass kissing I have given this album it is no doubt that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this album. If you like metal no matter the genre or preconceived notions you have of a band this is one of the albums that is a must have. This may very well be at the #1 spot for albums of the year when we all look back at 2002.