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There are many reasons why Blind Guardian tower over the majority of their power metal peers, but principal among them is the fact that Hansi Kursch’s crew are both insanely ambitious and consistently able to pull off even their most extravagant ideas. Over three hours in length, Live… works just as well as an electrifying greatest hits compendium as it does as the band’s third live album, but either way it’s one of the most riotously OTT metal records ever. Explosive and immaculate, the performances are compelling. As the Germans power their way through speed metal assaults like Banish From Sanctuary and lyrical epics like Nightfall and Imaginations From The Other Side, outrageous technicality and soulful grit collide, resulting in a vivid snapshot of wise old metal masters at the peak of their powers.

Dom Lawson has been writing for Metal Hammer and Prog for over 14 years and is extremely fond of heavy metal, progressive rock, coffee and snooker. He also contributes to The Guardian, Classic Rock, Bravewords and Blabbermouth and has previously written for Kerrang! magazine in the mid-2000s.

"It's fun to hang out in a room and write something that you think is heavy as f**k." A cast member from award-winning TV show The Bear has started a new hardcore punk band with Alexisonfire guitarist Wade MacNeil

"Those sultry licks get weirder and weirder, until they resemble the sound of a UFO taking off." Masked metal weirdos Imperial Triumphant go straight on new album Goldstar