by Vincent Jeffries
Further establishing Blind Guardian's position among the second generation of power metal elite, Follow the Blind -- the group's sophomore release -- represents a significant step forward for the metal outfit. The music kicks off appropriately enough with some spooky medieval chanting on &Inquisition& that quickly gives way to song after song of sweeping power metal. Production is at a premium for music as spastic and detailed as this, so even though this early-career effort is more than a modest improvement over the debut, Battalions of Fear, the bigger-budget efforts that came after Follow the Blind capture Blind Guardian's epic musical vision. That is not to say that the record is without its moments. Standouts like &Banish From Sanctuary,& &Hall of the King,& and &Don't Break the Circle& deliver all the first-rate guitar changes and double-kick and vocal workouts that fans of this genre insist on.