BLIND GUARDIAN Guitarist Talks About Upcoming Orchestral Project

Metal Asylum conducted an interview with BLIND GUARDIAN guitarist Andre Olbrich the day before the band hosted a listening party at the Lit Lounge in New York City. An excerpts from the chat follows: Metal Asylum: Were there any older BLIND GUARDIAN shows recorded, maybe ones with Hansi [Kürsch] on bass, professionally shot that will see release on DVD? Andre: I have about 200 tapes where we started recording as far back as 1993 and we may do a special BLIND GUARDIAN history DVD and would include some of that footage. Right now it's not in the plans as we have the new album out, this orchestral project and tour dates but when we get time its something we would like to put together. Metal Asylum: What's that you said an orchestral album? Andre: Yes, this is something Hansi and I have been working on since 1998 and the songwriting is almost done. We just need time to record it in the proper way which is difficult because we have never worked with a real orchestra before and everything works completely different. When we finish this tour behind "A Twist in the Mist", which is in about a year we want to start production and maybe release it in 2008. Metal Asylum: Are a lot of people still asking for the older style of BLIND GUARDIAN to be part of the new music? Andre: Yeah, always, they say this or that album are my favorites and why can't you do an album like this again. But you know, we are a band and have to progress. Of course, the spirit changes every year and we have to do what we like. You have to play music you are comfortable with at the time and for us we don't want to sound like an '80s band. Time moves on and I really think we found a nice balance between our roots and some new ideas. We have to keep it interesting for our fans and ourselves. It keeps it fresh too when coming up with a setlist for the shows. When you play live and add some new songs I think the fans appreciate that. I mean this music is not easy listening they just need some time to get into it. You can read the entire interview at www.metalasylum.net.