This band can be a case of doubt whether it's progressive or not. Earlier albums are jewels of traditional heavy metal (with a progressive tough), but the last album gives them in my opinion a rightful place on the Olympus of prog heaven. It's a concept album which tells the fascinating story of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Silmarillion". Tolkien also wrote "The Lord Of The Rings", in my opinion the Book Of The Century. But that's nothing new or shocking to proggies who are into fantasy lyrics (and aren't we all?). Blind Guardian stands for very fast guitars and double bass drumming with a great love for music from the past (Middle Ages). The production is perfect and the atmosphere of the album is the same as the book. Everybody should hear it!