Öncelikle bilmeyenler için kısa bir bilgi verelim: Balad, 14. yüzyılda batıda doğmuş edebiyat ve müzik kavramıdır. Müzikte belli halk danslarında kullanılan lirikleri, şarkıları ifade eden bu tür, edebiyatta ise uyak dizilişi, uyak türü ve dize sayısı yönünden birbirinin benzeri üç bent ve bir sunu ile başlayan bir yarım bentten oluşan bir koşuk biçimini ifade eder ve ilk olarak Fransız şiirinde kullanılmıştır. Orta çağın sonlarına doğru ayırt edici bir üsluba kavuşan baladlar günümüzde birçok müzik türünde de daha serbest üsluplarla karşımıza çıkıyor.   Müzikte genellikle duygu etkileşimi fazla, dinlendiğinde akılda kalması olası ve oldukça akıcı olan baladlarda etkileyici, olağanüstü ve çarpıcı olaylar, halk hikayeleri, efsaneler yahut aşk, sevgi, acılar gibi konular ele alınır. Klasik müzikte en etkileyici örneklerini Chopin'den gördüğümüz baladlar, rock ve metal müzikte de yadsınamaz bir yer edinmiş durumdalar ve tabii ki biz de bundan oldukça memnunuz. Kimi zaman baladlar müzisyenlerin görünür hallerinin altında yatan duygu yoğunluğunu çok net ortaya koyduğundan bizlere tesiri de fazla olabiliyor. Gelin lafı fazla uzatmadan bu türde verilmiş güzel örnekleri, muazzam sesleri ve melodileri dinleyelim.   1 - HammerFall - The Fallen One  1993 yılında kurulan İsveçli heavy/power metal grubu HammerFall, grubun kurucuları, gruptan ayrılan ve dahil olanlarıyla tam bir yıldızlar karması. Grubun efsane baladı The Fallen One ilk olarak Legacy of Kings albümünde karşımıza çıkıyor. I saw your face in the morning sun  Oh, I thought you were there  I heard your voice as the wind passed me by  Silently, whispering my name  So many things that I wanted to say  Forever left untold  I still remember the tears that you shed  Over someone else  Our love could never die  All I can do is cry  Save a little prayer for the fallen one  There is a light down at memory lane  Slowly fading away  Still holding on to the dreams torn apart  I will follow my heart  Our love could never die  All I can do is cry  Save a little prayer for the fallen one  Still on my own, chasing the sun  Of a time long ago  The shade in my heart, tearing apart  Everything that I long for  I saw your face in the morning sun  Oh, I thought you were there  I heard your voice as the wind passed me by  Whispering my name  Our love could never die  All I can do is cry  Save a little prayer for the fallen one   2 - Helloween - A Tale That Wasn't Right A Tale That Wasn't Right, Alman power metal ekolü Helloween'in 1987 çıkışlı Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I albümünde yer alıyor. Here I stand all alone Have my mind turned to stone Have my heart filled up with ice To avoid it's breaking twice Thanx to you, my dear old friend But you can't help, this is the end Of a tale that wasn't right I won't have no sleep tonight In my heart, in my soul I really hate to pay this toll Should be strong, young and bold But the only thing I feel is pain It's alright, we'll stay friends Trusting in my confidence And let's say it's just alright You won't sleep alone tonight In my heart, in my soul I really hate to pay this toll Should be strong, young and bold But the only thing I feel is pain With my heart, with my soul Some guys cry you bought and sold They've been strong, young and bold And they say, play this song again In my heart, in my soul I really hate to pay this toll Should be strong, young and bold But the only thing I feel is pain 3 - Crown Of Glory - The Lament Of The Wind The Lament of the Wind, İsviçreli heavy metal grubu Crown of Glory'nin 2008 çıkışlı albümü A Deep Breathe of Life'ın kapanış şarkısı. Bir albüm anca bu kadar hüzünlü bir kapanış yapabilir. Now, now it's the time to say farewell my son I'm here all alone, my heart filled with pain I know its the end of all our dreams You left me to stay, gods what a day Oh I wish you back right here in my arms Light brings back the pain I cant escape... It's too late... All that's left is just the pain inside of me In my dreams I can see you fly again, son I hear the lament of the wind In my dreams I see you fly again, son You were my light but now you're gone Now you're gone Feel the oceans breeze, the wind in my hair The agony hurts deep inside If I could turn back time, this time I would You did had no chance to be what you could Oh, life is unfair, no justice at all The one who's full of life, the gods bring to fall... All... Tell me god, is this the price I have to pay?   4 - Rage - After The End Bir diğer Alman heavy/power metal grubu Rage, 2001 çıkışlı Welcome to the Other Side albümünün 16. şarkısı After the End ile nokta atışı yapıyor duygularımıza. We're moving on, to where we don't know After the end of eternity We'll be gone and nothing will show Maybe a name that is carved in stone God forgive me, for I know what I have done It wasn't meant to be so real Endless nights, so many have passed You were the first but not the last Still I'm here, condemned to survive I can't be dead, can't be alive After all is said and done We have to carry on After the end And with all that we've been through There's nothing left to do After the end After all is said and done We have to carry on After the end And if all of this is true There's so much more to do After the end God forgive me, for I know what I have done It wasn't meant to be so real   5 - Meduza - Sleep Solosuyla tüylerimizi diken diken eden Sleep, İsveçli power metal grubu Meduza'nın 2002 yılında piyasaya sürülen albümü Now And Forever'ın 4. parçası. Our hearts were made as one Perpetual love, why did you have to die? I held you tight and said "loved one do not be afraid" Just close your eyes and dream Sleep forever in my arms Our love, it never had a chance A dream was all we had, you and I They were blind, they could not see That you and I, we were meant to be I held you tight and said "loved one do not be afraid" Just close your eyes and dream Sleep forever in my arms Our love, it never had a chance A dream was all we had, you and I [SOLO] I held you tight and said "loved one do not be afraid" Just close your eyes and dream Sleep forever in my arms Our love, it never had a chance A dream was all we had, you and I Sleep forever in my arms Our love, it never had a chance A dream was all we had, you and I Sleep, just close your eyes and dream Death is not what it may seem   6 - Pathfinder - Undiscovered Dreams  Güzel solo girişiyle baştan yakalayıcılığı, enfes vokalleri ve orkestrasyonuyla Undiscovered Dreams, Polonyalı senfonik metal grubu Pathfinder'ın 2010 çıkışlı Beyond the Space, Beyond the Time albümünden. Come, let me feel Your breath, Whatever stars will say… Whatever happens then… Come, I wish to taste Your tears, In one untouchable kiss, Devoid of any sins. Never try to touch my shiny skin, Never wish to uncover my dreams!! A stone of Your heart seeks revenge, I feel it very well… Whatever I’d like to change… My hate, I fed it everyday, You share with me my way and my pain… I’m the flame and You are my shining star, I’m so close, but You are still so far!! Undiscovered dreams, undiscovered feelings’ land, Thousands nights from here we still crave for love and hate… You are my star!! I’m priestess of the moon. And I owe You my life forever!! Someday we will find this word, that they called the love. In another space, in another time – somewhere!! Undiscovered dreams, undiscovered feelings’ land, Someday our dreams will come true and will be free. Thousands miles from here we still believe in love without hate, But not yet…   7 - Highlord - You'll Never Be Lonely  1998'de Avatar ismiyle kurulan power metal grubu Highlord'un 2000 yılında yayınladığı albümü When The Aurora Falls...'un kapanış şarkısı You'll Never Be Lonely en sevdiğimiz baladlardan biri. I remember when we were still together  Had the world in the hands.  Nobody could share us we lived as just one thing  Tell me "what's happened"? We're lost in the night.  I was your hope and you the air I breathed  We stayed under the rainbow dreaming of Heaven.  With you I could fly as an eagle through the wind.  Give me light to see, I've become blind another time.  But this time I swear, you'll never be lonely  You always light my way  I can't see you cry, my strength, my glory  Please stay just when the Aurora falls.  And the sun is warming my skin  All the memories fly in the wind.  Our love more true was when we were children  I can't stay another time in loneliness without you.  But this time I swear, you'll never be lonely  You always light my way  I can't see you cry, my strength, my glory  Please stay just when the Aurora falls.   8 - Sonata Arctica - Last Drop Falls Metal müziğin bereketli topraklarından Finlandiya'da 1999 yılında kurulmuş, power metalin gerektirdiği işçiliği en temiz şekilde kotaran gruplardan Sonata Arctica'nın 2001 çıkışlı albümü Silence'dan gerek sözleri, gerek müzikal dolgunluğuyla yüreğimize dokunan bir şarkı Last Drop Falls. When I'm looking in your eyes, everything seems to fade away. After all these years we had,  do I know you now?Have I trusted blindly in your love,  too many times?You said:  "My love, I'm sorry but we can't go on 'cause I'm in love with someone else". Tell me what do you want me to say, when you treat me this way.I love you maybe,  and I hope it goes away. How I want you daily,  I know it's gonna stay.You are so self satisfied, always ready for a ride. Double crossing, lousy cheat.Love you anyway,  you have warm and tender devils soul. You are so low! I can hear you say:  "I'm sorry, should we still go on, I'm not in love with that someone else". Tell me what do you want me to say, when you treat me this way.I love you maybe,  and I hope it goes away. How I want you daily, Tell me now that... I have found the whore in you! Why can't I tell you no? Time will show,  the last word is for me! If you fail to see the problem we have,  one room full of walls. Jar of love isn't dry,  until the last drop falls.  The moment I will step aside,  you're ready for another ride. Walking in the cool night air,  without underwear. You have red light,  burning in your soul.  I've seen the glow! In every dream I have,  I say: "I'm not in love with you". But every day I say I do! You have messed with my head so many times! Forced me to love you. Now that I have found the whore in you! Why can't I tell you no? Time will show,  the last word is for me! If you fail to see the problem we have,  one room full of walls. I will try until the last drop falls.  Now that I have found the whore in you! Why can't I tell you no? Time will show,  the last word is for me! If you fail to see the problem we have,  one room full of walls. I will try until the last drop falls. 9 - Stratovarius - Years Go By Finlandiya'nın bir diğer power metal efsanesi Stratovarius'un 1998 çıkışlı Destiny albümünden, Timo Kotipelto'nun muhteşem vokaliyle vuruculuğu tavan yapan efsane baladlardan. Look around do you see So many things have changed And you should know by now I never meant to hurt you at all All my life I have been an outcast But now I've been reborn And I see things so clear Open your eyes and realize Hard times are over if you want Open your mind Reach for the stars Answer is there for us to find Years go by Never know when it's too late Years go by Yourself you seal your fate Don't look the answer from horizon It's closer than you think Years go by, oh how they go by 10 - Metallica - The Unforgiven III   Hangi The Unforgiven daha iyi tartışıladursun, thrash metal devi Metallica'nın 2008 çıkışlı albümü Death Magnetic'de yer alan The Unforgiven III kesinlikle en sevilen baladlardan bir tanesi. How could he know this new dawn’s light would change his life forever?  Set sail to sea but pulled off course by the light of golden treasure Was he the one causing pain with his careless dreaming?  Been afraid, always afraid of the things he’s feeling  He could just be gone  He would just sail on  He’ll just sail on  How can I be lost if I’ve got nowhere to go?  Searched the seas of gold, how come it’s got so cold?  How can I be lost in remembrance I relive? How can I blame you when it’s me I can’t forgive?  These days drift on inside a fog , it’s thick and suffocating  This seeking life outside its hell, inside intoxicating  He’s run aground like his life , water’s much too shallow  Slipping fast, down with the ship, fading in the shadows Now a castaway  They’ve all gone, away  They’ve gone away  How can I be lost if I’ve got nowhere to go?  Search for seas of gold, how come it’s got so cold?  How can I be lost in remembrance I relive? And how can I blame you when it’s me I can’t forgive?  Forgive me, forgive me not  Forgive me, forgive me not  Forgive me, forgive me not Forgive me, forgive me, why can’t I forgive me?  Set sail to sea but pulled off course by the light of golden treasure  How could he know this new dawn’s light would change his life forever? How can I be lost if I’ve got nowhere to go?  Search for seas of gold, how come it’s got so cold?  How can I be lost in remembrance I relive ? So how can I blame you when it’s me I can’t forgive?