The intro makes the song for me actually, it's the reason the song has a special place in my heart

Well, to each his own, I suppose. My favorite part is probably the chorus. So freaking EPIC! Especially the last two, right after the solo. The way the solo leads into the chorus is practically orgasmic.

I've changed my vote now that I've seen this topic again. I had to. I kinda prefer Natural High to any ballad.

I know! Mayhem makes it sound like Glory to the Brave thru Renegade were BAD or something... Crazy, right?

He just doesn't like those albums too much, but as far as I know him I don't think he'll consider them "bad" or something.

Exactly.
They are good albums but not really my favorites or anything. The first one has pretty poor production at times for my taste. The second one has a good sound but many songs lack the thought and it becomes repetitive to listen to doublebass songs one afte another.
The Third one takes a step backwards in terms of production but the songwriting is a bit better. Still many of the songs feel like filler material.

From Crimson Thunder onwards the songs have formed an album and had better variety within albums.

I do know what you mean about the production on the first album. I really hate it when an album is filled w/ great songs but has crappy production. One that immediately comes to mind is Gamma Ray's Heading For Tomorrow, which is a textbook case of this phenomenon. That album is just too quiet! Anyway, I'm gonna go back on topic by saying that I will admit the production on Threshold is better than th first one, but not necessarily better than Renegade.

Yeah, you can really see that Crimson Thunder is a kind of "turning point" in their career, really. But I wouldn't say that the last albums are definitely better than the first ones, because I like them all and really can't make such decisions.