Avantasia
The Metal Opera

THE REVIEW

It was 2001 when the very young and charismatic TOBIAS SAMMET, singer and songwriter of the extremely Finnish EDGUY, brought to life his solo project AVANTASIA, a concept album in the power-speed-melodic metal mold with an inevitably symphonic and epic style. THE METAL OPERA is a fantasy story featuring various characters (each performed by different singers), the result of an incredible union of some power geniuses, each of whom tried to give their own personal touch to their performance, thus providing a great contribution to the final outcome of the album. Handling the instruments among others, we find artists of the caliber of HENJO RICHTER from Gamma Ray (guitar), MARKUS GROSSKOPFT from Helloween (bass), and ALEX HOLZWART from Rhapsody (drums).

The CD begins with "Prelude," an orchestral opener that immediately sets the atmosphere and flows into the captivating guitars of "Reach Out For The Light," a song filled with double bass drums and beautiful choruses that will accompany us throughout the rest of the album, with a catchy chorus entrusted to the clear and expansive voice of MICHAEL KISKE (former Helloween) who, against all odds, has returned to sing metal for the occasion. "Serpents In Paradise" is a bit monotonous and predictable but recovers with the entrance of DEIVID DEFEIS (Virgin Steel). Right after the distressing "Malleus Maleficarum" comes "Breaking Away": very captivating, a bit too much in the Edguy style (inevitable since the only author of all the music and lyrics is Tobias), but convincing. The epic ballad "Farewell" opens with melodious flutes, part of which is performed by SHARON DEN ADEL (Within Temptation), whose delicate and sweet tone makes the song even more honeyed. The magnificent "The Glory Of Rome," where the bass and guitars masterfully compete, begins with an energetic attack that slowly slows down, only to explode again in a powerful chorus dominated by the choirs. "In Nomine Patris" is an instrumental break that opens the doors to the track "Avantasia," a smooth and very catchy mid-tempo; while the serene "New Dimension" serves as an intro to "Inside," another very sweet piano ballad decorated by the intervention of ANDRE MATOS (Angra). The subsequent "Sign Of The Cross" continuously alternates different tempos and is enriched by a Gamma Ray-style piece signed by KAI HANSEN.
The chapter closes with "The Tower," a song of more than 9 minutes starting with a very velvety piano solo that overflows into an explosion of voices; finally, we can enjoy a brief interpretation by TIMO TOLKKI (Stratovarius) and savor the closure.

What you will find in this project is not just the usual power solos: they are fascinating stories, surreal situations, heroic and moving adventures, dwarfs, and elves, and overwhelming music that will never fail to make your heart jump. An undeniably impeccable album instrumentally, which could have benefited from a bit more originality in sound, but nonetheless deserves a good grade especially for the effort and imagination Sammet put into realizing it. An unmissable metal opera for fans of the genre!