siLLy puPPy Now here’s a power metal wet dream come about in the thralls of tangible reality. A METAL OPERA is the debut album by the German act AVANTASIA led by Tobias Sammet (of Edguy) about a young novice of the Dominican order known as Gabriel Laymann in the year 1602, who begins suspecting that the Roman Catholic Church is up to no good falsely accusing woman of being witches after his stepsister Anna is accused of such. The plot is actually quite comprehensive embodying two albums worth of material but on this debut album by Tobias Sammet and a little help from his friends from Helloween, Gamma Ray, Statovarius and Rhapsody Of Fire he conjures up a far reaching musical vision that he could surely not accomplish by his lonesome.

While power metal bands for me are a little hit and miss, this one falls squarely into the hit category. While wine and cheese can go together like bread and butter, the mismatching of refined tastes can result in utmost dissatisfaction. Power metal has the propensity of unleashing these universal imbalances in great proportions with musicians mixing and matching sounds while not paying enough detail to the consequences of these musical engineerings. On A METAL OPERA all seems to flip and fall with a satisfaction flag ultimately flapping its approval in the winds of musical excess.

First of all, i don’t find anything on this release TOO cheesy. Power metal is notorious for its cheese without the proper accompanying wine and crackers but this album eschews many of those pitfalls. I really love all the vocalists on board here ranging from Tobias Sammet to the large cast of vocal characters including Kai Hansen (Helloween, Gamma Ray), Michael Kiske (Helloween), David DeFeis (Virgin Steele), Timo Tolkki (Statovarious) and MORE! There are also a plethora of guitarists, keyboardists and well…. ideas. This is really a well thought out affair that contemplates all the pieces of the puzzle and brings them to fruition, not just your run of the mill act that thinks of a theme and doesn’t follow through on the goods.

Pelata Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet has created quite the power metal extravaganza here. For Avantasia, he has wrangled in some big name musicians and a slew of guest vocalists to deliver The Metal Opera; a nearly hour long drama set to pummeling power metal.

While some attempts at these types of all-star concept pieces fall short, Avantasia deliver with high-quality music, excellent vocals and fluid execution from start to finish. The band, comprised of Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray) and Jens Ludwig (Edguy) on guitars, Markus Grosskopf (Helloween) on bass, and Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody) on drums is impressive enough on its own. However, add in vocalists like Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray), Rob Rock (Impellitteri, Warrior), Andre Matos (Angra), Sharon Den Adel (Within Temptation) along with Sammet and you have yourself a record of massive metal proportions. More than a year in the making, The Metal Opera is without a doubt one of the definitive power metal releases of the year.

The story is a spellbinding fantasy tale of deceit, treachery, religion, imprisonment and witchcraft. Highlights include “Reach Out For The Light” with its strong double kick drums and Sammet’s melodic, yet piercing wail. The chorus here will have all power metal fans singing along with fists in the air. On “The Glory Of Rome”, Rob Rock turns in a classic performance full of melody and power. It’s a driving tune that finds him truly at home amidst the speedy double kick drums and feirce guitar riffing. He is joined on this tune by the currently band-less Ralf Zdarstek who will no doubt be snatched up quickly after his top-notch performance.

I could easily go on about each song on this epic release, but suffice it to say that it never lulls and never displays a lack of quality. It’s a release full of big, choral passages, killer power metal riffing, dynamic changes and emotional highs and lows. Fans of the grandiose, melodic, and symphonic side of power metal have a lot to chew on here. Definitely one of the best power metal releases of its kind

friso Avantasia - The Metal Opera

Ok I admit. I really like this album, which was actually one of my favorites when I was 15/16 years old. Now I'm 21 and I have been in a nostalgic mood lately. I re-listened to some of my old favorites and Avantasia is one of them.

Avantasia plays power metal (or pussy metal..) with superb musicianship. Great melodic guitar solo's, nice main themes and catchy (but cliché) vocal parts. The problem is, it sounds like cheese! The vocals of Tobias Emmet are horrible at times and the extremely theatrical mood of the band does sometimes work against them.

The concept of the album did really help to make a good power-metal album. Especially the two ending songs are good, but there's quality to be found in every song.

Ok, it's like this. If you can accept the cheesy approach of Avantasia you could have this amazing metal opera with catchy theatrics and bombastic arrangements. If you can't accept this sound you will nothing more then a good laugh. I myself still like it's bombastic appeal.