Avantasia - Moonglow (2019)

Everyone's favourite side project is back again, but after celebrating 20 years of existence and 8 full length releases, it does not really feel right to call Avantasia a side project. In fact, it feels like Tobias Sammet has put more effort into this group than what he does to Edguy as of late, almost trying to find every excuse imaginable to gather his fellow vocalists to continue on his theatrical fairytale. Well, as long as the quality is still there, I am all aboard.

So it should not come as a surprise that "Moonglow" is pretty close to its predecessors in terms of sound, using that copyrighted style of epic symphonic power metal that Tobias has developed close to perfection. The guest list is also pretty familiar, with returning vocalists such as Jørn Lande (Jorn), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Bob Catley (Magnum), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween, Unisonic, Place Vendome), and Geoff Tate (ex-Queensrÿche). We do get a couple of surprises though, but I will get to them later, just rest assured Avantasia fans that Tobias is not going too far from his normal formula.

It all starts with "Ghost In The Moon", a close to 10 minute track that is just typical Avantasia cheese to the core, and it is pure cheese, with no guest artists adding any additional spices to it. It goes on for a bit too long, but it is a fine opening. The album does really take off in the next track "Book of Shallows, in which Jørn, Ronnie, and Hansi Kürsch from Blind Guardian (who makes his first Avantasia appearance, which feels odd) step in together with Tobias to create a nice and meaty masterclass sandwich. It all goes well, then suddenly, around the half way point, the guitars get heavier, the tempo shifts, and in comes Mille Petrozza and turns this track into a brilliant Avantasia/Kreator fusion that should not work, but oh man it does! Talk about making an impact.

After a calm and beautiful title track (featuring Candice Night from Blackmore's Night), we get another mastodon in "The Raven Child", an 11 minute monster that starts off with some nice Blind Guardian acoustics, and then it just picks up the intensity as it goes along, leading to some incredibly epic moments. This might be one of my favourite 10+ minute songs from Avantasia, just for how it keeps the listener on its toes throughout the run time, and then also rewards said listener to a truly epic finish, where Jørn gets to do what he is best at, shriek like Ronnie James Dio, and rock out. Add Tobias who goes back and forth with Jørn for more than a solid minute, and we get some great, headbanging epicness to close out one of the highlights of the record.

And it is easy to think that the album does not get much better from here, and it does not, but it still has a few aces still in its sleeve. "Starlight" is another classic Avantasia tune that we have heard before, but is still just as great, and in "Requiem For A Dream" we get Kiske in good old Helloween form, passing by in blazing fast speeds. Then we have the two Geoff Tate only tracks "Invincible" and "Alchemy" that are pretty different from each other, but they are equally awesome, showing some of the most emotional work we have heard from Tate in years. Who knew it took a German power metal singer to bring back that Tate to our lives.

While there are a good bunch of quality in this record, it does still have some questionable decisions. Like was it really a good idea to cram in Tobias, Ronnie, Jørn, Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Bob, and Tate into "The Piper At The Gates of Dawn"? No, it was not, it is way too many chefs for this soup. Also, was it really necessary to add in a cover of the classic "Flashdance" song "Maniac"? The cover is perfectly fine, adding some cool guitar work to an already groovy song, but it does not add anything to the record. Besides, I think Firewind did a stronger and more personal effort on their cover, so go check out that one instead.

Despite that, there is still no question that Tobias Sammet is still the co-king of multi vocalists projects (together with Arjen Lucassen of course), delivering another excellent Avantasia record to the people. It might not push the boundaries on what the band can be, but it does deliver on what it wants to do, displaying some epic theatrical music with some of the best vocalists around. "Moonglow" is certainly shining bright, both at night and at day.

Songs worthy of recognition: The Raven Child, Book of Shallows, Invincible, Alchemy

Rating: 8/10 Ghosts In The Moon

www.tobiassammet.com/
twitter.com/_avantasia

More reviews of Avantasia
The Mystery of Time
Ghostlights

Avantasia - Ghostlights (2016)

The original "solo project with tons of guest artist thrown into the mix" band is here again. Edguy singer Tobias Sammet has once again gathered his forces for an full frontal attack, I could be wrong, but this might be the strongest army Tobias has gathered thus far. Or what do you say about Sharon Den Adel, Dee Snider, Michael Kiske, Jorn Lande, Marco Hietala, and some unknown dude named Geoff Tate. Good guy Tobias Sammet, giving small names a chance to shine.

Anyway, "Ghostlights" is just what you would expect from a Avantasia album. It has its distinct sound, with small little tweaks so that the guests can perform at their best. For instance, we have a heaviness and power in "Master of The Pendulum" that fits Marco Hietala like a glove. It is just like he was singing a Nightwish or Tarot song. Tobias certainly balances on that thin line between originality and straight copying a little more than he usually does, but it still feels like a pure Avantasia record.

The most worth noting thing in this album is that it could contain a future Eurovision Song Contest participant. Yes, you read that correctly, Avantasia is competing to be the German entry for this year's ESC (which is in Stockholm, Sweden). It is the opening track "Mystery of A Blood Red Rose" that is competing, but not in its original state. Because of the rules of the competition, the track is shortened to about three minutes when it competes. The original song is a great one, bombastic and grand, just like Avantasia is, and I do think it fits the whole spectacle that ESC is. I hope it makes it to the main competition, because then I know who I will vote for :).

Back to the album, a album that is one of the heavier ones in the band's history. Well, maybe not heavier, but it is not as melodic as previous efforts. I do not mind this at all, because as long as it sounds great, I am in. Of course, the main portion of the album is still pure, bombastic power metal, and especially the three Kiske songs (the title track, "Unchain The Light", and "Wake Up To The Moon") are really bursting in a classic way.

This album may not have a big concept like the last album had (or I have just missed it completely), but it does have a big, epic story within it. "Let The Storm Descend Upon You" is a 12 minute epic that not only features an epic line-up of Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, Robert Mason, and of course Tobias. It is without question the song that makes the biggest impact, with its ultra epic chorus and fantastic musicality. Each singer makes a awesome effort to make the listener sit on the edge of their seats during the full play time, cooperating in an impressive manor. Sammet sure knows how to create some epic mastodons.

I still think the album misses some kind of edge, something to take it up to the next level. Oh well, it is still a really nice album that fits really well in Avantasia's discography. It is a classic Avantasia album, bombastic, epic, lots of different voices and characters, but still a unified sound that is instantly recognizable. Tobias never ceases to amaze me, he still manages to create great new Avantasia records, despite it only being a side project from Edguy. Great job Tobias, and good luck on "Unser Lied Für Stockholm" (Our Song For Stockholm).

Songs worthy of recognition: Let The Storm Descend Upon You, Mystery of A Blood Red Rose, Master of The Pendulum, Unchain The Light

Rating: 8/10 Babylon Vampyres

www.tobiassammet.com/
twitter.com/_avantasia

More reviews of Avantasia
The Mystery of Time

Moonglow

Avantasia - The Mystery of Time (2013)

I have always been kind of two-sided about Tobias Sammet's Avantasia. In one way I can see the great music and the epic opera feeling that the singer from Edguy is trying to present but I feel that the music most of the time does not have any emotions. So there was no surprise that I had mixed emotions before the launch of "The Mystery of Time" but I had a gut feeling that this rock epic could be one of the best Avantasia records up to date.

Just like in the previous albums, "The Mystery of Time" is filled with guest appearances from several famous rock names. Some of the artist appearing on this record are Biff Byford (Saxon), Bruce Kulick (Grand Funk Railroad, Ex-Kiss), Michael Kiske (Unisonic, Ex-Helloween), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids) and many more. I am not going to say that I am against the guest musicians but one of the problems with Avantasia is that the guest musicians makes the albums a little less personal. I am really curious of how a album filled with only music that was fully composed and performed by Tobias Sammet would sound like. But I will give Tobias this, he still makes the music his own and the guest musicians has to adapt to the music (which they mostly do pretty well) instead of making songs that would fit every musician which ultimately leads to a more enjoyable album.

The music is very much the same as it has been in the latest Avantasia records. A mix of operatic influences, light version of power metal and some epic progressive sounds baked in the dough. It is a very enjoyable sound indeed but I like it more when bands and projects tries to expand and develop their music, a task that Sammet did not fully complete. It is a new story in the lyrics and some new intentions here and there, but there is very little in the music that is new. But it still sounds good so I do not mind it that much.

"The Mystery of Time" tells the story of Aaron Blackwell who lives in a small English town during the  Victorian era. He is a young scientist and in the album he is forced to investigate the mysteries of time, god, religion and science itself. The story is intriguing,  it fits really well with the music and it gives the album another dimension that lifts the overall performance. This is definitely Tobias Sammet's greatest strength, his ability to tell an interesting story without cutting corners in the music is a rare and great talent. The story gains the most life in songs like the powerful "The Watchmaker's Dream" and the theatrical "Black Orchid" where you can feel that Sammet and his guest musicians puts their heart and soul to the tracks. Another very interesting track is the heavier track "Invoke The Machine" where there is a clear sign that the Pretty Maid singer Ronnie Atkins has made a big mark in the musical part on this track. Works surprisingly well even though this is not a typical Avantasia track.

There is also two songs that barely reaches over the ten minute barrier, but only one of these songs are holding up to the full play time. The song is "Saviour In The Clockwork" and with its amazing chorus and well timed tempo shiftings, it is truly a feast for your ears when it comes out of the speakers. It is such a shame that "The Great Mystery" does not hold the same standard as "Saviour In The Clockwork" does. "The Great Mystery" is an okay album closer I guess, but it is an uninspiring track that makes you wonder when it is finally over. I know that Sammet can write long epics. In fact, one of my favourite track from Avantasia is "Stargazer" from "Angel of Babylon", so it surprised me that he wrote a very uninspiring epic that could easily been either left out of the album or shortened. Another low point is the single "Sleepwalking" which acts like a big sleeping pill (the title is at least fitting).

This album could have been an amazing rock epic that would have gone through the ages as one of symphonic rocks greatest albums. Unfortunately, because of a song that is too long and a sleeping pill, this album is just great instead of amazing. "The Mystery of Time" is a very interesting concept album and every fan of Tobias Sammet should without a doubt get this record, but it hurts that this album could have been so much better. It is still an enjoyable album and it is one of the better Avantasia albums, so Sammet should be proud of his latest offering to the world.

Songs worthy of recognition: Black Orchid, The Watchmaker's Dream, Saviour In The Clockwork, Invoke The Machine

Rating: 8,5/10 Spectres

www.tobiassammet.com/
twitter.com/_avantasia

More reviews of Avantasia
Ghostlights

Moonglow