16/09/02

AVANTASIA / METAL OPERA PT II

The words Metal and Opera have never sat well together for me, very few people have managed to pull it off, Virgin Steele are the only notable exception, until now.

This is the baby of one Tobias Sammet, of Edguy fame and to my pleasant surprise they pull it off very nicely. It features several guest appearances from David Defes, (Virgin Steel), Bob Rock, Michael Kiske, Timmo Tolkki, (Stratovarius) Kai Hansen, Bob Catley and others.

The songs stand well on their own or taken as a whole, mixing hard edged Progressive Power Metal with an ever present melodic content and for the most part the only sign of the Opera is in the style of the story concept and structure of the CD as a whole.

Kicking off with "The Seven Angels" a (14 minute epic) that twists and turns like a twisty turny thing but boy does it rock. The track's "No Return" and "Chalice Of Agony" are nothing more than classic Power Metal, worthy of Helloween, Rhapsody or Gamma Ray, don’t let the word Opera put you off, this is just great Metal with an unusual concept.

DOWNLOAD : "Chalice Of Agony" from the Century Media site above

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 59 mins + 10 TRACKS.