|
Chapter 1
EP, Nuclear Blast
November 16th, 2007
Line-up:
Tobias Sammet - Vocals & Bass
Sascha Paeth - Guitars
Eric Singer - Drums, Vocals on track 6
Guests:
Miro - Keyboards
Jorn Lande - Vocals on 3
Bob Catley - Vocals on 4
Amanda Somerville - Vocals on 4
Digital version of the EP came with a bonus track:
7. Lost in Space (Extended Version/M Kiske Version)(05:0
1. Lost In Space 03:50
2. Lay All Your Love On Me (ABBA cover) 04:23
3. Another Angel Down 05:42
4. The Story Ain't Over 04:59
5. Return To Avantasia 00:47
6. Ride The Sky (Lucifer's Friend cover) 02:55
Total playing time 22:36
Chapter 1 review:
Quote:
If you went into this expecting the same old power metal generica from the previous albums, then prepare to be disappointed! The music here doesn't really fit snugly into any one genre. There are a whole lot of elements from 80s hard rock and stadium rock in the song structures, with several huge, frantic shout-aloud choruses, and the solos are pure power metal bliss. It might not be the beginning of any new musical movements, but it is some of the best stuff that Tobi has written since Edguy's Hellfire Club, and also sounding more akin to that great album than anything else. We have guest vocals from Jorn Lande, Bob Catley, Amanda Somerville and Michael Kiske, alongside Tobias' familiar hard rock/power metal wailing, and the production is just about the best Avantasia or Edguy has ever gotten; clear as a baby's bottom and with no instruments left behind, unlike Avantasia's first two albums.
The raw energy here is through the fucking roof, too, with every song being played at about 120% power. The title track is a harmless, catchy radio cut that doesn't really do the rest of the stuff here justice, but then we kick into "Lay All Your Love on Me," the ABBA cover, and things start getting electric. Tobias' vocals are in top form, and the chorus is catchier than AIDS. The man has always done above-average covers of these sappy, cheesy 80s pop songs, and this is no exception. Then...boom! "Another Angel Down" fucking smokes all the way through, a high-octane power metal blazer with a massive, screaming chorus and a long, winding solo that will knock you out of your seat. This one will be on The Scarecrow in 2008, so if "Another Angel Down" is representative of the quality of the new album, then it'll be something to look forward to. "The Story Ain't Over" is another excellent track, layered with light, fluttery pianos and even some Celtic sounding strings here and there, with a hymn-wide chorus that is sure to be a concert-closer, and an excellent one at that. Very, very high quality song.
Then we dip into mediocrity with the pointless "Return to Avantasia" and the limp, weak "Ride the Sky," which is a cover of a song by 70s rock band Lucifer's Friend. I haven't heard the original, but I can't say this is a very good song; very short and pointless with blunt, shabby riffs and no real direction to it. Definitely could've been excluded.
So, with 6 tracks and 5 that are very listenable and good, I'd say this was a success. As a preview for what's to come, this succeeds, as I'll be looking out for The Scarecrow next year. Get this if you like high quality power metal. |
----------------------------------
Line-up:
Tobias Sammet - Vocals & Bass
Sascha Paeth - Guitars
Eric Singer - Drums
Guests:
Miro - Keyboards & Orchestration
Henjo Richter - Lead Guitar on 2, 3 & 4
Amanda Sommeville - Vocals on 1 & 6
Michael Kiske - Vocals on 2
Jorn Lande - Vocals on 2
Track 6 is also known as the "Epic Version" of the song 'Lost in Space'.
1. Lost In Space 03:52
2. Promised Land 04:51
3. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes (Ultravox cover) 03:53
4. Scary Eyes 03:32
5. In My Defence (Freddie Mercury cover) 03:58
6. Lost In Space (Alive at Gatestudio) 04:36
Total playing time 24:42
Chapter 2 review:
Quote:
So this is the second part of Tobias' new Avantasia work, and it's pretty much on the same level of quality as the first one. The thing Avantasia do well here is keeping up the energy level - never do these songs sound weak or tired, and never do they exert anything but pure, unadulterated, raw power that could light up New York City if given the chance. The instrumentation is excellent, just purely well-played power metal all the way through, and the vocals are of generally high quality, aside from Michael Kiske's slip-up in "Promised Land," which is genuinely puzzling. The songwriting might not jettison into proggy excess, but it is of excellent quality, despite the short running time of the tracks and of the disc itself.
The title track is first (again, yes; Tobi has milked this one like a big ol' cow), and then we segue into the ornate, epic "Promised Land," with a big shout along chorus courtesy of Jorn Lande. Lande is not one of my favorite vocalists in the power metal genre, but he does an admirable job here, especially duetting with Sammet. This is without a doubt the best song here, starting off fast and pummeling, and then slowing down for a more moody, slow part, before kicking into a driving riff and a luscious, colorful guitar solo that just gallops right along as if it came easy to the band. Heavenly, uplifting and just plain great, "Promised Land" is a winner. "Scary Eyes" is also a great song, a pugilistic, Mandrake esque stomper that has a sort of jokey, fun feel to it, while still kicking your ass the whole way through. The verses are excellent, and the chorus is typical Edguy fare, except done much better than on most songs from Rocket Ride. "In My Defense" and the Ultravox cover "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes" are both pretty good in their own right, with the former being a touching, heartfelt little ballad with quite an original lyrical theme, and the latter being a hypnotically catchy little tune that will never leave your head. The epic version of "Lost in Space" is forgettable, and shouldnt've even been included here at all. Come on, Tobias, lay off that song already.
Yet again, if you like power metal, you should be able to find something to enjoy here. Tobias has crafted a piece of work that is, in itself, fun, epic, powerful, catchy, bombastic and pompous all at once, spanning more than one genre and stepping outside of the power metal box just enough to sound original. The horizons are looking quite bright for Avantasia, and nobody is happier than I am to see them going stronger than ever. |
|
