The leader of 'Edguy', 'Tobias Sammet' is back with his project 'Avantasia' and after the remarkable 'Moonglow' in 2019, 'A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society' is yet another album with a host of prestigious guests from the international rock or metal scene and, we says to himself that, given the frequency of releases of his productions with 'Avantasia', this is gradually becoming his main project, 'Edguy' being relegated to the background.
But back to the line up with, first of all, his faithful stage companions, guitarist 'Sascha Paeth', keyboardist 'Michael Rodenberg' and drummer 'Felix Bohnke' to which are added the singer ' Floor Jansen' ('Nighwish') and singers 'Bob Catley' ('Magnum'), 'Eric Martin' ('Mr Big'), 'Geoff Tate' ('Sweet Oblivion'), 'Jorn Lande' ( 'Jorn'), 'Michael Kiske' ('Helloween'), 'Ralf Scheepers' ('Primal Fear') and 'Ronnie Atkins' (latest solo album 'Make It Count'). Nice cast you might say, but does this new German baby continue the 'Avantasia' adventure at the same level as the last opus 'Moonglow'.
Let's not make the suspense last, fans of Avantasia' will in no way be disoriented because, 'Tobias Sammet' has again done everything possible to offer us an epic and grandiose album as he has the secret in a melodic power metal with catchy melodies at first listen, and this, from the start with 'Welcome To The Shadows' which is stamped 'Made in Avantasia' with an addictive first chorus and which takes us on a succession of alternating between energetic sections and other calmer ones, the general atmosphere being very theatrical. In the same style, we can mention the very beautiful duo 'Floor Jensen'/'Tobias Sammet' from 'Kill The Pain Away' (see the video above), 'I Tame The Storm' goes everywhere with a very beautiful vocal performance of 'Jorn' and a magnificent guitar solo, but also the radiant 'The Moonflower Society' (see the video here) also very typical 'Avantasia' with a new chorus to sing in concert, without forgetting 'Scars' which also shows a flamboyant and lively face. And in a heavier power metal, 'Ralf Sheepers' sends heavy in 'The Wicked Rule The Night' (see the video here) then, 'The Inmost Light' (see the video here) takes us on a melodic hit with an addictive chorus accompanied by a raging double pedal and 'Rhyme And Reason' picks up the pace to a new blast of melodic metal. Amidst all this energy, the quieter moments are also present with 'Misplaced Among The Angels' (see the video here) in which we enjoy the new duet 'Floor Jensen'/'Tobias Sammet' and with new memorable melodic lines, then, 'Paper Plane' brings a tender and touching side with a chorus which comes to be grafted immediately in the head. And to end on a high note, the 10 minutes of 'Arabesque' offer a majestic finale in the form of an epic and progressive saga with oriental emanations, and with all the ingredients that one wishes to find in a metal opera and which benefits from a shocking vocal duo 'Jorn'/'Michael Kiske'.
In summary, 'Tobias Sammet' continues the 'Avantasia' adventure with a new album on the same level as these previous productions and we still let ourselves be carried away by catchy melodies that we play on a loop and which, we hope, will be able, depending on everyone's schedules, to be the subject of a new tour by the German and his little troupe as he did with 'Moonglow' in 2019... | |
