Avantasia: The Wicked Symphony

Tobias Sammet's epic Avantasia project is back once again, after three successful releases with the Metal Opera parts 1 and 2 plus 2008's The Scarecrow. Now the story that started with The Scarecrow.  "A tragic story of a lonesome creature, striving for inner peace" continues with 22 songs spread over two individual CDs, one being The Wicked Symphony and the other is called Angel Of Babylon. Some may say "why two CDs"? Well, once you hear these albums you will soon understand why each track deserves inclusion.

For the collectors there's is also the option of a box set, so shop around as this cost me virtually the same price as the individual discs, but with the benefit of extras including the Avantasia book "The Wicked Trilogy".

There is a substantial list of guest appearances some new and some return to the project, which is sure to get the fans fired up with anticipation. Including such well revered names on The Wicked Symphony as vocalist's Michael Kiske (ex. Helloween), Jorn Lande (Masterplan), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Klaus Meine (Scorpions), Andre Matos (ex-Angra) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex. Iced Earth). Then there is the drummers with Eric Singer(KISS), Felix Bohnke (Edguy) and Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody Of Fire), and on guitar is Sascha Paeth (Avantasia producer and contributor to many other releases), Bruce Kulick (Ex Kiss) and Oliver Hartmann (ex. At Vance, solo albums), leaving Tobias Sammet to handle the bass guitar duties. Speaking of guitars their contributions on The Wicked Symphony are also most notable.

After the first two albums Tobias dialed back the power metal influences on The Scarecrow, well that's also the case on The Wicked Symphony, with its melodic hard rock/metal, but symphonic elements and those bombastic touches are still to be found. The Wicked Symphony is also the title of the lengthy opening track, and it's a killer with the voices of Jorn Lande, Russell Allen and Tobias battling it out. Power metal fans rejoice, as on "Wastelands" singer Michael Kiske is back where he should be, and "Scales Of Justice" gives me goose bumps with who else but Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals, as he makes this heavy metal bitch his own. The quite catchy and commercial sounding rock number "Dying For An Angel" is very suited to co-vocalist Klaus Meine, and Tobias then give us one of his best songs with the very moving "Runaway Train". There's plenty of other magic to be found on The Wicked Symphony, such as the darkness of "Black Wings".

The immense musical talents of Tobias Sammet have shone through once more, with a stellar album combo to complete his "Wicked Trilogy", even those disillusioned with his main band Edguy's direction on their last few should be more than happy with these new Avantasia's.

Track Listing:
1. The Wicked Symphony
2. Wastelands
3. Scales Of Justice
4. Dying For An Angel
5. Blizzard On A Broken Mirror
6. Runaway Train
7. Crestfallen
8. Forever Is A Long Time
9. Black Wings
10.States Of Matter
11.The Edge

Added: April 16th 2010
Reviewer: Scott Jessup
Score:
Related Link: The Band's Web Site
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Language: english

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