Description
Very rare original 2015 double picture disc. Limited to 1000 copies
Avantasia’s The Metal Opera is the concept album masterpiece created by Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet. Features members of some of the leading power metal acts like Helloween, Gamma Ray, Stratovarius, Virgin Steele, Rhapsody and, of course, Edguy. Make no mistake, Tobias Sammet knows how to write a melody – he’s unlocked the secret of knowing how to hook the listener. By combining neo-classical progressions, to galloping Steve Harris type bass lines, and fusing singing styles of operatic metal to harmonious guitar leads, Avantasia delivers the goods (and then some). You can hear influences here from Rainbow/Blackmore and Dio, to Queen and Malmsteen, and ending up at Megadeth and Maiden. The influences are sprinkled about in abundance with no excuses – you’ll hear Tangerene Dream merged with Celtic choirs, underlined by Metallica’s Orion, and set to orchestrated pieces that belong in a David Lean/Ridley Scott/Stanley Kubrick-type epic.
Track listing:
1. Prelude
2. Reach Out For The Light
3. Serpents In Paradise
4. Malleus Maleficarum
5. Breaking Away
6. Farewell
7. The Glory Of Rome
8. In Nomine Patris
9. Avantasia
10. A New Dimension
11. Inside
12. Sign Of The Cross
13. The Tower
14. Avantasia-radio single
Guests:
Ernie, a.k.a Michael Kiske (Helloween, Ill Prophecy), as druid Lugaid Vandroly
(appears on 2, 5, 6, 9, & 13)
David DeFeis (Exorcist, Virgin Steele) as Friar Jakob (appears on 3 & 13)
Ralf Zdiarstek as Baliff von Kronberg (appears on 4 & 7)
Sharon Den Adel (Within Temptation) as Anna Held (appears on 6)
Rob Rock (Rob Rock, M.A.R.S., Impellitteri) as Bishop von Bicken
Oliver Hartmann (At Vance) as Pope Clemens IIX (appears on 7, 12 & 13)
Andre Matos (Shaman, ex-Angra) as Elderane, the Elf (appears on 11, 12 & 13)
Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray, Helloween, Iron Savior, Iron Fist) as Regrin, the Dwarf
(appears on 11 & 12)
Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius) as voice in The Tower (appears on 13)
Norman Meiritz (acoustic guitar on 6)
Frank Tischer (piano on 11)
Jens Ludwig (lead guitar on 12 & 13)