Avantasia, the all-star rock opera created and led by Edguy singer, songwriter and producer Tobias Sammet, has its roots in 1999 followed by their first LP The Metal Opera Part I released in 2001. One year later Part II was released. After a six-year break, Tobby came back with the fantastic The Scarecrow which reduced the number of guest singers but kept the very high quality. Sascha Paeth came on board and the production was a major step up. The success of the third LP led to other four albums at regular intervals each followed by major world tours. All those seven albums have featured such galactic heavyweights as Alice Cooper, Klaus Meine (Scorpions), Eric Martin (Mr Big), Biff Byford (Saxon), Dee Snider and many more. But three singers have secured a privileged spot on the Avantasia family: Michael Kiske (Helloween), the only one to sing in all albums, Bob Catley (Magnum) only missed the first one and Jørn Lande in all but three.
Now three years after Ghostlights, Avantasia are back with their eighth full-length album, Moonglow. This new 11-song record clocks above one hour and sees Sammet, bringing back Michael Kiske, Jørn Lande (ex-Masterplan) and Bob Catley. Also back are the former Queensryche lead singer Geoff Tate, Pretty Maids frontman Ronnie Atkins and Eric Martin who all have been in the latest albums and tours. Moonglow also introduces new collaborators Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian, Kreator’s Mille Petrozza and Blackmore’s Night frontwoman Candice Night. Moonglow is not a concept album in the sense that it doesn't tell a cohesive story from beginning to end. But it is all around the same theme, this nocturnal creature and its challenges. Besides those new singers, music-wise, there's not a lot new here in comparison to the last records.
Like in Ghostlights, Moonglow opens with a song without vocal guests and highly influenced by Meat Loaf. The difference is that this time it's an almost 10-min track where Tobias Sammet makes it clear that despite all the vocalists guesting in the Avantasia albums, this is his gig. It's a great big epic, melodic and operatic track full of passages and chorus backed by a massive choir. The second track "Book of Shallows" brings out the guns with a top tier selection of singers: Hansi Kürsch, Ronnie Atkins, Jørn Lande and Mille Petrozza. As always, Tobby songwriting is great and tailored to the singers involved. This is one of the heaviest (and best) Avantasia songs ever. It's like Blind Guardian and Kreator were the same band. The thrash section sang my Petrozza in the middle of the song is just amazing. Things then cool down with the title track. An engaging ballad sang with Candice Night. Compared to previous mandatory Avantasia ballads, this is one of the best. It doesn't stay too mellow or too poppy, and the vocal melodies by Ms. Night are fun to listen to. The next track was the first single which was a good choice, the 11-min "The Raven Child" is one of the best tracks on the album. It starts with a slow tempo section sang with Kürsch that reminds me of Blind Guardian but then the song evolves into classic Avantasia and specially when Lande sings later in the track, it feels like a lost tune from The Scarecrow. The other interesting choice that worked well here was to create this Savatage-like texture of different vocal lines over each other. A feature that Tobby used in the past on Edguy songs like "Land Of The Miracle". On top of it all "The Raven Child" features an amazing catchy chorus. Overall, a fantastic song. There are two shorter songs in the middle section of Moonglow that don't add much to the album "Starlight" and "Lavender". I mean they are ok, but we've heard Atkins and Catley in much better songs in the past. The good news is that Geoff Tate finally hits one out of the park with the duo "Invincible"/"Alchemy". These are the best songs I've heard him singing since Queensryche. The first song is a 3-min slow tempo intro to the majestic "Alchemy". "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is the other song featuring several singers together: Atkins, Lande, Martin, Catley and Tate. It sounds like typical Avantasia, good track, but nothing really remarkable about it. Michael Kiske appears in only one song: "Requiem for a Dream", I can't get enough of him, so at least we have 6 minutes of Kiske delivering the goods as he usually does with Avantasia. By this time, we have already 10 tracks and are above the 1hr mark, so it surprises me that there is still one more track and moreover a cover song, "Maniac (Michael Sembello cover)". It's a fun cover and perfect fit for a duo with Mr. Martin. Unless you've been under a rock for the last 35 years, I dare you not to sing it along. But still, it was an odd choice not to put it as a bonus track.
Overall, Tobias Sammet continues to deliver great records under the Avantasia banner. It's difficult to criticize an album that I like and will continue to listen for times to come. However, I have to do so and my only two complains will probably only be relevant if you've been following Avantasia for years. First, this album felt a bit formulated and less spontaneous, most of the same choices of the last two albums were repeated here. The thrash section and the cover being the only two material differences. Second, I'd like to hear a bit less Tobby singing, sorry, but it's true, he is not a bad singer, but given the level of the guest singers, he is definitely the least impressive. So in some moments I wished Kürsch or Lande for example, would just continue singing. But again, those are minor criticisms to a great power symphonic metal record that will add some amazing tracks to an already fantastic setlist to look forward to.
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