Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
Avantasia don’t do things by halves, the commitment to pouring all they have into every project nothing short of breathtaking as main man Tobias Sammet charges at the front with admirable gusto.
Following on from 2022’s unwieldy titled ‘A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society’, new opus ‘Here Be Dragons’ ups the ante even more and is arguably their most ambitious and fully realised album yet.
Once again, the core band are joined by a myriad of guest vocalists, all adding their own flavours to the mix and it’s a starry cast including some seriously heavy hitters once again.
As well as one or two familiar faces, the return of Rodney Matthews as cover artist also elevates the release, his gorgeous work adorning the album and promising a fantastical tale.
Things get off to a rocket-fuelled start with single ‘Creepshow’, its huge hook, bounce and urgent rush grabbing you at once and never letting you go as the listener is dragged down a rabbit hole into this particular wonderland. From the fizzing opener, things step up even further with the truly epic title track, seeing Geoff Tate joining the ride for its nine minute length.
Teeth bared and full bore, the number is a gloriously uplifting piece that sees Sammet and Tate share vocal lines to great effect, drama filled and never tiring it’s arguably the most ambitious thing every recorded by the outfit.
Things get heavier on ‘The Moorland’ as Helloween’s Michael Kiske adds some extra punch and guitars duel before the sci-fi meets West End musical drama of ‘The Witch’ adds another dimension to the sound. Whilst there’s certainly something happening all the time, the bombast has been toned down a little and there’s more fun and subtlety to be found here than in a lot of Avantasia’s contemporaries, some of whom tend to readily embrace the overwrought that comes over as campy.
One thing you could never accuse Ronnie Atkins of is being fey and his contribution to the muscular ‘Phantasmagoria’ is as full blooded as you’d expect.
Following that, old friend of the band Bob Catley makes his first recorded appearance post Magnum and to hear him back on ‘Bring on the Night’ is something special indeed, the song and sound not a million miles away from something the late, great Tony Clarkin himself may have penned.
Following the streak of world class male vocalists, the appearance of Adrienne Cowan on ‘Avalon’ adds a vivid splash of colour, her superb vocals meshing perfectly with Sammet and then H.E.A.T.’s Kenny Lekermo brings his distinct tones to the album’s hardest rocker, ‘Against the Wind’.
With the huge and cinematic closer ‘Everybody’s Here to the End’ bringing the final curtain down you can do nothing but stand in wonder at the achievement that is ‘Here be Dragons’, Avantasia’s magnum opus.
With world building ambition and more than a sense of purely having a good time, the band have pulled off their finest work yet and one that brings more than a little light into the world. Long may they reign.
Here Be Dragons Tracklisting:
1 Creepshow
2 Here Be Dragons
3 The Moorlands At Twilight
4 The Witch
5 Phantasmagoria
6 Bring On The Night
7 Unleash The Kraken
8 Avalon
9 Against The Wind
10 Everybody’s Here Until The End
Here Be Dragons will be available in the following formats:
- 3CD-Artbook – large format, hardcover book incl. 96 pages, over 160 pictures and extensive stories and liner notes
- 3-LP Vinyl Box incl 72 Pages 12″ Booklet – strictly limited to 500 copies – SOLD OUT!
- 1-LP Glow in the Dark Vinyl incl 12” Booklet – strictly limited to 300 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive
- 1-LP Yellow/Orange Marbled Vinyl incl 12” Booklet – strictly limited to 300 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive
- 1-LP Blue/White Splattered Vinyl incl 12″ Booklet + Poster + Slipmat- strictly limited to 500 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive ROW
- 1-LP Orange incl 12” Booklet
- 1-LP Black incl 12” Booklet
- Tape – strictly limited to 100 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – SOLD OUT!
- 2CD Mediabook
- 1CD Digipak
- Digital Album
AVANTASIA online:
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FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
NAPALM RECORDS
