Band:
Tobias Sammet - Keyboards, Vocals
Henjo Richter - Guitars
Markus Grosskopf - Bass guitar
Alex Holzwarth - Drums
Discography:
The Metal Opera - 2000
The Metal Opera Part II - 2002
Lost in Space Part I (EP) - 2007
Lost in Space Part II (EP) - 2007
The Scarecrow - 2008
The Wicked Symphony - 2010
Angel of Babylon - 2010
Guests:
Musicians
Guitar:
Jens Ludwig (Edguy)
Norman Meiritz
Timo Tolkki
Drums:
Eric Singer
Keyboards:
Frank Tischer
Singers
Michael Kiske (credited as Ernie)
David DeFeis
Ralf Zdiarstek
Sharon den Adel
Rob Rock
Oliver Hartmann
Andre Matos
Kai Hansen
Timo Tolkki
Bob Catley
Info
Tobias Sammet, Norman Meirit - prod.
Released 29/10-2002
Reviewed 18/5-2010
Links:
tobiassammet.com
myspace
afm
For this record the scenery is what follows in the story of the first record and the cast of characters is more or less the same with the exception of Eric Singer known from Kiss who guests as a drummer on a track or two and then there is Bob Catley of Magnum who sings on a track or two.
Another thing I notice is that the opening track is fourteen minutes long which might be seen as a long track but also as a sign that the music is a tad more complex than the prior album. It is slightly more complex than the first album but still in the same musical fashion as the first one. I do think that in making this album more complex and maybe trying a bit to hard overall Tobias Sammet does not quite live up to the promise of the first album. Actually I found it to be a slight disappointment back then when it was released and I think it still is considering what was promised with the first one. Well no harm done really as it all gets back on track with the following records.
Even though it is a disappointment it is still a very good record with some really good tracks like Chalice of Agony or Anywhere, the opening track that I mentioned previously is too long and too complex and unfortunately it doesn’t really give anything to the record and leaves the wrong opening impression that the rest of the record then have to work to redeem. Still it does not really reach those high levels that I have come to expect from this band or this act, whatever you like to call Avantasia.
Even though this is the worst record by Avantasia I am sure most band in the genre would have loved to make this record and I probably would not have been as critical had it been any other band. It is a great record but not as great as the rest by this act.
HHHHHHH
