Avantasia - Metal Opera, Vol. 1 CD

Metal Opera, Vol. 1 CD music There's something about a post-millennium album cover that features a giant blue-horned minion of Satan in pre-pounce with an illuminated crystal ball in its leathery hand that simply warms the soul, and the fact that it adorns a record called Master of the Moon can mean only one thing: Dio. Unlike many in the aging metal community, Ronnie James Dio still possesses the same powerful voice that fueled the genre through its late-'70s and '80s heydays, and the reigning dark prince of Elfdom and two-time Black Sabbath frontman is still capable of writing a killer song or two. MOTM resembles earlier works like Last in Line and Sacred Heart in its ability to buffer those one or two great tracks with seven or eight forgettable ones. Luckily, it's the first one out of the gate, "One More for the Road," that packs the biggest wallop. Similar in attack to classics like "We Rock" and "Stand Up and Shout," it sets a breakneck pace for a record that gives up just minutes after the firing of the start gun. What follows is a series of midtempo rockers outfitted with RJD's generic fantasy lyrics about dreams, evil, and being "stronger than the wind," which flirt with creative arrangements and forward-thinking key changes, only to concede to the dark lord of banality. There are moments that inspire, like the snaky Brian May-like riff that weaves through the title track, and the surprisingly political, melodic, and complex "The Man Who Would Be King" -- in true RJD fashion he references the Middle Eastern community as "the people of the sand" -- is among his most satisfying since 1987's "All the Fools Sailed Away," but Dio's on autopilot for the record's majority, resulting in a mediocre romp through the ruins of a land and a time that hath been long forgotten. ~ James Christopher Monger Dio: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Craig Goldy (guitar, keyboards); ...

Metal Opera, Vol. 1 buy CD music Eagerly anticipated by power metal audiences who embraced Tobias Sammet's first Avantasia project, the aptly titled The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 essentially offers more of the same, in sound, style, and personnel. Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween) gets credit for his appearance this time out, following his mystery cameo as "Ernie" on the first record, and a number of the featured vocalists from Pt. 1 reprise their characters on the second installment; new faces include Bob Catley (Magnum) and Oliver Hartmann (At Vance). The music is not a great leap forward; it's simply more state-of-the-art power metal, with the same catchy riffs, larger than life melodies, and complex, orchestration-heavy arrangements. Some might find it a bit less thrashy than its predecessor, but overall the differences are negligible. Sammet's epic storytelling ambitions have left him with more than enough material to keep the narrative going, and the ending is open enough to allow for a sequel if he chose. At times, The Metal Opera, Pt. 2 seems as if Sammet had to rush to complete the record; its release had to be delayed, and a few parts feel a tad underwritten. But by and large, power metal fans who enjoyed the first installment -- and weren't expecting a drastic progression -- will find Pt. 2 a worthy sequel that's still head and shoulders above much of the European power metal pack. ~ Steve Huey Recording information: Rhoen-Studio, Germany. Photographer: Stefan Malzkorn. Avantasia: Tobias Sammet (vocals, keyboards); Kai Hansen, Bob Catley, David DeFeis, Rob Rock; Andre Matos, Sharon Den Adel, Michael Kiske, Oliver Hartmann, Ralf Zdiarstek (vocals); Henjo Richter (guitar); Frank Tischer (piano); Markus Groskopf (bass); Alex Holzwarth (drums). Personnel: Tobias Sammet (vocals, keyboards); Sharon den Adel, David Defeis, Ralf Zdiarstek, Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, Andre Matos, Rob Rock, Oliver Hartmann, Bob Catley (vocals); Henjo Richter, Timo Tolkki, Jens Ludwig (guitars); Frank Tischer (piano); Markus Grosskopf (bass guitar); Eric Singer, Alex Holzwarth (drums).