Avantasia – The Mystery of Time Review

So, after analyzing this album step-by-step I just can award the highest score for "The Mystery Of Time". Thank you Tobias for this stunning piece of work. Music IS...

the mystery of time_cover

Released by: Nuclear Blast

Release Date: Out Now!!!

Genre: Heavy Metal Opera

Links: http://www.tobiassammet.com/

 

Complete Line-Up:

Russell Gilbrook – Drums

Michael “Miro” Rodenberg – Keyboards, Orchestration

Sascha Paeth – Guitars

Tobias Sammet – Vocals, Bass

 

Guests:

Bruce Kulick, Arjen Anthony Lucassen, Oliver Hartmann – Guitar

Bob Catley, Amanda Somerville, Joe Lynn Turner, Eric Martin, Ronnie Atkins, Biff Byford, Michael Kiske, Cloudy Yang – Vocals

 

Tracklist:

Spectres (6:20) – Tobias Sammet & Joe Lynn Turner

The Watchmakers’ Dream (4:20) – Joe Lynn Turner & Tobias Sammet

Black Orchid (6:55) – Tobias Sammet & Biff Byford

Where Clock Hands Freeze (4:35) – Michael Kiske & Tobias Sammet

Sleepwalking (3:45) – Cloudy Young & Tobias Sammet

Savior In The Clockwork (10:40) – Joe Lynn Turner, Tobias Sammet, Biff Byford & Michael Kiske

Invoke The Machine (5:30) – Ronnie Atkins & Tobias Sammet

What´s Left Of Me (5:05) – Eric Martin & Tobias Sammet

Dweller In A Dream (4:45) – Tobias Sammet & Michael Kiske

The Great Mystery (10:05) – Tobias Sammet, Bob Catley, Joe Lynn Turner & Biff Byford

 

He did it again: three years ago mastermind Tobias Sammet (Edguy) announced the end of his metal opera side-project Avantasia, but now he is back with a new album and an amazing new “cast” of guest musicians. Can Sammet fulfill the big expectations of his fans this time?

To get straight to the point: yes, he can! After a few listens I’m still totally blown away, but I’ll try to analyze this record as objective as I can. Everybody should already know that “The Mystery Of Time” is an album with a conceptional story, where each guest singer “plays” a certain role. This time the story focuses on the reason why time passes by so quickly. It’s a typical fantasy plot, which takes you on a fantastic journey to so many emotions and feelings, packaged in a true rock epic.

Let’s start with the production: it’s just outstanding. Sasha Paeth did an amazing job again. He gives each instrument and each musician enough space to breath and to shine on this record. You can listen to “The Mystery Of Time” for so many times and you’ll always discover something different in this fantastic arrangements of all songs, which are highlighted by this first class production.

What immediately stands out here is the real symphony orchestra! “Spectres” starts with powerful orchestration and it takes the song to another level. You really hear that this is a real orchestra. The opener is one of those typical Avantasia epics with tons of harmonies, change of pace and remarkable chorus. It’s a great track, who leaves you hungry for more. “The Watchmaker’s Dream” is another gem – just a great feel-good-power metal song, where Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow) go to the extreme of his lungs. I’ve listened to so much ballads of this guy, so it’s really incredible to hear him rock out here. Arjen Lucassen delivers also a terrific guitar part on this one. Well done!

Next song “Black Orchid” is more dramatic with its pounding orchestra parts, while Sammet and Biff Byford (Saxon) sing to the bet. This song has some superb harmonies in it and is crowned by a catchy, epic chorus. Speaking about Tobis’ performance I just can say it’s still a matter of taste. I like his singing style. He has a very unique voice, but if you are one of those, who don’t like his voice you won’t be happy with this album. “Where Clock Hands Freeze” starts smooth, but develops very quickly to a power metal song with a chorus, which is out of this world. A true hymn, ennobled by the majestic voice of Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween, Unisonic). With “Sleepwalking” we find the typical radio-friendly ballad (and first single) on this album, but don’t be afraid  this is also a little gem, sung by Tobi Sammet and Cloudy Yang, even if it has lots of pop-appeal.

The next song “Savior In The Clockwork” is the first longtime-track. In 10 minutes we get so many different arrangements, remarkable moments, melodies and so on … the whole song is a journey for itself. Turner, Byford, Kiske and Sammet deliver outstanding performances and for sure we get another stunning chorus, which leaves you a smile on your face.

“Invoke The Machine” is another straight-forward rocker with the fantastic Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids) on vocals. He is still one of the best singers in this genre and delivers one of the best performances on this album. I would have liked to hear him on more tracks. This song is the hardest track on “The Mystery Of Time”. From the hardest one we get to a beautiful power ballad, called “What’s Left Of Me” with Eric Martin (Mr. Big) on vocals … and I fell in love with this piece of heaven. Martin has an amazing vocal range and he really sings his heart out here. Just a perfect song with a beautiful chorus, which takes you away from your daily problems. This is the best proof: music IS magic.

With “Dweller In A Dream” we get another hard rockin’ tune with Kiske and Sammet on vocals. This is the only song, which is not so remarkable because there ain’t any surprises in comparison to the other ones. But it’s still a very good track. “The Great Mystery” closes the album in a really terrific way. Ten minutes pure magnificence … the grand finale, where you will experience all the emotions you had before. This song lives from the outstanding, warm voice of Bob Catley (Magnum) and great guitar parts by Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS). This tune offers again amazing orchestra parts and a chorus, which could have been part of a fairy tale. By the way this track reminds me a lot at the first two Avantasia albums.

So, after analyzing this album step-by-step I just can award the highest score for “The Mystery Of Time”. Thank you Tobias for this stunning piece of work. Music IS art and “The Mystery Of Time” a true masterpiece. It combines so many elements of Power Metal, Classic, Hard Rock, Symphony Metal and more and makes it its own. There is so much variety on here, it never gets boring. This is due to the first class musicians, who always left their own note. I have nothing to complain about and that’s very, very rare.

Tobias Sammet has proven once again that he is one of the best songwriters on earth, when it comes to Rock and Metal and his new album is one of those records you get once in ten years. I had very high expectations and they were all exceeded. This is a MUST-BUY for each one of you! I think you won’t find something better this year!

 

Written by Thomas

Ratings    Thomas    10/10

 

[embedplusvideo height=”281″ width=”450″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/5oeuqm5j2aA?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=5oeuqm5j2aA&width=450&height=281&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep1666″ /]

About Author

 
Categories
Album Reviews
EXTREME’S UNMATCHED MUSICAL MASTERY AND ELECTRIFYING STAGE PRESENCE: A DEFINING FORCE IN ROCK HISTORY LIVE AT MARS MUSIC HALL, HUNTSVILLE, AL
EXTREME’S UNMATCHED MUSICAL MASTERY AND ELECTRIFYING STAGE PRESENCE: A DEFINING FORCE IN ROCK HISTORY LIVE AT MARS MUSIC HALL, HUNTSVILLE, AL

EXTREME’S UNMATCHED MUSICAL MASTERY AND ELECTRIFYING STAGE PRESENCE: A DEFINING FORCE IN ROCK HISTORY LIVE AT MARS MUSIC HALL, HUNTSVILLE, AL

Photo Credit: Myglobalmind

Imminence - The Black

Following a four-decade hiatus, Dan Lilker will reunite with Anthrax for their forthcoming tour across the United States and South America

Chattanooga Chronicles: An Evening of Rock Majesty with Geoff Tate – Live at the Barrelhouse Ballroom

Erik Gronwall Departs Skid Row for Health Recovery; Lzzy Hale from Halestorm to Temporarily Fill In as Lead Singer

The Golden Grass – Life Is Much Stranger Review

RELATED BY

G-TQ58R0YWZE