Review | Avantasia – Here Be Dragons

Napalm Records

Avantasia’s previous, ninth studio album ‘A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society’ was definitely one of the heavy metal/hard rock highlights of the year 2022; but now multitalented mastermind and frontman Tobias Sammet surprises me with an even better album. ‘Here Be Dragons’ features bombastic, theatrical symphonic metal/hard rock of the highest musical level, as this tenth Avantasia studio album is the most consistent and concise piece of metal opera so far indeed.

CLASSIC AVANTASIA

 Sammet, Paeth and guest singers Bob Catley, Michael Kiske, Ronnie Atkins, Geoff Tate, Tommy Karevik, Adrienne Cowan, Kenny Leckremo and Roy Khan make ‘Here Be Dragons’ a memorable album, which is already doing overtime in my CD player! The opening track called ,,Creepshow” kicks you in the teeth right from the start, as it is probably one of the catchiest and most addictive Avantasia song ever, and I cannot get the chorus of that song out of my head for days now….

The title track, a classic Avantasia track, clocks in just over nine minutes, and it is the absolute highlight of this album. Geoff Tate joins the fold here and ,,Here Be Dragons” is a wonderful uplifting piece of metal opera, filled with drama and definitely the most ambitious track of the entire album. Needless to say, I cannot get enough of this spectacular song.

ABOUT THE SONGS

,,The Moorland At Twilight” is again a heavier song which features the excellent vocals of Michael Kiske (Helloween), while ,,Avalon” – featuring Adrienne Cowan (Seven Spires) – and ,,The Witch” – featuring Tommy Karevik (Kamelot)- are complex metal/hard rock songs that need more spins to find out how good these songs actually are.

,,Phantasmagoria”, featuring Ronnie Atkins, is a 100% vivid metal track with outstanding melody lines, while ,,Bring On The Night, featuring Magnum’s lead singer Bob Catley, is a dramatic, as well as melodic, piece of hard rock, which would have done well on a Magnum album for sure.

,,Unleash The Kraken”, a song only featuring mister Sammet as a vocalist is a pure speed/power metal track  and it is one of the best Avantasia songs you have heard in a long time, so play it LOUD, bang your head, stamp your feet, shout along and enjoy! ,,Against The Wind”, with H.E.A.T vocalist Kenny Leckremo in the fold, is a fast and furious track; a soon to be melodic fan anthem and live staple for sure.

AVANTASIA – THE CONCLUSION

Avantasia’s 10^th studio album ends with an epic, melancholic piano-based power ballad, where Sammet and Khan sound more than excellent together. This final song fits again perfectly into the already amazing discography of Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia as ‘Here Be Dragons’ is his most powerful album so far!

A MUST buy or die album, that contains everything fans could ask for!! Play it LOUD and you will love it; so, looking forward to their gig in Tilburg on 26 March. The album will be available in several different editions, with bonus albums included on select limited formats.

Listening tip: ,,Unleash The Kraken”

Release date: 28 February 2025