Avantasia

Avantasia constitutes a symphonic power metal endeavor established and fronted by Tobias Sammet, the lead vocalist of the German power metal outfit Edguy. Beginning with the 2001 fantasy-themed debut The Metal Opera, Sammet has assembled an array of European and American metal musicians and singers across his subsequent releases. He formed the moniker by merging “avalon” and “fantasia,” characterizing it as “a world beyond human imagination.” Every entry in the Avantasia discography presents a distinct concept and storyline conveyed through a central ensemble augmented by numerous guest contributors. The project’s sonic identity centers on highly melodic symphonic power metal executed with elevated production standards alongside striking vocal performances and layered harmonies. The Scarecrow from 2008 registered on charts in eight nations, whereas 2010’s The Wicked Symphony appeared in twelve. Ghostlights earned gold certification in 2016, and Moonglow attained the top position in 2019. Sammet and Avantasia resurfaced in October 2022 via A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society.

Conceived initially as a singular studio venture extending yet remaining independent from Sammet’s Edguy activities, Avantasia issued its eleven-minute title track in 2000 before delivering the complete albums The Metal Opera and The Metal Opera, Vol. 2 in 2001 and 2002. Popular demand prompted revival for 2007’s The Scarecrow, after which Sammet maintained a pattern of periodic studio work and live performances. The consistently sold-out Avantasia concerts function as expansive productions incorporating extensive metal personnel together with symphony orchestras and intricate lighting and staging designs.

Sammet devoted twelve months to writing The Metal Opera material and assembled an assortment of vocalists to enact the narrative, among them Gamma Ray’s Kai Hansen, Stratovarius’ Timo Tolkki, and Within Temptation’s Sharon den Adel. The supporting musicians included guitarists Jens Ludwig of Edguy and Henjo Richter of Gamma Ray, bassist Markus Grosskopf of Helloween, and drummer Alex Holzwarth of Rhapsody. Released in 2001, the album emphasized fantasy motifs and anthemic, progressive pomp-metal. It preceded 2002’s The Metal Opera, Vol. 2 and a European festival circuit. Sammet suspended the project for nearly six years while touring and recording with Edguy, then reconvened a fresh Avantasia lineup for the EPs Lost in Space, Pt. I and Pt. II in late 2007 while simultaneously developing the “Wicked Trilogy” comprising 2008’s The Scarecrow, 2010’s The Wicked Symphony, and 2011’s Angel of Babylon. Success of the world tours supporting the final two volumes encouraged greater compositional and conceptual scope, prompting Sammet to expand the epic dimensions of subsequent Avantasia releases.

In 2013 Avantasia unveiled The Mystery of Time, a large-scale conceptual undertaking realized in partnership with the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg. Vocal participants encompassed Joe Lynn Turner, longtime associate and former Helloween singer Michael Kiske, Saxon’s Biff Byford, and Magnum’s Bob Catley, frequently appearing in combinations of two or three. The recording reached number two in Germany and top-ten placements throughout Europe, while also entering the U.S. charts at number nine—the first Avantasia album to achieve that ranking. The group embarked on another five-month tour featuring three-hour concerts that filled venues and included festival appearances across Europe, South America, Japan, Russia, and Canada. The sequence concluded with a headlining slot at the Wacken Open Air Festival, an event Sammet identified as Avantasia’s final live presentation, though the statement pertained solely to performances since The Mystery of Time concluded its narrative on an unresolved note.

Avantasia issued the follow-up Ghostlights in January 2016. Several prior vocalists returned while additional contributors included Geoff Tate, Dee Snider, den Adel, and Ronnie Atkins. The ensuing tour elevated the album to number seven on the U.S. Hard Rock charts and number 101 on the Top 200, alongside top-forty showings in twelve further territories. The initial single “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose” served as a German entry for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. The tour ended with another headlining appearance at the 2017 Wacken Open Air Festival.

Thereafter Sammet continued live and studio activity with Edguy while also composing and assembling personnel for the next Avantasia project. In March 2018 he revealed artwork for the eighth album Moonglow, noting its emphasis on “...Celtic elements, world music elements, big choirs, atmospheric stuff....” He recruited vocalists Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian, Geoff Tate, Candice Night of Blackmore’s Night, Mille Petrozza of Kreator, and others to perform alongside a core band of Sammet on vocals, bass, and keyboards, guitarist/bassist Sascha Paeth, keyboardist and orchestral arranger Michael Rodenberg, and drummer Felix Bohnke. Nuclear Blast issued a preview album-trailer video on YouTube in December, followed by a second in late January. Moonglow, whose cover art was created and painted by Alexander Jansson, appeared in March immediately prior to a nine-month world tour.

In May Sammet confirmed A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society and released the single and lyric video for “The Wicked Rule the Night” featuring Primal Fear singer Ralf Scheepers. Late June brought a second single and video for “The Moonflower Society” with Magnum’s Bob Catley handling vocals. The complete album A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society arrived in October, co-produced by Sammet and guitarist Sascha Paeth, who additionally handled mixing. Besides Scheepers and Catley, the recording featured vocal contributions from Nightwish frontwoman Floor Jansen, Geoff Tate, Jørn Lande, Michael Kiske, and Pretty Maids’ Ronnie Atkins.