AVANTASIA "A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society" /Acryl Magnet/

The seventh full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal project.
In 2014, Tobias Sammet stated that "The Mystery Of Time" hinted at a sequel and the details to that sequel were announced in November 2015. Unlike "The Wicked Trilogy", which spawned three different albums, "Ghostlights" concludes the plot started on the previous album, "The Mystery Of Time". Musically, it shows a more theatrical tone than its predecessor, which Sammet claims to have been spontaneous, not planned. "Ghostlights" heavier, more mysterious and darker than the previous album. It have no musical limits and all guest singers harmonized well with Sammet's vocals (Dee Snider, Geoff Tate, Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, Marco Hietala, Sharon Den Adel, Michael Kiske, Bob Catley, Bruce Kulick, and others).
The opening track and first single "Mystery of a Blood Red Rose" was a candidate for the German representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, along with nine other songs.
"Ghostlights" scored the highest positions of any Avantasia release in several international music charts and marks the second time Avantasia has entered the US Billboard 200 albums chart.
"Ghostlights" came partially close to Avantasia's early releases like "The Metal Opera" and "The Metal Opera Part II", as well as early Edguy albums, and without a doubths one of Avantasia's strongest releases to date!!
The album signed in loving memory of Tobias Sammet's father, Ernst Sammet, who died on December 21, 2013.
Nuclear Blast Records, 2016 (NB 3635-1). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose 3:51
2. Let The Storm Descend Upon You 12:09
3. The Haunting 4:42

Side B
1. Seduction Of Decay 7:18
2. Ghostlights 5:43
3. Draconian Love 4:58

Side C
1. Master Of Pendulum 5:01
2. Isle Of Evermore 4:28
3. Babylon Vampyres 7:09

SIde D
1. Lucifer 3:48  
2. Unchain The Light 5:03
3. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies 5:53
Bonus Track:
4. Wake Up To The Moon 4:45

Total playing time: 74:48 min.

The second full-length studio album by Tobias Sammet's (Edguy) Symphonic Power Metal project.
It is a concept album and a Rock opera. It is written in the format of a play and the songs are the characters' dialogs and inner thoughts. The songs carry on the story begun in “The Metal Opera”, with the same characters. Much like other Power Metal albums, the compositions draws aesthetic and lyrical influences from early fantasy literature such as "The Lord of The Rings" and the "Red Sonja" series.
The albums feature many artists from various Power Metal bands, such as Helloween, Gamma Ray, Stratovarius, Rhapsody of Fire, and many more.
Line-up: Tobias Sammet (Edguy), Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray), Markus Grosskopf (Helloween), Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody of Fire).
Guests: Jens Ludwig (Edguy), Timo Tolkki (Symfonia, ex-Stratovarius), Eric Singer (KISS, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), David DeFeis (Virgin Steele), Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation), Rob Rock (ex-Axel Rudi Pell, ex-Warrior), Andre Matos (ex-Symfonia, ex-Shaaman, ex-Angra, ex-Viper), Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray), Timo Tolkki (ex-Symfonia, ex-Stratovarius), Bob Catley (Magnum) and more.
The whole album is brilliant. All the tracks flow together and there is a freshness and energy throughout. Tobias Sammet was at his creative and artistic peak with this effort. Stands up to countless listening. Extremely well recorded, with well balanced soloing, it's bombastic and fantastic! One of the greatest Power Metal recordings in history!!
Painful Lust/Century Media, 2002 (Century Media 8052-2). Made in USA. First press.


Tracklist:
1. The Seven Angels 14:16
2. No Return 04:29
3. The Looking Glass 04:51
4. The Quest For 03:53
5. The Final Sacrifice 05:01
6. Neverland 04:58
7. Anywhere 05:28
8. Chalice Of Agony 06:01
9. Memory 05:40
10. Into The Unknown 04:26
Bonus Tracks:
11. Chalice Of Agony (edit version) 05:04
12. Avantasia (single version) 04:08
Total playing time: 68:19 min.

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The seventh full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal project.
In 2014, Tobias Sammet stated that "The Mystery Of Time" hinted at a sequel and the details to that sequel were announced in November 2015. Unlike "The Wicked Trilogy", which spawned three different albums, "Ghostlights" concludes the plot started on the previous album, "The Mystery Of Time". Musically, it shows a more theatrical tone than its predecessor, which Sammet claims to have been spontaneous, not planned. "Ghostlights" heavier, more mysterious and darker than the previous album. It have no musical limits and all guest singers harmonized well with Sammet's vocals (Dee Snider, Geoff Tate, Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, Marco Hietala, Sharon Den Adel, Michael Kiske, Bob Catley, Bruce Kulick, and others).
The opening track and first single "Mystery of a Blood Red Rose" was a candidate for the German representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, along with nine other songs.
"Ghostlights" scored the highest positions of any Avantasia release in several international music charts and marks the second time Avantasia has entered the US Billboard 200 albums chart.
"Ghostlights" came partially close to Avantasia's early releases like "The Metal Opera" and "The Metal Opera Part II", as well as early Edguy albums, and without a doubths one of Avantasia's strongest releases to date!!
The album signed in loving memory of Tobias Sammet's father, Ernst Sammet, who died on December 21, 2013.
Nuclear Blast Records, 2016 (NB 3635-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose 3:51
2. Let The Storm Descend Upon You 12:09
3. The Haunting 4:42
4. Seduction Of Decay 7:18
5. Ghostlights 5:43
6. Draconian Love 4:58
7. Master Of The Pendulum 5:01
8. Isle Of Evermore 4:28
9. Babylon Vampyres 7:09
10. Lucifer 3:48
11. Unchain The Light 5:03
12. A Restless Heard And Obsidian Skies 5:53
Total playing time: 70:03 min.

The eighth full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal Opera all-star project.
As with previous Avantasia projects, the album features extensive collaborations with returning and new guest vocalists. The album marks Hansi Kürsch's and Candice Night's first guest performances on an Avantasia album. Sammet first wanted to have Kürsch sing in The Metal Opera, but wasn't able to do so due to scheduling conflicts. When he wrote "Moonglow", he didn't initially have Night in mind, but when he tried to think of someone to sing on the track, she seemed the ideal name.
Inspiration for the album title came from Sammet's fascination for the Moon. The story follows a nocturnal creature struggling to cope with the reality of boldness and beauty and ends up resorting to the darkness of the moon glow to hide itself from the world. Lyrics deal with themes such as adjustment and non-adjustment, expectations, convictions and feeling out of place and fall within the Victorian gothic and dark romanticism genres. On “Moonglow” Sammet once again delves with the topic of being an outsider and not belonging in a glossy reality, something all of us are quite familiar with living in an era of polished Instagram selfies and superficial values. While the lyrics paint a picture of a Victorian setting, Sammet‘s thoughts and lyrics are timeless and applied to any era. At the same time, the grandiose compositions hide an intimate story of an outcast not afraid to turn his back on all things that glitter but aren’t gold, drawing inspiration from personal experience all listeners can undoubtedly relate to.
"Moonglow" is yet another strong album, with stellar guest performances and a top-notch production. It's perhaps one of the most varied Avantasia albums, and with every listen you will like it more and more, and put it on endless repeat. "Moonglow" will shine beautifully next to your Avantasia catalogue, and if you haven't listened to Tobias Sammet's project yet, then this will definitely be a good introduction into the discography. With stars on board of the ship such as Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Michael Kiske (Helloween),  Jørn Lande (ex-Masterplan), Bob Catley (Magnum), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Mille Petrozza (Kreator), and Candice Night (Blackmore's Night), "Moonglow" is a solid proof that Sammet’s Avantasia has grown from a passion-project into a fully-formed institution that constantly redefines how Epic Metal should sound like!
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2019 (27361 45311). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

Side I
1. Ghost In The Moon 9:51
2. Book Of Shallows 4:57
3. Moonglow 3:54

Side II
1. The Raven Child 11:13
2. Starlight 3:36

Side III
1. Invincible 3:07
2. Alchemy 7:30
3. The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn 7:18
4. Lavender 4:27

Side VI
1. Requiem For A Dream 6:07
2. Maniac (Michael Sembello cover) 4:26
Bonus Track:
3. Heart 3:49

Total playing time: 70:15 min.