Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA “The Metal Opera Part I & II (Gold Edition)” /2CD Digibook/

The eleventh full-length studio album by legendary German Power Metal band.
"Defenders Of The Crown" marks Edguy's return, and it was preceded by cautious and safe statements from the band's side. Band finally decided to listen to the fans' prayers and to take a step back, to disown that kind of weak Power Hard Rock of which their recent works were tainted, embracing again the sound Edguy mastered through the years. "Defenders Of The Crown" embodies once again the typical German Power Metal style: heavy, fast and cheesy, incredibly catchy, and with a stellar performance by Sammet and his bandmates. This album proves these guys are still hot and burning!
Quite ironically, while Avantasia was born from a rib of Edguy, now the first is bringing the latter back to life, since "Defenders Of The Crown" has many Avantasia traits. From the opener "Sabre & Torch", that many correctly matched with "Invoke The Machine" from 2013's "The Mystery Of Time", to the 9-minute closer "The Eternal Wayfarer", which just sounds like Edguy covering Led Zeppelin, everything is over the top and epic. But, obviously, this is Edguy. The fun traits of the band also shine here, both with Tobi's well-known antics spread over various tracks ("Do Me Like A Caveman") and in the rather unexpected cover of Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus". Some of you will cry while blessing your ears with it!
"Defenders Of The Crown" is a great release, the first in a long time that doesn't cast aspersions on "Mandrake" and "Hellfire Club" 's memory. With restored songwriting and musicianship, Edguy are back on track!! Back to Baba Yaga!!!)
Nuclear Blast Records, 2014 (NB 3282-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Sabre & Torch 5:02
2. Space Police 6:02
3. Defenders Of The Crown 5:40
4. Love Tyger 4:26
5. The Realms Of Baba Yaga 6:09
6. Rock Me Amadeus 3:21
7. Do Me Like A Caveman 4:09
8. Shadow Eaters 6:11
9. Alone In Myself 4:36
10. The Eternal Wayfarer 8:52
Total playing time: 54:28 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' dialogues 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 draw 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!!
American version release contains two bonus tracks.
Painful Lust/AFM Records/Century Media, 2002 (Century Media 8052-2). Made in USA.


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.

The eleventh full-length studio album by legendary German Power Metal band.
"Defenders Of The Crown" marks Edguy's return, and it was preceded by cautious and safe statements from the band's side. Band finally decided to listen to the fans' prayers and to take a step back, to disown that kind of weak Power Hard Rock of which their recent works were tainted, embracing again the sound Edguy mastered through the years. "Defenders Of The Crown" embodies once again the typical German Power Metal style: heavy, fast and cheesy, incredibly catchy, and with a stellar performance by Sammet and his bandmates. This album proves these guys are still hot and burning!
Quite ironically, while Avantasia was born from a rib of Edguy, now the first is bringing the latter back to life, since "Defenders Of The Crown" has many Avantasia traits. From the opener "Sabre & Torch", that many correctly matched with "Invoke The Machine" from 2013's "The Mystery Of Time", to the 9-minute closer "The Eternal Wayfarer", which just sounds like Edguy covering Led Zeppelin, everything is over the top and epic. But, obviously, this is Edguy. The fun traits of the band also shine here, both with Tobi's well-known antics spread over various tracks ("Do Me Like A Caveman") and in the rather unexpected cover of Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus". Some of you will cry while blessing your ears with it!
"Defenders Of The Crown" is a great release, the first in a long time that doesn't cast aspersions on "Mandrake" and "Hellfire Club" 's memory. With restored songwriting and musicianship, Edguy are back on track!! Back to Baba Yaga!!!)
Roadrunner Records/Cargo Records, 2014/2016 (NBCLP 3282-1). Made in Germany. First press on black vinyl.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Sabre & Torch 5:00
2. Space Police 6:00
3. Defenders Of The Crown 5:40
Side B
4. Love Tyger 4:26
5. The Realms Of Baba Yaga 6:07
Running time: 27:13 min.

Side C
1. Rock Me Amadeus (Falco cover) 3:19
2. Do Me Like A Caveman 4:09
3. Shadow Eaters 6:08
Side D
4. Alone In Myself 4:36
5. The Eternal Wayfarer 8:50
Running time: 27:02 min.

Total playing time: 54:15 min.

The eighth full-length studio album by legendary German Power Metal band.
Edguy don't go back to their roots, they don't conquer new musical territory - they're simply themselves and bash out trademark Edguy hits without repeating themselves. Harder and more straightforward than its predecessor!
The album combines Progressive-oriented Hard Rock heard on their previous album, "Rocket Ride", with elements of Speed Metal.
Never ones to take themselves too seriously, German Melodic Power Metal stalwarts Edguy (hello, they are called Edguy, not Glory Storm, or some such nonsense) immediately dispel the none-more-gray cover art sobriety of their eighth studio album -- featuring an agonizing marble Jesus, with the tongue-in-cheek title Tinnitus Sanctus. This upbeat stance may rub a few, humorless Metal fans the wrong way, of course, but it's served Edguy particularly well in a crowded scene, jam-packed with surly Germans, too swept up in their own sub-Tolkien mythology and sub-Iron Maiden songwriting to write a clever lyric now and then.
Edguy, on the other hand, rarely lack for clever lyrics, and, as it turns out, "Tinnitus Sanctus" is named that way because a number of its songs reflect the band's tragic-comic thoughts on religion, and none more so than its opening, two-punch combination of "Ministry of Saints" and "Sex Fire Religion".
Musically, the band continues to avoid excessive displays of macho, Thrash-fueled velocity, and therefore neatly avoid the repetition that tends to come with it. Rather, they generally embrace a more accessible, mid-paced Heavy Rock style partial to chorused vocals, perfect for would-be singles like "Nine Lives", the Winger-like "Thorn Without a Rose", and the amusing Frankenstein tale, "The Pride of Creation", which is sort of like "The Gospel According to Spinal Tap", except listeners will be laughing with the band instead of at them.
"Tinnitus Sanctus" is an honest album from a band that has truly got better over the years. Get this one if you want your ears to be ringing this Christmas!
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2008 (27361 21792 | NB 2179-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Ministry Of Saints 5:02
2. Sex Fire Religion 5:58
3. The Pride Of Creation 5:29
4. Nine Lives 4:26
5. Wake Up Dreaming Black 4:06
6. Dragonfly 4:57
7. Thorn Without A Rose 4:46
8. 9-2-9 3:48
9. Speedhoven 7:43
10. Dead Or Rock 5:00
Bonus Track:
11. Aren't You A Little Pervert Too?! (Feat. Granato Rambocco And The Killers) 2:20
Total playing time: 53:37 min.

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal Opera all-star project.
Darkness descends over the hall, the curtain rises. Dear audience, welcome to the wondrous otherworld of Avantasia!
With his ninth album, Tobias Sammet invites you to join him on an enchanted journey into his own version of reality, which is full of fantastic events and encounters.
It is a captivating, deeply magical universe that Tobias Sammet has built over the past two decades. Since his debut "The Metal Opera" (2001), the Peter Pan of international Rock and Metal has romped between Metal, Classical and Rock, beguiling the biggest festivals around the world with his travelling circus and working with the greatest voices in the Metal world, including Alice Cooper and Scorpions' Klaus Meine.
According to Tobias Sammet, song ideas go back as far as 2018 but were not finalized until a few months before the album release.
Beside Tobbias Sammet, "A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society" includes appearance by next vocalists: Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Michael Kiske (Helloween), Jørn Lande, Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Bob Catley (Magnum), Eric Martin (Mr. Big) Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche).
Strictly Limited Edition to 3500 copies, double Grey (Moonstone) Vinyl.
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2022 (58301 | NB5830-7). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

I
1. Welcome To The Shadows 5:05
2. The Wicked Rule The Night 4:25
3. Kill The Pain Away 3:43
II
4. The Inmost Light 3:26
5. Misplaced Among The Angels 5:16
6. I Tame The Storm 3:52
Running time: 25:47 min.

III
7. Paper Plane 3:53    
8. The Moonflower Society 5:14
9. Rhyme And Reason 4:41
IV
10. Scars 4:13
11. Arabesque 10:10
Running time: 28:11 min.

Total playing time: 53:58 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' dialogues 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 draw 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!!
AFM Records, 2002 (AFM 060-2). Made in Germany.


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
Total playing time: 68:19 min.

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal Opera all-star project.
Darkness descends over the hall, the curtain rises. Dear audience, welcome to the wondrous otherworld of Avantasia!
With his ninth album, Tobias Sammet invites you to join him on an enchanted journey into his own version of reality, which is full of fantastic events and encounters.
It is a captivating, deeply magical universe that Tobias Sammet has built over the past two decades. Since his debut "The Metal Opera" (2001), the Peter Pan of international Rock and Metal has romped between Metal, Classical and Rock, beguiling the biggest festivals around the world with his travelling circus and working with the greatest voices in the Metal world, including Alice Cooper and Scorpions' Klaus Meine.
According to Tobias Sammet, song ideas go back as far as 2018 but were not finalized until a few months before the album release.
Beside Tobbias Sammet, "A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society" includes appearance by next vocalists: Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Michael Kiske (Helloween), Jørn Lande, Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Bob Catley (Magnum), Eric Martin (Mr. Big) Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche).
Limited Edition Digibook includes bonus track.
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2022 (58301 | NB5830-1). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Welcome To The Shadows 5:05
2. The Wicked Rule The Night 4:25
3. Kill The Pain Away 3:43
4. The Inmost Light 3:26
5. Misplaced Among The Angels 5:16
6. I Tame The Storm 3:52
7. Paper Plane 3:53    
8. The Moonflower Society 5:14
9. Rhyme And Reason 4:41
10. Scars 4:13
11. Arabesque 10:10
Bonus Track:
12. Paper Plane (Tobias' Demo Version) 4:37
Total playing time: 58:35 min.

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal Opera all-star project.
Darkness descends over the hall, the curtain rises. Dear audience, welcome to the wondrous otherworld of Avantasia!
With his ninth album, Tobias Sammet invites you to join him on an enchanted journey into his own version of reality, which is full of fantastic events and encounters.
It is a captivating, deeply magical universe that Tobias Sammet has built over the past two decades. Since his debut "The Metal Opera" (2001), the Peter Pan of international Rock and Metal has romped between Metal, Classical and Rock, beguiling the biggest festivals around the world with his travelling circus and working with the greatest voices in the Metal world, including Alice Cooper and Scorpions' Klaus Meine.
According to Tobias Sammet, song ideas go back as far as 2018 but were not finalized until a few months before the album release.
Beside Tobbias Sammet, "A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society" includes appearance by next vocalists: Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Michael Kiske (Helloween), Jørn Lande, Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Bob Catley (Magnum), Eric Martin (Mr. Big) Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche).
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2022 (58301 | NB5830-1). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

I
1. Welcome To The Shadows 5:05
2. The Wicked Rule The Night 4:25
3. Kill The Pain Away 3:43
II
4. The Inmost Light 3:26
5. Misplaced Among The Angels 5:16
6. I Tame The Storm 3:52
Running time: 25:47 min.

III
7. Paper Plane 3:53    
8. The Moonflower Society 5:14
9. Rhyme And Reason 4:41
IV
10. Scars 4:13
11. Arabesque 10:10
Running time: 28:11 min.

Total playing time: 53:58 min.

The eighth full-length studio album by legendary Symphonic Power Metal Opera all-star project of Tobias Sammet.
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 45312 / 4531-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Ghost In The Moon 9:52
2. Book Of Shallows 5:01
3. Moonglow 3:57
4. The Raven Child 11:15
5. Starlight 3:39
6. Invincible 3:08
7. Alchemy 7:29
8. The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn 7:21
9. Lavender 4:31
10. Requiem For A Dream 6:09
11. Maniac 4:27
Total playing time: 66:49 min.

The debut full-length studio album by Tobias Sammet's (Edguy) Symphonic Power Metal project.
A concept album and a Metal Opera, it's followed by the sequel "The Metal Opera, Part II". Both were written over the course of a year, starting in the last quarter of 1998, and both were produced from October 1999 to June 2000, with the works being interrupted for some weeks so Sammet could produce "The Savage Poetry" with his other band, Edguy.
The project claims that the album's title marked the first usage of the term "Metal Opera". Sammet also considers it his professional debut, since it marked the first time he actually made money from music, even though by that time he had already released three albums with Edguy.
According to Sammet, the album's plot is partly based on real witch trials in Fulda (his hometown) and Mainz held in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The list of singers speaks for itself: among others, Michael Kiske, Kai Hansen, David DeFeis, Andre Matos and Tobias Sammet himself.
In 2019, Metal Hammer ranked it as the 25th "Best Power Metal album of all time". In 2021, they ranked it as the 18th "Best Symphonic Metal album".
AFM Records, 2001 (AFM CD 040-2). Made in Germany. Repress.


Tracklist:
1. Prelude 1:11
2. Reach Out For The Light 6:33
3. Serpents In Paradise 6:15
4. Malleus Maleficarum 1:43
5. Breaking Away 4:34
6. Farewell 6:32
7. The Glory Of Rome 5:28
8. In Nomine Patris 1:04
9. Avantasia 5:32
10. A New Dimension 1:39
11. Inside 2:24
12. Sign Of The Cross 6:24
13. The Tower 9:43
Total playing time: 59:02 min.

The fifth full-length studio album by Tobias Sammet's Symphonic Power Metal project.
It is the third and final part of "The Wicked Trilogy", which includes also "The Scarecrow" and "The Wicked Symphony" albums. It was released along with the fourth album, "The Wicked Symphony".
To be honest, "Angel Of Babylon" is the weakest of the trilogy. However, it is still really solid. There are some really awesome songs on this one. Following "The Wicked Symphony"'s really foreboding and sinister feel, "Angel Of Babylon" stands in stark contrast. It's a lot more upbeat and hopeful. It's the third act, the resolution of the story. Just as "The Wicked Symphony" reflected its theme in every way, down to the artwork and the vocal inflections, this album does that as well.
The album is actually excellent, but it is definitely the weakest of the trilogy due to a couple less memorable songs. Nonetheless, it's a great finale to the trilogy. Just as the other two albums felt like sonic paintings, great works of art, "Angel Of Babylon" is no different. It is the capstone of what continues to stand at the top of the many works of the modern-day Mozart, Tobias Sammet! Definitely listen to them!!
Nuclear Blast GmbH, 2010 (NB 2478-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Stargazers 9:33
2. Angel Of Babylon 5:29
3. Your Love Is Evil 3:53
4. Death Is Just A Feeling 5:21
5. Rat Race 4:07
6. Down In The Dark 4:23
7. Blowing Out The Flame 4:51
8. Symphony Of Life 4:30
9. Alone I Remember 4:48
10. Promised Land 4:47
11. Journey To Arcadia 7:12
Total playing time: 58:54 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' dialogues 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 draw 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!!
Platinum Edition expanded re-release in Silver foil printed Digipak includes 24-page booklet, live bonus track and live video.
AFM Records GmbH, 2002/2018 (AFM 060-9). Made in Germany.


Tracklist:
1. The Seven Angels 14:18
2. No Return 04:29
3. The Looking Glass 04:53
4. The Quest For 03:54
5. The Final Sacrifice 05:02
6. Neverland 05:00
7. Anywhere 05:29
8. Chalice Of Agony 06:00
9. Memory 05:43
10. Into The Unknown 04:29
Bonus Track
11. Sign Of The Cross (Live In Sao Paolo / Brazil) 4:03
Video
Sign Of The Cross (Live In Sao Paolo / Brazil) 4:03
Total playing time: 68:19 min.