AVANTASIA – Ghostlights (2016)

Tobias Sammet’s AVANTASIA project will release its seventh studio album, “Ghostlights“, on January 29, 2016 via Nuclear Blast. The twelve-song CD was produced by Tobias and Sascha Paeth at Gatestudio in Wolfsburg, Germany.
It’s too easy to lump Avantasia into the heap of all-star projects that are all the rage these days. However, for all of Sammet’s trolling about ‘never writing another album’ after every album and tour – they keep coming… and they keep getting better. Amid the usual Avantasia trademarks, there is a dark edge to “Ghostlights” that pushes this album into greatness.

With each passing album, it occurs to me – why can’t Tobi just write the music for everyone? I’m not certain if he chooses to write for the guests he has in mind or chooses the guest based on what he writes, but its uncanny how much those interchangeable vocalists fit so perfectly.
Dee Snider’s eerie appearance on “The Haunting” is reminiscent of his Twisted Sister’s Come Out and Play or Burn in Hell. Title track “Ghostlights” is seriously Helloween Keepers, Pt. 1 infused even without Michael Kiske at the helm. Did MasterPlan write that 12 minute opus “Let the Storm Descend upon You”? Well, Jorn never sounded stronger!

Best of all, the amazing Queensryche Rage For Order-era inspired “Seduction of Decay” is audible proof that it isn’t Geoff Tate’s voice that’s the problem in his recent album… it’s his drab and uninspiring songwriting.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the sprinkling of other vocal greats like Pretty Maids’ Ronny Atkins (“Let the Storm Descend Upon You” and “Unchain the Light”) and the legendary Bob Catley (“A Restless Heart and Obsidian Skies”) along with the lead guitar contributions of ex-Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick (“Babylon Vampyres,” “Lucifer,” “A Restless Heart and Obsidian Skies”).

One very noticeable difference between “Ghostlights” and the previous Avantasia albums is an air of darkness and heaviness that permeates in the riffs and vocal performances. Between “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose” (with its near ode to Meatloaf), “Seduction of Decay,” “Babylon Vampyres” and “Master of the Pendulum” (featuring Nightwish’s Marco Hietala) there is more power than in the last four releases combined.
All the record feels powerful, infectious and completely driven.
Of course there’s a ballad, “Isle Of Evermore”, eaturing the beautiful voice of Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) who is no stranger to Avantasia albums.

Tobi’s songwriting notwithstanding, Avantasia is flanked by some of the best musicians in the business – guys that are seldom talked of in the popular metal / hard circles. Sascha Paeth is not only a proven guitar hero (check out Heaven’s Gate, Luca Turilli, Redkey or Trillum), but a producer/engineer extraordinaire. In Avantasia, Paeth is both!
Add Oliver Hartmann – a recurring Avantasia “guest” – who brings both guitar prowess and vocal brilliance, Miro (keyboard and orchestration expert) and the underrated Bruce Kulick playing great guitar solos again.

“Ghostlights” is both a welcome return a stronger sound as well as a continuation of the songwriting and hair raising choruses that you come to expect from Avantasia. With Tobi’s uncanny ability to make every guest either fit perfectly to a song, or be able to write a song that shows off a guest’s best qualities, it works brilliantly.
In all honestly, this has got to be one of the strongest Avantasia releases of all time. Though the general atmosphere of the album is the darkest Tobias has attempted, “Ghostlights” shines so bright as it takes it’s rightful place in front of an already flawless discography.
Highly Recommended

01. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
Vocals: Tobias / Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

02. Let The Storm Descend Upon You
Vocals: Tobias, Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, Robert Mason
Lead guitar: Oliver Hartmann

03. The Haunting
Lead vocals: Dee Snider, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

04. Seduction Of Decay
Lead vocals: Geoff Tate, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

05. Ghostlights
Lead vocals: Michael Kiske, Tobias, Jorn Lande
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann

06. Draconian Love
Lead vocals: Herbie Langhans, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

07. Master Of The Pendulum
Lead vocals: Marco Hietala, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

08. Isle Of Evermore
Lead vocals: Sharon Den Adel, Tobias

09. Babylon Vampyres
Lead vocals: Tobias, Robert Mason
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick, Oliver Hartmann, Sascha

10. Lucifer
Lead vocals: Jorn Lande, Tobias
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick

11. Unchain The Light
Lead vocals: Tobias, Ronnie Atkins, Michael Kiske
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann

12. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
Lead vocals: Bob Catley, Tobias
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick

Tobias Sammet – Keyboards, Vocals, Bass
Sascha Paeth – Guitars, Keyboards, Bass (Trillium)
Michael Rodenberg – Keyboards, Orchestration (Trillium)
Bruce Kulick – Guitars (ex-Kiss, ex-Union)
Oliver Hartmann – Guitars (ex-At Vance, ex-Iron Mask)
Felix Bohnke – Drums (Edguy)

Guests Vocals:
Dee Snider (Twisted Sister)
Geoff Tate (Queensryche)
Marco Hietala (Tarot, Nightwish)
Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation)
Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween, Unisonic)
Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids)
Bob Catley (Magnum)
Jorn Lande (ex-Masterplan, Allen/Lande)
Robert Mason (Warrant)

PRE ORDER:
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