Say what you like about Avantasia, but there’s no denying the sheer scale of what Tobias Sammet continues to build. “Here Be Dragons” is the latest grand chapter in the ever-expanding metal opera, and like all the best fantasy tales, it’s full of colour, drama, and world-building you can lose yourself in.
From the moment “Creepshow” kicks off, it’s clear that Sammet’s still got that magic touch. Catchy, hard-rocking, and larger than life, it’s a reminder that for all the pomp and scope, Avantasia knows how to write a hook. But as always, it’s the guests and how they’re used that sets this apart.
Geoff Tate arrives for the title track, and the effect is immediate. “Here Be Dragons” is expansive, sweeping, and majestic – tailor-made for the ex-Queensrÿche man. Then there’s Michael Kiske, sounding like the embodiment of classic metal itself on “The Moorlands At Twilight,” while “The Witch,” eerie and synth-driven, sets an unsettling scene before Ronnie Atkins charges into “Phantasmagoria” with all the gallop and grit you’d expect.
And if there’s one thing Avantasia has always excelled at, it’s writing the perfect song for the singer. Nowhere is that better shown than “Bring On The Others,” where Bob Catley sounds utterly at home. There’s warmth and grit in his delivery, and the song feels built entirely around him.
For those who’ve ever wondered what Avantasia would sound like as a traditional power metal band, “Unleash The Kraken” soars and pounds with all the bombast of a stage musical with guitars, while “Avalon” leans into that genre’s joyful melodrama with both fists.
“Against The Wind!” featuring Kenny Leckremo is gloriously overblown – proudly so – and “Everybody’s Here Until The End” with Roy Khan is a show-stopping overture. If you’re looking for the track where all the threads come together, though, “Return To The Opera” is just wonderful – theatrical, melodic and pure Avantasia.
They’re ambitious, sure. Maybe it’s chutzpah. But when you’ve got this level of skill and vision, you can afford to dream big.
And for us at MV, having first seen Avantasia at their UK debut at Bloodstock, it’s staggering to see how far they’ve come. “Here Be Dragons”? Here be something special, more like.
