Avantasia: Moonglow

The saga of Avantasia continues and keeps bearing fruit, now we have the eighth, yes, the eighth
installment of this project. Moonglow is an album that maintains musical connections with its
predecessors, The Mystery of Time and Ghostlights, perhaps with the purpose of completing
another trilogy, so despite being an outstanding album, it is not so surprising, as has happened
since the appearance and continued evolution of Tobias Sammet's project.

Even though, as novelties, we can find participation of new vocalists who come to enrich the
practically titular squad, we find Candice Night (Blackmore's Night), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian)
and Mille Petrozza (Kreator).

Each song takes us through different environments, mysterious, festive or melancholic. So, we
start with Ghost in the Moon, in a very elegant and symphonic way with a happy melody and
well worked choirs. After almost ten minutes, the second track, called Book of Shallows, begins,
a theme that contrasts with the previous one because of its power that even revels with an
exquisite double bass drum. The vocal part is supported by Tobias, Hansi and Ronnie Atkins
(already a veteran of this group), resulting in a delicious song, which also stands out for its riffs
and a very heavy segment by Mille Petrozza.

Now we find another contrast, this time with the song Moonglow, a beautiful mid-tempo,
magical, sweet and melodious, where we listen to Candice Night playing with Tobias, we will
surely be happy to hear it live.

The Raven Child is a song of many musical facets, vocal and choral grandiloquence, a sonorous
up and down that reaches its peak when achieving a musical explosion, very much like The
Scarecrow, leaving the listener in a catatonic state.

With Starlight we find a simpler, faster and somewhat sweeter theme, the voice of Atkins gives
it a contrasting touch. Invencible is the theme that follows that comes to calm the strength left
by the previous theme. It is a ballad in the voice of Geof Tate and Tobias, accompanied by a piano
that starts fading and immediately appears Alchemy, as if it were the second part of the previous
song, but with a giant contrast and marking one of the best interpretations of Mr. Tate with
Avantasia. With a breakthrough chorus and symphonic tints that provide a dramatic touch,
making it one of the best songs on the album.

Next, we have The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, with the voices of Atkins, Tate, Lande Martin and
Catley. The cut of this song is a Power Metal very much in the style of the latest Avantasia albums,
with an incredible vocal duel among the participating singers. The music also leaves no room for
a break, between the drums, the riffs and that tremendous rhythm that forces us to shake our
heads. Immediately afterwards we listened to Bob Catley playing Lavender, a symphonic theme,
also with well elaborated choruses, in a gospel or musical theater style, which even becomes
motivating.
Requiem for a Dream appears now, it starts musically as an invitation to mass, but after a few
seconds the power metal explosion begins with hard and strong riffs and the drums of the bass
drum to give entry to Michael Kiske who does not miss his appointment with Avantasia , singing
a duet with Tobias, he keeps showing us that he is in top form and remains one of the most
representative voices of power metal. The musical work is splendid and there are moments when
the guitars resemble the style of Helloween, spiced up with symphonic sounds and ending with
tremendous riffs before the end.

As a special bonus we have the cover of Maniac by Michaer Sembello, yes that song we heard in
the movie Flashdance, with a much more rocker touch.

With this we close, until now, Avantasia’s latest work, leaving us with a pleasant taste in every
way. But I would expect the next Tobias installment to take a little more risk. It is clear that the
classic Metal Opera will not return (or who knows) and it is obvious that Tobi is a monster in
composition and I'm sure we can expect a lot, a lot from him.

For now, we must enjoy this album that is a work of art since the cover.

Rocío Echávarri