One Word Review: Absorbing
This is the powerful beginning of the Avantasia journey. Where Tobias Sammet has taken this project over the course of the past two decades, is goddamn impressive. Part I is power metal all the way, in your face, utterly melodic and fist-clenchingly brilliant. Michael Kiske returned to heavy metal with this album, and I cherish every single Avantasia song he has sung.
Reach Out For The Light is the perfect opener and followed by the explosive, and alltogether incredible, Serpents in Paradise, guested by none other than David Defeis of Virgin Steele, this opening blast rates among the most convincing ever openings to an album. Already by Reach Out For The Light, the positive energy that infects the whole album is evident, and when the album is finished, it leaves me happy and energized. To me, that is the ultimate goal of Power Metal.
The albums is stuffed with highlights. Breaking Away has a great drive, but is overtaken by The Glory Of Rome in all its bombastic brilliance, one of the most epic creations ever made. Farewell is a majestic classic that has everything, and as the opening moments of Avantasia play, you just know something big is coming. The title track is a melodic wonder and always a live favorite.
Compared to The Glory Of Rome, Sign Of The Cross delivers a different kind of epicness, slowed down and more complex, but no less majestic in its delivery. Right from the opening line, I just knew this song was going to deliver.
The Metal Opera - Part I delivers a power metal punch of the most effective kind. It is filled with great songs, that still resound heavily almost 20 years later. I find the album just as enjoyable today, as it was when I first heard it, and what more can you really ask for? A power metal classic was born with this album.
Written By Steen
Online: Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Video Section
Serpents In Paradise