Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
Tobias Sammet returns with Avantasia for his musical collective’s 10th studio album, ‘Here Be Dragons’, Sammet’s first album for his new label, Napalm Records. And although it begins in the same manner as previous albums ‘Ghostlights’ (2016), ‘Moonglow’ (2019), and ‘A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society’ (2022) – each album opens with Sammet taking centre stage minus any guest vocalists – ‘Here Be Dragons’ is unlike its immediate predecessors because it begins with an instant shot of feel-good adrenaline in the guise of the insanely catchy ‘Creepshow’.
At just over 3 minutes long, ‘Creepshow’ is one of Sammet’s shortest tracks and is a fantastic standalone single. 80s-driven with layered vocals that would have Mutt Lange doing that Robert Redford nodding “Respect” GIF in approval. Chock full of earworms, the chorus is irresistible, as are the Tom Scholz-like rocket-fuelled guitars. And like all slices of commercial, melodic rock, it hangs around for days afterward. Jeez, it is hard to shake off that chorus. Such a fantastic, fun way to open the album.
Once the dust settles from the opener, it’s onto familiar Avantasia territory with the towering, epic title-track that stretches out over 9 majestical minutes featuring the first guest vocalist on the album: Geoff Tate. In need of no introduction, Tate, time and time again, makes it look easy. Packing so many familiar Avantasia-isms; the quiet, gentle intro; the sudden explosion of sound once the ever-reliable drums of Felix Bohnke brings the band in; the sweeping Zeppelin-meets-Queen arrangements; the sheer scale of it all – this is classic Sammet storytelling. And Tate is as immense as ever. The partnership with Sammet that began with ‘Seduction of Decay’ from ‘Ghostlights’ in 2016 shows no sign of running out of steam.
Long-time Sammet cohort Bohnke puts in one almighty shift on ‘The Moorlands At Twilight’ – Sammet goes toe-to-toe with Michael Kiske on this one – and anyone with a ticket to the upcoming tour needs to study Bohnke to see an incredible metal drummer in action. With so many big-name vocalists onstage during an Avantasia show it can often mean that the band is overlooked; but Bohnke is hard to ignore, as is guitarist/co-producer/mixer Sascha Paeth whose guitar licks and solos throughout ‘Here Be Dragons’ are on point.
Regarding guest vocalists, Sammet has a knack for blending older, wiser heads with younger talent, and ‘Here Be Dragons’ continues this. Alongside Tate and Kiske, and Avanatasia regulars Ronnie Atkins (‘Phantasmagoria’ is a fine full-pelt slice of metal), Bob Catley (‘Bring On The Night’ is primo Magnum and if it was intended as a tribute to the much-missed Magnum legend Tony Clarkin, then job done), and the returning Roy Khan who sees the album out in fine style on ‘Everybody’s Here Until The End’, are a trio of vocalists making their Avantasia debuts.
Adrienne Cowan from Seven Spires has been a part of the Avantasia family as a live vocalist for several years now, but ‘Avalon’ is her first studio lead performance and, to say the least: it has been much sought after for some time now. Celtic touches here and there (thanks to Paeth’s Gary Moore-ish guitar melodies), almost folk-like in places, with huge orchestral arrangements and the trademark Sammet choir vocals, it is simply gorgeous. Known for her huge vocal range (her demonic screams and growls are pure chef’s kiss) Cowan sounds like she is having a blast alongside Sammet on what will surely become a live favourite.
Another hotly tipped young vocalist with a big voice is H.E.A.T’s Kenny Leckremo and his stock is set to rise once people hear his work on ‘Against The Wind’. The fastest track on the album, Leckremo puts in a Dio-esque performance that highlights how much of a loss he was when he took his enforced lay-off from music in 2010 due to health issues. Classic Rock Magazine said of the Swede…“If Bruce Dickinson had raised a child with Animal from The Muppets, and fed it the Top Gun soundtrack, it would have been Kenny Leckremo.” A decent comparison, and one that makes him perfect for Avantasia; he would be ideal to duet with Sammet on Avantasia’s version of ‘Maniac’ from the Flashdance movie. The last of the newbies is Tommy Karevik who eventually replaced Roy Khan in Kamelot. Charismatic, and with a stage presence to match his powerful voice, Karevik has a future as a Broadway musical lead once he hangs up his metal horns, and where better to ply his trade than alongside Metal’s Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tobias Sammet?
Less of a concept feel than previous albums, ‘Here Be Dragons’ excels at every turn. Tobia Sammet has struck gold, again.
Available through Napalm Records, February 28th. Pre-order HERE.
Review – Dave
Tobias Sammet photo – Kevin Nixon
Adrienne Cowan photo – Dave Jamieson
Kenny Leckremo photo – Rob Wilkins
Don’t miss the dazzling extravaganza that is the Avantasia live show. Tickets are on sale now for the following dates, which include a stop at London’s beautiful Roundhouse on March 24, 2025.
14.03.25 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle
15.03.25 BE – Brussels / AB Box
16.03.25 FR – Paris / Olympia
18.03.25 LU – Esch-sur-Alzette / Rockhal
20.03.25 DE – Berlin / Columbiahalle
21.03.25 DE – Bamberg / Brose Arena
22.03.25 DE – Bochum / RuhrCongress
24.03.25 UK – London / The Roundhouse
26.03.25 NL – Tilburg / O13
28.03.25 DE – Stuttgart / Schleyerhalle
29.03.25 CZ – Prague / Forum Karlin
01.04.25 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra
02.04.25 AT – Vienna / Gasometer
04.04.25 DE – Munich / Zenith
05.04.25 DE – Frankfurt am Main / Jahrhunderthalle
06.04.25 DE – Cologne / Palladium
08.04.25 IT – Milan / Alcatraz
09.04.25 CH – Zurich / The Hall
11.04.25 ES – Barcelona / Razzmatazz
12.04.25 ES – Madrid / Vistalegre
23.04.25 FI – Helsinki / Black Box
25.04.25 NO – Oslo / Sentrum Scene
26.04.25 SE – Stockholm / Arenan Fryshuset
