Timo Tolkki's Avalon - The Land Of New Hope (2013) (8/10)

Let’s admit that the idea to create another metal opera project isn’t all too original in times when projects like AVANTASIA happen to be more successful than ever. The fact that this record only appeared a few weeks after the sixth AVANTASIA output and that this record even features quite similar guest musicians and singers isn’t a coincidence as well. The European Power Metal mastermind and signature guitarist TIMO TOLKKI has though gone through hard times after his chaotic departure from STRATOVARIUS, his short-lived new project REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE and the personal disaster of the SYMFONIA super-group and it’s great to have him back in form. Initially, TIMO TOLKKI only wanted to release a new solo record entitled “Classical Variations 2: Credo” that would have followed his first studio record back in 1994 but he canceled his PledgeMusic campaign to work on and eventually put out what we have here. This being said, I still hope for an eventual release of his solo record.

“The Land Of New Hope” might not have the most original concept even though the story itself is clearly superior to the latest AVANTASIA concepts and lyrics in my opinion. The fantasy and science-fiction lyrics fit much more to the musical style than the sometimes too emotionally driven lyrics by Tobias Sammet’s project. On the other side, this new record is clearly Timo Tolkki’s strongest release since the commercially successful Power Metal hit album “Infinite” he released back in the year 2000 with STRATOVARIUS. This record goes back to the basics and delivers typical European Power Metal with a few Symphonic Metal elements. Let’s cite the gripping and powerful opener “Avalanche Anthem”, the emotional, fast and highly melodic “To The Edge Of The World” with its slight DREAM THEATER touch and “The Magic Of The Night” that reminds me of a track in the key of STRATOVARIUS’ “Hunting High And Low” thirteen years ago as typical genre highlights that fans are going to adore and haters are going to criticize. The usual symphonic ballad comes along with “I’ll Sing You Home” but it’s not as boring and commercial as the last AVANTASIA ballads and reminds me rather of the STRATOVARIUS track “Mother Gaia”. The true highlight of this release comes with the closing epic title track “The Land Of New Hope” that has intriguing arrangements reminding me of HELLOWEEN’s legendary “Keeper Of The Seven Keys” epic. This song is all European Power Metal is about and MICHAEL KISKE definitely delivers an outstanding job on this amazing album closer. Despite its length, this track never gets boring and is easily the best song on here.

That being said, the guest musicians are very well chosen for this record. Instead of adding too many cooks that spoil the broth, TIMO TOLKKI invited only six singers plus a soprano vocalist. These singers really add the cherry on the cake and add the essential enthusiasm, power and spirit to the solid arrangements. Let’s cite the powerful rocking vocals of ROB ROCK who is involved in bands such as IMPELLITTERI and who works a little bit like JORN on the AVANTASIA releases. One must also point out the grounded, powerful and style quite variable vocals of AMARANTHE singer Elize Ryd. This Swedish powerhouse is one of the best female singers in the metal scene and should become the next big thing as well. I had heard a lot of positive comments on her before but I didn’t expect her to be that enthusiastic and technically skilled as she appears to be on this record. I will surely take a closer look on her career by now. MICHAEL KISKE only appears on the closing title track but he easily delivers his very best vocal duties since the golden age of HELLOWEEN back in the late eighties. He doesn’t seem to have lost anything of his impressive vocal range in the last twenty-five years and his vocals still send shivers down my spine. Other singers are Sharon den Adel of WITHIN TEMPTATION, Russell Allen of SYMPHONY X and Tony Kakko of SONATA ARCTICA. They deliver solid jobs but can’t keep up with the other three ones. Let’s not forget about the musicians who are all big names of the Power Metal scene as well. We get drummer Alex Holzwarth of RHAPSODY OF FIRE as well as three keyboarders in form of Mikko Härkin of CAIN’S OFFERING and who has already been part of bands like SONATA ARCTICA, STRATOVARIUS keyboarder Jens Johansson and finally Derek Sherinian who is actually with the band of BILLY IDOL and who has already been a member of DREAM THEATER. As you can see, there was a lot of quality personal involved on this project and I already can’t wait to listen to the upcoming two records that should complete what is supposed to become a trilogy.

In the end, this release doesn’t reinvent the genre and somewhat jumps on a current trend train but it’s a truly well-crafted European Power Metal release that reminds you of many classic songs and records that have been written in the last three decades. This release has an interesting background story, a beautiful cover artwork, a very good production, a clear and coherent guiding and a bunch of highly talented guest singers who really make this record stand out. Genre fans should definitely get this release because of its surprisingly great quality. Anybody else can skip it because this release doesn’t offer anything really new.

(Online June 9, 2013)