Origin: Germany  
Genres: Power Metal
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Last update/review: November 1, 2022

Avantasia

Avantasia is a running solo project for Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet, initially gaining attention for the two-album epic called The Metal Opera. This is precisely what one might expect given the title and Sammet's background -- solid, expertly crafted German melodic speed/power metal with a grandiose and, well, operatic feel. Over the years Sammet has employed virtually every name vocalist to guest on Avantasia albums, including but not limited to David Defeis (Virgin Steele), Sharon Den Adel (Within Temptation), Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray), Andre Matos (Angra/Angra), Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius), Rob Rock (Warrior), and others. It's been said countless times both on these pages and elsewhere: this form of metal is being done to death in Europe, but there are a few bands that deserve recognition above the rest for doing it better, and Avantasia qualifies in that regard.

Current Members

Tobias Sammet

vocals/bass (Edguy, ex-Revolution Renaissance)

Sascha Paeth

rhythm guitar (ex-Heavens Gate)

Michael Rodenberg

keyboards (ex-Conception)

Former Members/Guests

Henjo Richter

guitars (Gamma Ray)

Bruce Kulick

guitars (ex-Kiss)

Oliver Hartmann

guitars (ex-At Vance, guest for Iron Mask)

Markus Grosskopf

bass (Helloween)

Alex Holzwarth

drums (ex-Angra, Dol Ammad, ex-Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, ex-Paradox, ex-Rhapsody Of Fire, ex-Sieges Even, ex-Serious Black, Turilli/Lione Rhapsody)

Eric Singer

drums (ex-Alice Cooper, ex-Badlands, ex-Black Sabbath, Kiss)

Felix Bohnke (guest)

drums (Edguy, ex-Taraxacum)


Discography



Avantasia  EP
2000
  1. Reach Out For The Light
  2. Avantasia
  3. The Final Sacrifice
  4. Avantasia (album version)
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Henjo Richter
  • Markus Grosskopf
  • Alex Holzwarth


The Metal Opera  
2001
  1. Prelude
  2. Reach Out For The Light
  3. Serpents In Paradise
  4. Malleus Meleficarum
  5. Breaking Away
  6. Farewell
  7. The Glory Of Rome
  8. In Nomine Patris
  9. Avantasia
  10. A New Dimension
  11. Inside
  12. Sign Of The Cross
  13. The Tower
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Henjo Richter
  • Markus Grosskopf
  • Alex Holzwarth


The Metal Opera, Part II  
2002
  1. The Seven Angels
  2. No Return
  3. The Looking Glass
  4. In Quest For
  5. The Final Sacrifice
  6. Neverland
  7. Anywhere
  8. Chalice Of Agony
  9. Memory
  10. Into The Unknown
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Henjo Richter
  • Markus Grosskopf
  • Alex Holzwarth
2002 Readers' Album #36



Lost In Space, Part 1  EP
2007 Nuclear Blast
  1. Lost In Space
  2. Lay All Your Love On Me
  3. Another Angel Down
  4. The Story Ain't Over
  5. Return To Avantasia
  6. Ride The Sky
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Sascha Paeth
  • Eric Singer


Lost In Space, Part 2  EP
2007 Nuclear Blast
  1. Lost In Space
  2. Promised Land
  3. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
  4. Scary Eyes
  5. In My Defense
  6. Lost In Space (Alive at Gatestudio)
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Sascha Paeth
  • Eric Singer


The Scarecrow  
2008 Nuclear Blast
  1. 01 Twisted Mind
  2. 02 The Scarecrow
  3. 03 Shelter From The Rain
  4. 04 Carry Me Over
  5. 05 What Kind Of Love
  6. 06 Another Angel Down
  7. 07 The Toy Master
  8. 08 Devil In The Belfry
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Sascha Paeth
  • Eric Singer
2008 Readers' Album #31



Angel Of Babylon  
2010 Nuclear Blast
  1. Stargazers
  2. Angel Of Babylon
  3. Your Love Is Evil
  4. Death Is Just A Feeling
  5. Rat Race
  6. Down In The Dark
  7. Blowing Out The Flame
  8. Symphony Of Life
  9. Alone I Remember
  10. Promised Land (Part 2)
  11. Journey To Arcadia
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Sascha Paeth
  • Michael Rodenberg
  • Eric Singer
2010 Readers' Album #36



Wicked Symphony  
2010 Nuclear Blast
  1. The Wicked Symphony
  2. Wastelands
  3. Scales Of Justice
  4. Dying For An Angel
  5. Blizzard On A Broken Mirror
  6. Runaway Train
  7. Crestfallen
  8. Forever Is A Long Time
  9. Black Wings
  10. States Of Matter
  11. The Edge
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Sascha Paeth
  • Michael Rodenberg
  • Eric Singer
2010 Readers' Album #32



The Flying Opera - Around The World In 20 Days  VIDEO
2011 Nuclear Blast


The Mystery Of Time  
2013 Nuclear Blast
  1. Spectres
  2. The Watchmakers' Dream
  3. Black Orchid
  4. Where Clock Hands Freeze
  5. Sleepwalking
  6. Savior In The Clockwork
  7. Invoke The Machine
  8. What's Left Of Me
  9. Dweller In A Dream
  10. The Great Mystery
2013 Readers' Album #38



Ghostlights  
2016 Nuclear Blast
  1. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
  2. Let The Storm Descend Upon You
  3. The Haunting
  4. Seduction Of Decay
  5. Ghostlights
  6. Draconian Love
  7. Master Of The Pendulum
  8. Isle Of Evermore
  9. Babylon Vampyres
  10. Lucifer
  11. Unchain The Light
  12. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
  13. Wake Up To The Moon (bonus track)
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Bruce Kulick
  • Oliver Hartmann
  • Sascha Paeth
  • Michael Rodenberg
  • Felix Bohnke
2016 Readers' Album #24



Moonglow  
2019 Nuclear Blast
  1. Ghost in the Moon
  2. Book of Shallows
  3. Moonglow
  4. The Raven Child
  5. Starlight
  6. Invincible
  7. Alchemy
  8. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
  9. Lavender
  10. Requiem for a Dream
  11. Maniac
  12. Heart
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Sascha Paeth
  • Michael Rodenberg


A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society  
2022 Nuclear Blast
  1. Welcome to the Shadows
  2. The Wicked Rule the Night
  3. Kill the Pain Away
  4. The Inmost Light
  5. Misplaced Among the Angels
  6. I Tame the Storm
  7. Paper Plane
  8. The Moonflower Society
  9. Rhyme and Reason
  10. Scars
  11. Arabesque
  • Tobias Sammet
  • Sascha Paeth
  • Felix Bohnke



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