Timo Tolkki’s Avalon – Angels Of The Apocalypse

Happy Friday the 13th to you all. Today’s artist is more of a project. Ex-Stratovarius guitar player, Timo Tolkki has released the second album from his Metal-Opera Project, Avalon. This super group/project is associated with many well known names throughout Heavy Metal. Such names include Russell Allen (Symphony-X), Derek Sherinian  (ex-Dream Theater), Michael Kiske (ex Helloween), and this new album titled, Angels Of The Apocalypse, features even more well known artists. Some more names to add to the list, Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire), Elize Ryd (Amaranthe), Floor Jansen (Nightwish, ReVamp), Simone Simons (Epica), and Zachary Stevens (ex-Savatage). The instrumental components of the album are contributed by ex-Stratovarius members as well. The album was released about 3 weeks ago and is the prequel to the previous released album titled, The Land of New Hope. Thus far, this takes place about 40 years in the future, where the majority of the world has gone through destruction, communication systems have been long gone, and a small group of survivors band together to find a legendary land spoken and rumored of, named, The Land of New Hope. Those who encounter the supposed land, must go through a Gatekeeper and only those pure at heart may pass into the Ultimate Destiny. This is a remarkable concept for an album, while delivering around fifty-minutes of pure Symphonic and Power Metal.

 [tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VO49X_Ie4A[/tube]

A vocal only singing prelude by Rhapsody of Fire lead man, Fabio Lione, introduces the album to us, with the track, Song For Eden. No guitars, no drums, no instruments, solely his voice for fifty seconds and that’s it. Simple singing. Track two officially marks the first metal track of the album. Jerusalem Is Falling, plays to Classic and Power Metal. Iron Maiden was all that was going through my head, with the occasional pounding battle cries and chants. The vocal’s once again are present by Fabio Lione. The solo captivates that Jerusalem essence we can imagine it to be which fast forwards to shredding. A pretty decent track to introduce the album with, in my opinion. Track three immediately fell into my favorites, and after finding out who the guest vocals were, I had to chuckle for one of my favorite metal females is the featured singer in this track. Current Nightwish and ReVamp lead, Floor Jansen, beautifully and elegantly takes the track, Design the Century, forward to another plane. The eargasmic and guitar rich instrumentals backed by an Epic atmosphere mix for a perfectly executed track. David DeFeis from the band, Virgin Steele, is the featured vocalist in the next track, Rise of the 4th Reich. Fueled by Power Metal and the epic atmospheres again, the track has a doom end of the world feel to it. In addition to that, the lyrical content speaks of the Fourth Reich, a secret society whom are intending to influence the world, by ways of Nazism and putting forth those ideas through culture, business and Government worldwide, as opposed to military means, as history has seen that has failed. Fabio Lione, returns one more time in track five, Stargate Atlantis. Steady double bass, and the higher soaring vocals drive the track on and on, not one slow moment throughout.

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWKmrR-fKgg[/tube]

Floor Jansen, appears again in the next two tracks, The Paradise Lost and You’ll Bleed Forever. Paradise Lost, is one of the stronger tracks in the album instrumentally. A speedy progression with short brakes, do a prompt expression of feel. More so, the exemplary and superb breakdown and solo has authentic vibes that seize a well manifested title. You’ll Bleed Forever, takes on another route and goes 180. The slowest of tracks on the album, the instrumentals remain simple, the highlight of the track is the chorus with Floor’s strong emotional vocals and the emotional guitar performs an effective ambience for the sentimental folk. The last remaining tracks wind down and close the album in an escalating manner. While track nine, High Above Me, is a slow and vocally melodic track that bursts out of nowhere with heaviness towards the end, track ten, the title track, Angels of the Apocalypse, is the Epic nine-minute track that comprises of the signature epic choirs, and we slowly transcend to Power Metal glory and Opera enrichment. The Neo-classical guitars eloquently continue to keep the album true in theme and attitude. Both tracks feature Floor Jansen, Elize Ryd, Simone Simons, and new talent, Caterina Nix. Keeping with the concept of the album, we finally arrive to the Garden Of Eden, where a light enchantment is released and a strong vocal Opera nears for the moment, leaving the listener with reflection.

This album was a delight to hear. From guest musicians, to the powerful blend of Symphonic and Power Metal and epic choirs/vocals, I knew this was an album I was going to connect with. I would have liked to have seen more heaviness, but perhaps this album was not meant to go in that direction seeing as this is the midway of the trilogy that this album is part of. As this is a project consisting of many guests, who knows if Tolkki is planning on taking this project on the road. There are no Gigs scheduled for the moment. Perhaps once the trilogy is set, it will be ready to be unleashed live in person. I can’t imagine the potential live set-ups a concept like this would entail visually, it gives me goosebumps.  What will the next album foretell? How did the survivors come to be? What does the next album hold for Timo Tolkii himself and his future projects? Stay Metal m/

Angels of The Apocalypse: 8/10

More information can be found on his Official Website, as well as the Official Facebook and Twitter Pages for Avalon. Don’t forget to ‘LIKE’ We Love Metal Dot Com on Facebook for more Heavy Metal Media and Content.