The Metal Opera

Occupation

The Metal Opera is the first album by the German metal opera Avantasia, released in 2001. It was initiated by Tobias Sammet, vocalist of the power metal band Edguy. He also wrote all the songs and lyrics.

Plot summary

Main character of the story is the young Gabriel Laymann, novice of the Dominican Order in Mainz monastery. It is the year 1602, and with the Order also Gabriel participated in the ubiquitous witch hunt. However, he falls into a serious crisis of conscience when he suddenly his own stepsister Anna Held faces who was accused of being a witch and awaits trial. Gabriel begins to doubt and sneaks into the library, where he reads a forbidden book. But his mentor, brother of Jacob, come behind and lets him thrown into prison.

There, Gabriel meets an old man, Lugaid Vandroiy, who introduces himself as a druid. This tells him of another dimension, the fantasy world Avantasia, which is in danger. He offers to Gabriel to help with Anna's liberation, when Gabriel saves for Avantasia. The two escape from prison and Vandroiy leads the novice to an ancient stone circle in which a dimensional hidden. He uses it to send Gabriel by Avantasia.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Mainz, Johann Adam von Bickenbach brother Jacob, and the bailiff Falk von Kronberg on the way to Rome is accompanied to a meeting with Pope Clement VIII In themselves they carry the book, in which Gabriel had read - the old documents are according to this is. around the last of seven parts of a seal that will help the owner to perfect wisdom, when he brings it to the tower in the center of Avantasia

Upon his arrival, Gabriel is of two residents of Avantasia, the elf and the dwarf Elderane Regrin welcomed. The two tell him about a war against the forces of evil, of the Pope's plan and its consequences. If the cleric actually use the seal, so the connection between Avantasia and the human world would be interrupted - with dire consequences for both. That must prevent Gabriel. He reached the tower just in time, and while the Pope is talking to a mysterious voice from the inside, he manages to steal the seal and return it in the general chaos in the city of the elves.

Religion in The Metal Opera

Christianity and the Catholic Church plays an important role in the plot. Church men like Clement VIII ( in 1602 was indeed a man of that name Pope ) are characterized as people who think they have the sole right to the truth and the need to keep " common people " for their own good ignorant, but even not know the truth from delusion. Such criticism immersed in Sammet's works over and over again; Edguy titles such as The Kingdom ( 1996), and Theater of Salvation ( 1999) tell a similar story.

In some places Sammet used concepts and images of Christianity and the Church in his lyrics:

  • The blood of the Lamb ( Sign of the Cross): "Lamb ( of God) " is a name for Jesus Christ, according to the Christian faith mankind through his death on the cross " with his blood washed clean " has. Here, the term appears with negative connotations.
  • Horeb ( Sign of the Cross): The mountain on which Moses received the Ten Commandments (Ex 31:18 EU).
  • Mammon ( Sign of the Cross ): A negative term for money, too: the personified greed for wealth.
  • The seven eyes ( Sign of the Cross): In the Old Testament symbol of the omniscience of God. The number seven has in Christian numerology a special meaning, see also the following entries.
  • The seven parts of the seal ( Glory of Rome / The Tower ): In the Apocalypse a book with seven seals which are opened one after another (of a lamb with seven eyes) appear (Rev. 5.1 EU).
  • Gnosis: enlightenment, mystical knowledge
  • Malleus Maleficarum: A book about the persecution of witches ( German Title: Hammer of the Witches ).

Songs

- All songs were written by Tobias Sammet.

Occupation

  • Gabriel Laymann - Tobias Sammet - Songs 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13
  • Lugaid Vandroiy - " Ernie " (actually Michael Kiske ) - Songs 2, 5, 6, 9, and 13
  • Brother Jacob - David DeFeis - songs 3 and 13
  • Bailiff Falk von Kronberg - Ralf Zdiarstek - Songs 4 and 7
  • Anna Held - Sharon den Adel ( Within Temptation ) - song 6
  • Bischoff Johann Adam von Bickenbach - Rob Rock (ex -Axel Rudi Pell, Driver, Impellitteri ) - Songs 7 and 12
  • Elderane (Elf ) - Andre Matos - Songs 11, 12 and 13
  • Regrin ( dwarf) - Kai Hansen - Songs 11 and 12
  • Voice from the tower - Timo Tolkki - Song 13

Band:

  • Henjo Richter - Guitar
  • Alex Holzwarth - Drums

Guest musicians:

  • Jens Ludwig - guitar songs at 12 and 13
  • Norman Meiritz - guitar with song 6
  • Frank Tischer - Piano song at 11

Review and success

Rezensator.de wrote: "Of course you have heard such music as similar talk However, that is perfectly presented, the instrumental performances and vocals sound excellent, the songs are well done, you do not sound too commercial, but also not too complex.. . "

Metal1.info described it as "Best Metal Album 2001 " and wrote: " [ ... ] every song is a masterpiece that has to hide from any other composition All of them are equipped with epic anthems and melodies, strong. riffs, a magnificent drumming, through thrilling and stirring singing, and not least a flawless production. "

The album reached number 17 in the German album charts.

Record label AFM Records Compact Disc Digital Audio Genre Symphonic Metal Markus Grosskopf Bass guitar The Metal Opera Part II Lamb of God Book of Exodus Gnosticism Oliver Hartmann At Vance
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