德国金属歌剧乐队Avantasia的《The Metal Opera Pt.I》《The Metal Opera Pt.II》。这是被称为是前无古人后无来者的两张金属歌剧专辑。两张专辑其实是一个整体，分为第一部和第二部。专辑讲述的是一个古老欧洲风格浓郁的神话故事。这两张专辑已经是非一般意义的金属歌剧，专辑集合了所有你知道和不知道的优秀元素。两张专辑26首歌曲，你不会挑剔出任何有瑕疵的地方。每一首都用最完美的形态呈现出来。其中的歌剧元素的创作也已达到了顶峰。(超越了瓦格纳？笑) 金属歌剧的特征,是在神话和传说中寻求题材,积极进入浪漫主义的世界。当然,随着时间的推移,流派和倾向愈加复杂,现在大体上已具有了各自鲜明的特色.专辑比较特殊的地方就是请了多位主唱来担当角色。每个主唱都具有自身的特色。就好像是神话中不同的人物描述自己的故事。专辑速度很具力量，旋律也堪称一流，听过以后就会知道什么叫一尘不染的音乐。对于金属歌剧来说，旋律和唱词就是生命，专辑这两点表现的极为出色。专辑气势磅礴，大气宏伟，犹如身处圣地。用耳朵就可以看到你所有能想象的欧洲神话壮观场面。神话的感觉体现的非常深远，所有美丽的，激烈的，悲哀的，一起呈现。Avantasia用了所有表现手段来表现所想，表现所思。专辑中所具有的内涵绝非轻易就能全部领略。 Avantasia是一个临时团体。首脑人物是一个比较新的金属乐队Edguy的主唱Tobia Sammet与速度金属的高音教父Ernie。这两张超长篇的金属歌剧绝对是2000年最重要的专辑之一。而在专辑中，由于Ernie这位重量级人物的加入，更体现了这张专辑的含金量。这张专辑怎么看都是结合了前辈和新生代金属歌剧的典范。 大概的故事情节: 这是一个融入了历史情节具有宗教色彩的神话故事。背景在17世纪初的修道院，Gabriel是一个备受赏识的见习生。在一次任务中进入巫女之塔，却看见自己的妹妹Anna被当成巫女囚禁。困扰不已的Gabriel寻求导师Jakob的帮助，却发现Jakob神情有异。经过私下调查，发现Jakob正在阅读一本异教徒的书。好奇之下不禁翻阅其内容，却无法理解。 Gabriel偷阅异教徒书籍被发现，结果被关进大牢。而与他同室囚禁的正式Druid教徒Lugaid。 Lugaid告诉他有一个精灵与精神的世界叫做Avantasia。而那本异教徒书籍就是开启Avantasia的七个封印之一。罗马教皇Pope Clemens IIX与主教von Bicken、Jakob受到宗教、权势的诱惑，正要进入Avantasia释放其中黑暗之塔的神秘人物，如此一来将会破坏Avantasia。而失去灵魂的世人将会变成软弱的傀儡。在了解事情真相之后，Gabriel与Lugaid以乞逃狱，躲过监守官von Kronberg的追击到达古老的沼泽。借助环境的力量进入Avantasia。并在Avantasia的精灵Elderane和矮人Regrin的协助下企图拓会封印……
The Metal Opera Pt.I
在第一部分中，旋律比较激烈。打头的一首是一段1分多种非常深远的前奏，立刻可以感到身临其境。第二首《Reach Out For The Light》就是Tobia Sammet与Ernie的合唱。Ernie那具代表性的高音绝对能振奋人心。而Tobia Samme的高音嗓子也绝不输于前辈Ernie。高亢缭绕，连绵流畅。这两位的高音合唱绝对算的上任何歌剧金属专辑中最他妈牛叉的了。第六首《Farewell》相对来说不是太激烈，开场笛声悠远。歌曲中由Sharon Den Adel穿插女声。其中合唱气势洪亮，如同圣歌。充分展现了德式金属的魅力。第11首《Inside》只用了钢琴作为伴奏，美声化的男音。听起来更接近单纯的歌剧，非常干净。 专辑曲目:
1. Prelude 2. Reach Out for the Light 3. Serpents in Paradise 4. Malleus Maleficarum 5. Breaking Away 6. Farewell 7. Glory of Rome 8. In Nomine Patris 9. Avantasia 10. New Dimension 11. Inside 12. Sign of the Cross 13. Tower
The Metal Opera Pt.II
2002年年中，当许多人还沉浸陶醉在Avantasia 1所带来的感动时，Tobias以迅雷不及掩耳的速度，再度为金属界投下一枚超级金属爆弹「Avantasia－The Metal Opera PT.II」！专辑里依旧是满满的大卡司，且Tobias Sammet这次更找Bob Catley（Magnum）和Eric Singer（Kiss）前来助阵，让这张新作更具历史性。首曲一反大部分的金属专辑旧规，第二部分，相对第一部分来说要旋律要比较沉重缓和一些。一开头就是一首以超过14分钟长的史诗作品"The Seven Angels"开启这张新作的大门。完美的编曲流程、完美的vocal、完美的大合唱，紧紧抓住你我的听觉！14分钟的超长歌，阵容庞大，各种角色的交错。出色的旋律并没有让人觉得14分钟过长。第四首《In Quest For》又是一首单纯用钢琴伴奏的曲目，是首不可多得的抒情佳作，以柔美的钢琴声为辅，让Bob Catley的嗓音诠释得更加纯熟、完美。第五首比较喜欢开场的管风琴前奏，一直都非常管风琴的音色。管风琴音域最为宽广，肃穆庄严的气氛。是最能激发人类对音乐产生敬畏之情的乐器，也是最具宗教色彩的乐器。 Lacrimosa乐队倒是经常用到它。(跑题了。。。) 第六首虽然一般，可开场竟然加入了一些电子元素。倒也别致。专辑以第10首《Into The Unknown》作为结局，感动之余更充满了不舍...。
专辑曲目:
1. Seven Angels - David Defeis 2. No Return - Michael Kiske 3. Looking Glass - Bob Catley 4. In Quest For - Bob Catley 5. Final Sacrifice - David Defeis 6. Neverland - Rob Rock 7. Anywhere 8. Chalice of Agony - Kai Hansen 9. Memory - Ralf Zdiarstek 10. Into the Unknown
乐手阵容：
Tobias Sammet（Edguy）、饰 见习修士Gabriel Michael Kiske（前Helloween主唱）、饰 德鲁伊教徒Lugaid Andre Matos（前Angra）、饰 精灵Elderane Kai Hansen（Gamma Ray，前Helloween）、饰 矮人Regrin Bob Catley (Magnum)、饰 知识之树 Rob Rock（前Impellitteri）、饰 罗马主教 Von Bicken Sharon Den Adel（Within Temptation）、饰 主角Gabriel之妹 Devid Defeis（Vigin Steele）、饰 修道士Jakob Oliver Hartmann（At Vance）、饰 罗马教皇 Pope Clemens IIX
键盘 / 管弦乐编曲 Tobias Sammet（Edguy） 吉他 Henjo Richter（Gamma Ray），Jens Ludwig（Edguy），Timo Tolkki（Stratovarius） 贝斯 Markus Grosskopf（Helloween） 鼓 Alex Holzwarth（前Rhapsody），Eric Singer（KISS）
我最喜欢的一首：
THE SEVEN ANGELS
歌词：
[believers] fire falling from the sky rage of god is coming down armaggeddon's drawing nigh sinner cry! heathen die! hear the toll of pain, gloria, gloria in the fiery rain fire falling from the sky rage of god is coming down armaggeddon's drawing nigh sinner cry! heathen die! hear the toll of pain, gloria, gloria
now the time has come, the end's begun and the only one will come
[gabriel] it has been foretold by the visions of the old and the madness in their eyes said his angel will arise that's what they know: "holy lord it's over, oh god we have done no wrong so we go where we belong to the neverending dream but for those who lived in sin" they claim to know: "holy lord it's over, oh god"
[pope] hey angel, can you tell me will you lead us to the place full of heat, in the fire for we only brought disgrace
[lugaid] he is not the one. if they only knew
[bishop] hey angel, will you take us to the judgement of his rage hey will we die for we couldn't close the gate
[lugaid] to the knowledge as they have been told
[gabriel] i don't know how could i prove nothing but the cloven hoof reigning over them as well while they keep on fighting hell babylon the scarlet whore has come
we are the seven, judgement of heaven why don't we know: we are the angels it's revelation, soul castignation fire will burn us away we are the seven, judgement of heaven why don't we know: we are the angels it's revelation, soul castignation fire will burn us away
[pope] redeemer, devastion hope it only has been ment for the sin of the dreamer who broke the low you'd sent
[lugaid] he is not the one. if they only knew
[jakob] hey, don't know but i wondered: when we lost the seal again maybe stoned by the incense do we rise or just descent
[lugaid] he is not the one. if they only knew
[gabriel] i don't know how could i prove nothing but the cloven hoof reigning over them as well while they keep on fighting hell babylon the scarlet whore has come
we are the seven, judgement of heaven why don't we know: we are the angels it's revelation, soul castignation fire will burn us away we are the seven, judgement of heaven why don't we know: we are the angels it's revelation, soul castignation fire will burn us away
solo: henjo richter [voice of the tower] woe to you longing for the wisdom woe to you longing for the light all my sons bring me back what is mine or you'll end burning in this night woe to you longing for the wisdom woe to you longing for the light all my sons bring me back what is mine or you'll end burning in this night
solo: timo tolkki [gabriel] once i have been lost in what they told me to believe until i felt in burning deep inside to set my spirit free and i escaped to another world to help the little men who make me plunge into philosophy - to feel my mind again... no one left to hold me tight - on the real other side - but her in chains
i had been alone till the madman come along with the knowledge and silver long beard he was the first man ever teaching how i could be free helping me to find - oh - the mind and the soul they've been trying to hide away... and he promised we'd help anna if i'd help him to go all the way
[lugaid] go all the way into the world of minds open the gate and do not close behind prevent them from hiding the light away prevent them from tellin' us tales or the end of all they scare us with will be a million empty brains...
[gabriel] i could bring you what you told me the seal they need to close the gate forever but still i haven't found a meaning anna will we ever be together
[regrin] you've been fighting for your soul and sometimes it takes a toll hope one day you'll understand what it means to hold in hands what they call a fantasy it is nothing but a key to the world that now you're in that they call a wicked dream
[elderane] when you're walking on your own when you're broken and alone you may feel us from inside - on the other side of life. ohohohoh...
[gabriel] i've been fighting for my soul and sometimes it takes a toll hope one day we'll understand what it means to hold in hands what we call a fantasy but it's nothing but a key to the world that now i'm in that we call a wicked dream
oh, walking on my own when i'm broken and alone i may feel you from inside from the other side of life
Days had come, winters had gone, and we gamboled like siblings in Paradise. I was your knight, holding you tight as a brother when I saw your crying eyes. Time went by and we had to say goodbye.
Staring up to the clouds above Children - so little and sad. Hoping the saints could help one day Lead us together again. Holding the key to the alley of dreams still in hands.
Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell. Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell.
Stepbrother tell me where have you been when they brought me to this godforsaken place. Sign of the cross - they took me away for healing with herbs by the way of grace. Now I wait for the day to feed the flames.
I have been caught in a cage of despair. My heart as a monk's cell so empty and bare. But no holy water can make me forget you again...
Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell. Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell. Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell. Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell. Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell. Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell. Time telling me to say farewell but I knew that I would fight hell and I knew: We will go for another time we can see, for another time we'll be free, for no more farewell.
