2025 finds Tobias Sammet still toiling away as his generation’s version of Jim Steinman, creating metalized fanfic versions of Bat Out Hell with his Avantasia passion project. As we land on 10th album Here Be Dragons, we welcome aboard another star-studded gaggle of guests to help Toby flesh out his visions of overindulgent yacht rock. I’ve been an avid fan of Avantasia since 2008s The Scarecrow and when the man finds his muse, he can craft ginormous songs that stick like a tar-encrusted facehugger. Albums like The Scarecrow, The Wicked Symphony, and Ghostlights were full of oversized bombastic tunes you could imagine Meat Loaf owning circa 1979, and it was nearly impossible to resist what Tobias was selling. I was a little less enamored with 2022s A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society but the good vibes kept the ship afloat. On Here Be Dragons, Mr. Sammet invited fewer guests to the party, and as an affront to the entire metalverse, Lord Jørn is not among them.1 The songs are short and fairly direct, with only one epic excursion on the agenda. Could this be a more restrained and serious version of Avantasia? Has our boy Tobias given up chasing unicorn dreams and candy-coated rainbows to focus on the bottom line?
Not entirely, but the album does have an “Avantasia on a budget” feeling about it, like you booked into Economy Class by mistake and you’re only entitled to attend a few of the masquerade cotillions. Opener “Creepshow” is a typically overblown, pop-infused Sammet product similar to the material off Edguy’s Rocket Ride. It feels forced though and a touch too lightweight and corny. From there, you’re dropped directly into the album’s big set piece title track where Tobias and Geoff Tate trade vocals over a nearly 9-minute ride that’s more like the Avantasia I love. It’s a good song offering both singers the chance to strut their stuff (Tate sounds especially good), but it’s not quite top-shelf Avantasia. Michal Kiske shows up for the very Helloween-y “The Moorlands at Twilight” and does the song proud. There’s a decent amount of classic Euro-power energy oozing from the peat moss and the chorus has some staying power.
Other quality moments include “The Witch,” where Tommy Karevik of Kamelot shows off his dramatic pipes on one of the most infectious tracks. I’m also partial to “Phantasmagoria” which features Ronny Atkins of Pretty Maids on a tough, gritty rocker that perfectly suits his rough-edged voice. Unfortunately, the second half of Here Be Dragons is less memorable. Over the last 25 minutes, only “Unleash the Kraken” gets me engaged with its mixtures of power metal and pseudo-thrash. The album winds out with three songs that do little to stoke my interest despite the presence of the mighty Roy Khan (Conception, ex-Kamelot) and Adrienne Cowan (Seven Spires), both of whom are underutilized. Although the 50-minute runtime is concise by Avantasia stands, the glaring lack of ace material on the back half makes things both long in the tooth and toothless. It feels like Tobias lost his fastball this time and only showed up with half an album’s worth of gourmet cheese sauce and illegal fireworks. Worse still, the good stuff is mostly just…good. No track qualifies as a top moment in their extensive catalog and it’s a second-fiddle release at its core.
While the writing is a letdown, Tobias sounds good vocally. At various times over his career, he fell into the habit of forcing himself into higher registers his voice couldn’t quite handle. He doesn’t do that here and keeps his vocals controlled and enjoyable. His mötley crüe of guest stars do an adequate job, though some don’t get the good fortune to appear on especially memorable songs. Geoff Tate and Ronnie Atkins win the day for me, with Tommy Karevik close behind. The absence of Jørn Lande is disappointing, to say the least. His gravitas and machismo are sorely missed and it’s not the same without him on the H.M.S. Overkill. The backing music is pleasant and mostly safe with a few hot guitar moments (mostly on “Unleash the Kraken”), but the blaring orchestrations and symphonics don’t always add value to the material and can become irritating.
Though his patented success via excess formula comes up short this time, even when Tobias Sammet whiffs you’ll still get entertaining moments. Here Be Dragons is my least favorite Avantasia album thus far, but it isn’t awful, and it wasn’t painful to replay a bunch of times. Your mileage may vary. Here’s to better days and smoother sailing for this pirate-beshirted yacht club.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: NA | Format Reviewed: Fuckin’ Stream
Label: Napalm
Websites: avantasia.com | facebook.com/avantasia | instagram.com/tobiassammetofficial
Releases Worldwide: February 28th, 2025
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