AVANTASIA: THE SCARECROW REVIEW

  The Scarecrow is the third album and first of the wicked trilogy by Tobias Sammet's Avantasia project. 

  As with the previous and current records, this album has a bunch of guest musicians playing different parts in typical metal opera styling. The story is about a man who feels alone and different from the world. While trying to find happiness he experiences heartbreak and turns to the devilish side of life. While these songs tell a whole story, they are relatable on a track by track basis which is part of what makes this album so great. 

  The album opens up with "Twisted Mind" with Roy Khan (Kamelot) playing a therapist talking to the scarecrow. Considering Kamelot is my favorite band it's safe to say I fangirled a little bit here. It's too bad that Roy was only used on the one track. Following that is the epic title track. Other great moments are the ballad "What Kind Of Love" featuring the incredibly talented Amanda Sommerville, the poppier "Carry Me Over" and "Shelter From The Rain" to the hard rocking numbers "Another Angel Down" and "I Don't Believe In Your Love" (which sounds closer to a Whitesnake song than power metal.)  Closing the album is the single "Lost In Space". The instruments here add to the atmosphere and winds the album down finish on a high note

  The stand out moments here are the guest vocalists. That includes people like Jørn Lande and Michael Kiske. Alice Cooper guests on "The Toy Master" which is great with Alice doing a top notch performance, but seems to throw the story off a bit. It's too bad both he and Roy weren't used more than one track each on this entire trilogy. While no song here is bad, the only track that is forgettable is "Cry A Little" but with only one "ok" song, that's still a pretty good album. 

  The lyrics here convey the emotion perfectly aiding to Tobias Sammet's desire to feel the story rather than understand it. Sadly, this is the best Edguy album without being Edguy in recent years. 

  Fans of any of the singers or power metal in general must hear this record if you haven't already. The guests here all sound at their peak with incredible vocal delivery and the songs are catchy and memorable. 

  Rating: 9 out of 10

  Notable Tracks: 

    "Carry Me Over"

    "What Kind Of Love"

    "I Don't Believe In Your Love"

EDGUY: SPACE POLICE-DEFENDERS OF THE CROWN REVIEW

  Coming in at ten tracks, the eigth album by power metal jokesters follows their current flow of recent releases. Most of the songs here are lighthearted with a touch of 80's rock. The humor and silliness does wear on you a bit but the sound keeps you pushing through with, well, sabre and torch. 

  Most of the songs here have the strong guitar leads one would come to expect and most of the riffs are memorable. With fast tempo songs mixing in slow parts when needed the musical writing is spot on.  

  As previously mentioned, the songs do take a more fun and silly side most of the album which works in places ("Love Tyger") and become tiresome and almost dumb enough to piss you off ("Do Me Like A Caveman"). However, one thing this album does is have very catchy, anthemic chorus'. Especially on the track "Space Police", I haven't a heard a chorus that good in PM in a long while. What stops that song from being perfect is the part where (singer) Tobias Sammet tries making space noises. That's one of those moments where the dorky side of them is irritating. The cover of "Rock Me Amadeus" is both a good rendition and a welcome edition to this album. 

  Vocally, Tobias sounds great with his mix of Bruce Dickinson-esque power vocals and the more Rock N' Roll rasp. 

The two bonus tracks are obviously the right choice as bonus tracks. "England" is a fun, albeit cheesy, song about how England is better because they have Iron Maiden. While the other one, "Aychim In Hysteria" is about the bands roadie put to a similar musical sound of Def Leppard's prime. 

 

  While I wouldn't recommend this to someone who's not a fan of power metal, but if you are this is a good record to check out. It may not hold up to Edguy's earlier work, or Tobias' Avantasia project for that matter, it's a fun and simple record. If you're in the mood for silly fun but burnt out your Manowar collection, go get this. 

  Rating: 6 out of 10

  Notable Tracks:

    "Space Police"

    "Love Tyger"

    " Shadow Eaters"