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Avantasia’s latest release, “The Scarecrow” is filled with surprises around every turn including special guest appearances from prolific singers/songwriters like Alice Cooper, Kai Hansen (of Gamma Ray and the early years of Helloween), and Michael Kiske who like Kai Hansen is also a former singer for Helloween. These names aren’t major shockers as they have performed on prior Avantasia recordings, however, I was quite surprised to find out that members of the band Magnum (the singer in particular) were also asked to be a part of this recording. Most of the songs on “The Scarecrow” feature duets between singers. The song “Shelter from the Rain” features Tobias Sammet and Michael Kiske. The combined effort sounds to me like an interesting hybrid of current Edguy and Kiske era Helloween, what a coincidence. The songs “Another Angel Down” and “Lost In Space” can also be found on 2007’s “Lost In Space: Parts 1 & 2.” I’m not sure if the previous versions differ from what you will find on “The Scarecrow,” but it does go to show how much effort Tobias and everyone else involved in an Avantasia project put into the music making.
I am familiar with Avantasia’s prior epics “The Metal Opera 1 & 2” and I’d have to say that “The Scarecrow” not only lives up to my expectations but also exceeds them. One thing that I really liked about this album in comparison to the earlier albums is how every song is completely different from the last including a beautiful flute and drum intro for the album’s title track “The Scarecrow”, the ballad “What Kind Of Love” which is a diversion from the typical hard-hitting and dynamically changing vocals, and the sinister track “The Toy Master” which reminds me of a Ray Bradbury story like “The Veldt” in which toys from a futuristic childhood come to life and take over the child’s reality.
Overall, this album is a very interesting and engaging listening experience that as previously stated offers many different textures blended together into a truly symphonic piece of heavy metal without getting too artsy and pretentious. Although I am still somewhat confused about some of the themes and a possible connection between songs, it is clear that each song brings with it its own mood and some kind of enigmatic character that puts all of the emotion into words. Highly recommended to fans of all the artists involved and progressive metal fans in general!
An interesting blend of styles from many famed musicians which provide for themselves and Avantasia the next stage in musical evolution rather than a change in direction which is all too common in today’s music world.
Rating: 85
Reviewed By: Brian Grefrath