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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
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│ + Timo Tolkki's Avalon - The Land Of New Hope + │
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│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.May-28-2013 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2013 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........10 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... http://tolkki.org/ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Timo Tolkki's Avalon Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : The Land Of New Hope Label : Frontiers ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ It is refreshing to see Timo Tolkki making new ║ │
│║ music instead of in the middle of some ║ │
│║ controversy. Over the last few years Tolkki has ║ │
│║ been embedded in a war of words with his former ║ │
│║ Stratovarius band mates. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ He has released records with new bands ║ │
│║ Revolution Renaissance and Symfonia, but both ║ │
│║ have failed to live up to his past legacy. He is ║ │
│║ now attempting another new project, Timo ║ │
│║ TolkkiÆs Avalon. His debut, The Land of New Hope ║ │
│║ is a symphonic power metal opera in the style of ║ │
│║ Avantasia. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ This feels exactly like what Tobias Sammet ║ │
│║ created with Avantasia. Stylistically we are in ║ │
│║ the same territory, and Tolkki has enlisted the ║ │
│║ help of some of the best musicians that the ║ │
│║ power metal genre has to offer. Contributing ║ │
│║ vocals are Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), Elize ║ │
│║ Ryd (Amaranthe), Rob Rock, Russell Allen ║ │
│║ (Symphony X), Sharon Den Adel (Within ║ │
│║ Temptation) and Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica). ║ │
│║ That is a whoÆs who of singers and they do not ║ │
│║ disappoint. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The album also features stellar musicians such ║ │
│║ as Jens Johansson (Stratovarius), Derek ║ │
│║ Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater), Alex Holzwarth ║ │
│║ (Rhapsody Of Fire) and Mikko Harkin (ex-Sonata ║ │
│║ Arctica). ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ At the end of the day the quality of the talent ║ │
│║ isnÆt the only thing that matters, as the ║ │
│║ songwriting has to be up to par. Over the years ║ │
│║ this is where Tolkki has been incredibly ║ │
│║ inconsistent. For every ôVisionsö and ôInfiniteö ║ │
│║ he has written he has also written ôNew Eraö and ║ │
│║ the self-titled Stratovarius record. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ I can assure you that this is the best record ║ │
│║ Tolkki has written in thirteen years or maybe ║ │
│║ even in his career. As this is a rock opera, all ║ │
│║ the songs follow the storyline about a small ║ │
│║ group of survivors in 2055 A.D. who search for a ║ │
│║ sacred place known as ôThe Land of the New Hopeö ║ │
│║ as planet Earth has been destroyed. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The bulk of the vocals are by Ryd, Allen and ║ │
│║ Rock, who all rise to the occasion and sing with ║ │
│║ much emotion and power. The tender ôIn the Name ║ │
│║ of the Roseö is a magical moment. Ryd and Allen ║ │
│║ are meant to sing together. Allen shows off his ║ │
│║ vocal range in the chorus that you will no doubt ║ │
│║ be chanting along with. He delivers a throaty ║ │
│║ verse before singing a Maidenesque melody line ║ │
│║ for the chorus. A heartfelt lead by Tolkki puts ║ │
│║ an exclamation point on an incredible song. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The title track is the only song that features ║ │
│║ Kiske, and he doesnÆt disappoint. The almost ║ │
│║ nine minute epic begins with some gorgeous ║ │
│║ orchestration and an arpeggiated guitar line ║ │
│║ very reminiscent of the Scorpions. Kiske's ║ │
│║ vocals are soaring and he shows why he is one of ║ │
│║ the most in demand vocalists still at 45. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Kiske is that rare singer that is technically ║ │
│║ perfect, but also has the gift to bring out a ║ │
│║ special emotion in his voice. This is the ║ │
│║ highlight of the record and these two legends ║ │
│║ should collaborate more. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ It is an incredible comeback story for Tolkki ║ │
│║ who was all but down and out. I am happy to see ║ │
│║ him put his demons to rest and release a record ║ │
│║ that he might be known for when his career is ║ │
│║ completed. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ He is enormously talented and I think this is ║ │
│║ the perfect atmosphere for him, as he doesnÆt ║ │
│║ have a permanent band but only musicians who ║ │
│║ guest on the album. We know he is a dynamic ║ │
│║ personality who struggles to get along with band ║ │
│║ members, so with this unique situation he is the ║ │
│║ only permanent member. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ My biggest concern is that Tolkki seems to get ║ │
│║ bored with projects and moves on to the next ║ │
│║ one. Someone needs to guide him to stick with ║ │
│║ the Avalon project and continue to release ║ │
│║ records under this moniker. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The Land of New Hope is TolkkiÆs crowning ║ │
│║ achievement and I am glad to see one of the best ║ │
│║ guitar players in power metal return to his ║ │
│║ rightful place at the top of the genre. LetÆs ║ │
│║ just hope he can keep it together. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Timo Tolkki - Guitars, Bass ║ │
│║ Jens Johansson - Keyboards ║ │
│║ Derek Sherinian - Keyboards ║ │
│║ Mikko HΣrkin - Keyboards ║ │
│║ Alex Holzwarth - Drums ║ │
│║ Elize Ryd - Vocals (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9) ║ │
│║ Sami Boman - Orchestrations ║ │
│║ Tony Kakko - Vocals (track 5) ║ │
│║ Sharon den Adel - Vocals (track 6) ║ │
│║ Rob Rock - Vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 ) ║ │
│║ Russell Allen - Vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4) ║ │
│║ Michael Kiske - Vocals (track 10) ║ │
│║ Magdalena Lee - Vocals (soprano) ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Avalanche Anthem [04:53] │
│ 02 - A World Without Us [05:43] │
│ 03 - Enshrined In My Memory [04:07] │
│ 04 - In The Name Of The Rose [04:28] │
│ 05 - We Will Find A Way [04:25] │
│ 06 - Shine [03:36] │
│ 07 - The Magic Of The Night [04:44] │
│ 08 - To The Edge Of The World [05:02] │
│ 09 - I'll Sing You Home [05:03] │
│ 10 - The Land Of New Hope [08:54] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [50:55 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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│ │
│ │
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