Avalon (Finnish band)

Timo Tolkki's Avalon
Origin Finland
Genres Symphonic metal, Power metal, Speed metal
Years active 2013–present
Labels Frontiers Records
Associated acts Timo Tolkki, Stratovarius, Revolution Renaissance, Symfonia, Amaranthe, Michael Kiske, Unisonic, Helloween, Symphony X, Within Temptation, Rob Rock, Impellitteri, Axel Rudi Pell, Sonata Arctica, Rhapsody of Fire, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Yngwie Malmsteen
Website tolkki.org
Members Timo Tolkki

Timo Tolkki's Avalon (also known simply as Avalon), is a metal opera project created by Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius, ex-Revolution Renaissance, ex-Symfonia) in 2013.[1]

According to Tolkki "I find the Metal Opera concept fascinating and logical to me at this point of my career. I love classical music and just like in Classical Opera, in the Metal Opera you can also create stories and have almost limitless possibilities musically".[2]

History

The Land of New Hope (2013)

The project's debut album, The Land of New Hope, was released on May 17, 2013 through Frontiers Records. The album features performances by vocalists Elize Ryd, Rob Rock, Michael Kiske, Russell Allen, Sharon den Adel and Tony Kakko, as well as the participation of guest musicians Alex Holzwarth on drums and both Jens Johansson and Derek Sherinian on keyboards.[3]

Tobias Sammet, German musician and mentor of Avantasia, another metal opera which had its 6th album released on March 2013, received the news of Timo Tolkki's own project with initial sarcasm, stating: "Wow, someone is extraordinarily creative here: the title, the guests, the timing... What a funny coincidence, isn't it?! But there have been thousands of Metal Operas, especially after Avantasia. Such is business...".[4] However, he later stated: "There are a lot of metal operas out there, and I have to deal with that. If something is very successful or even not successful then other people may feel inspired by it. It's Timo Tolkki (laughs) what can I say, he's a great guy and he does what he does. I wish him the best of luck."[5]

When asked about if he was aware that this project would be compared to Avantasia, Timo replied that "Nobody owns a franchise to 'metal operas' which is not really an operatic format because it doesn't have any real dialogue between the singers."[6]

Angels of the Apocalypse (2013-present)

On October 2013, Timo launched a news website for the project in which he announced the sequel to The Land of New Hope, which was provisionally titled Avalon II.[7] The cast of guest musicians will be revealed one by one.[7] Simone Simons of Epica fame is the first confirmed singer.[8] Floor Jansen will play the leading role.[9] It was also announced that Timo's former bandmates in Stratovarius, drummer Tuomo Lassila and keyboardist Antti Ikonen will play on this album.[10][11]

A European tour is planned for May 2014, coinciding with the release of the album.[9]

On January 28, Timo revealed title of the album (Angels of the Apocalypse) and the rest of the cast: Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire, Angra), David DeFeis (Virgin Steele), Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) and Caterina Nix.[12] Timo also announced that there will be a contest for guitar and keyboard players, with the winners getting a chance to perform a solo with him in one of the songs.[12]

Members

Name Associated bands The Land of New Hope Angels of the Apocalypse
Timo Tolkki ex-(Stratovarius, Revolution Renaissance, Symfonia) guitar, bass on all tracks guitar, bass
Elize Ryd Amaranthe lead vocals on all tracks, except 5, 7, 8 & 10 lead vocals
Rob Rock Impellitteri lead vocals on all tracks, except 3, 6, 9 & 10
Russell Allen Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob, Allen-Lande, Star One lead vocals on Avalanche Anthem, A World Without Us & In the Name of the Rose
Michael Kiske Unisonic, Place Vendome, Kiske/Somerville, ex-Helloween lead vocals on The Land of New Hope
Tony Kakko Sonata Arctica lead vocals on We Will Find a Way
Sharon den Adel Within Temptation lead vocals on Shine
Alex Holzwarth Rhapsody of Fire drums on all tracks
Mikko Härkin ex-(Sonata Arctica, Symfonia), Luca Turilli's Rhapsody keyboards on all tracks
Derek Sherinian ex-(Dream Theater, Black Country Communion) keyboard solo on To the Edge of the Earth
Jens Johansson Stratovarius keyboard solo on To the Edge of the Earth
Floor Jansen Nightwish, ReVamp, ex-After Forever, Star One lead vocals
Simone Simons Epica lead vocals
Fabio Lione Rhapsody of Fire, Vision Divine, Angra lead vocals
David DeFeis Virgin Steele lead vocals
Caterina Nix ex-Aghonya lead vocals
Zachary Stevens Circle II Circle, ex-Savatage lead vocals
Tuomo Lassila ex-Stratovarius drums on all tracks
Antti Ikonen ex-Stratovarius keyboards
Nicolas Jeudy Nicolas Jeudy Orchestrations

Discography

Year Album Peak positions
BEL (Wa)
[13]		 FIN
[14]		 SWE
[15]		 SUI
[16]
2013 The Land of New Hope 102 7 42 59
2014 Angels of the Apocalypse — 42 — —

References

  1. ↑ Avalon - The Land of New Hope on May 17th March 14, 2013. Retrieved on March 29, 2013. Grande Rock.
  2. ↑ Timo Tolkki returns. Frontiers Records. Retrieved on March 30, 2013.
  3. ↑ TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON: 'The Land Of New Hope' Details Revealed Blabbermouth.net. March 14, 2013. Retrieved on March 29, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Exclusive Tobias Sammet (Avantasia) interview for Kiske Fanclub". Kiske Fanclub. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  5. ↑ Dean, Mark (23 March 2013). "Exclusive Interview with Tobias Sammet (Vocals) (Avantasia, Edguy)". My Global Mind. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "Interview with Timo Tolkki". Metal Traveller. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Launch of AVALON II". Avalon Opera.com. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "First singer for Avalon II revealed!". Avalon Opera.com. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Floor Jansen is the main vocalist on Avalon II, the album and European tour planned for May 2014". Avalon Opera.com. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Tuomo Lassila Videogreeting". Avalon Opera.com. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "Keyboardist Antti Ikonen joins Avalon line up and the Recordings of the new Avalon album start". Avalon Opera.com. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Timo Tolkki’s Avalon reveals the album title and the rest of the cast". Timo Tolkki's Avalon official profile. Facebook. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  13. ↑ http://www.ultratop.be/fr/weekchart.asp?cat=a&year=2013&date=20130525
  14. ↑ "http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/virallinen-lista/albumit/2013/21 page". ifpi.fi. Musiikkituottajat Ry. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  15. ↑ "SwedishCharts.com: Avalon - The Land of New Hope - A Metal Opera page". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  16. ↑ http://swisscharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=a&year=2013&date=20130602

External links