• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

April 2024

• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
• Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
• D'Luna: Monster
• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
• Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
• Gotus: Gotus
• Metalite: Expedition One
• Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

[ More Music Reviews ]

Timo Tolkki's Avalon: Angels of the Apocalypse

Symphonic/Melodic/Power Metal

4.5/5.0

Website Facebook Twitter YouTube
Frontiers Records
Words by Craig Hartranft,  07.05.2014

Never standing still and getting ever more grand, guitarist Timo Tolkki returns with his second Avalon metal opera, Angels of the Apocalypse. Previously the concept was of a future dying earth and survivors seeking a new land. Now, Tolkki takes on the future Apocalypse. Don't worry it doesn't involve zombies, if you were wondering.

Timo Tolkki: with Flor Jansen.

No, in the future, it appears the Elements are pretty pissed about what has happened to the Earth, and they send out four angels in their names, fire, wind, earth, and water, to usher in judgment day. As usual, the story is played out in epic fashion with Tolkki's large and bombastic symphonic power with his equally epic guitar solos and featuring a bevy metal superstars on vocals. These include Floor Jansen (Nightwish) Simone Simons (Epica), Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire), David DeFeis (Virgin Steele), Zachary Stevens (ex Savatage, Circle II Circle), Elize Ryd (Amaranth) and Chilean singer Caterina Nix.

Fundamentally, if you liked The Land of New Hope, you're going like Angels of the Apocalypse just as much. I might even say that some songs make this album sound heavier than the previous one. Jerusalem Is Falling has some weight and thunder thanks to the big riffs and huge bottom end. Rise of the 4th Reich is deeper as well, but the male vocals (DeFeis, I think) gives it a raw sound. The title cut can race along, but it also has immense symphonic layer that gets even more beefed up by the crashing drums. Alternatively, against all the thunder and lightning, Tolkki can throw in a song with a dangerously catchy groove, melody, and refrain. That song is Design The Century, featuring the wonderful Flor Jansen. Throughout, Tolkki soars on his guitar, demonstrating that he still remains one the best fret wizards in the power metal. And if you like bold and bombastic symphonic power metal, it's all good. Angels of the Apocalypse will be perfect for you.

Timo Tolkki's Avalon - Angels of the Apocalypse (Teaser)

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

It's go big or go home. With Angels of the Apocalypse, Timo Tolkki concocts another bombastic blast of symphonic power metal.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]