Metal opera - Definition and Overview

In the vein of rock operas, a metal opera is an album or series of songs, in the form of an opera or a musical but in a heavy metal (or power metal) style.

It is a relatively recently-emerged form in comparison to the rock opera.

Some metal operas:

• Streets (1991) by Savatage
• The Metal Opera parts I (2001) and II (2002) by Avantasia, a two-part story set in medieval Europe. Gnosticism, Catholicism and elves and dwarves feature heavily. The music was written by Tobias Sammet of Edguy, who sang the lead role. The 'Avantasia' group is a collection of singers and musicians from other metal bands such as Gamma Ray and Angra; such collaborations seem to be de rigeur in metal operas, which by definition require more than one strong singer. Avantasia is the name of a country in the opera's story.
• Epica (2003) by Kamelot, the first part of a Faustian tale.
• Days of Rising Doom (2004) by Aina, written by Amanda Somerville, who invented an entire mythos and language for the story. The album features musicians from Nightwish and Stratovarius among many others.

External links

• Review of Days of Rising Doom (http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200407.html)