Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet is one of those who just keeps on pushing the boundaries of what he wants to acheive with each record he produces. Side project Avanatsia's new album 'The Scarecrow' is no exception to this trend.

The opening 2 tracks are 17 mins of unrivaled beauty the likes of which have not been heard since 'Operation Mindcrime' ( Queensryche ) and were this album to be given an outing with the same full on stage production that classic received, then it could well become an essential live experience.

Scaling the dizzy heights of opera while taking speed/power metal and even some traditional gaelic rythms in its melodic stride, the list of performers reads like a who's who of rock. With some strong drumming, excellent keyboard work and truly great guitar and vocals - nearly all have played their part in creating an album that at times gave me goosebumps.

The only let down is - amazingly - Alice Cooper.

His vocals on 'The Toy Master' just don't cut it for me and as lyrics are as much about their delivery as their content, it's the only reason this album didn't score a ten in that department. Listen to it - then imagine what it could have been were it treated to the dark menace of Geoff Tate or the agressive evil of Ronnie James Dio. This could have been a showstopper ! As is, for my ears, it's the only track I wouldn't want to listen to a hundred times.

With 'The Scarecrow' album, Tobias Sammet reaches for perfection like an elusive dream - and on some occasions grabs it by it's coat tails.

An essential purchase. Buy it now.

MOO ! pmsbull