Review by: Antonie
Pictures by: Michael

Get up, get up, come out!
We’re chasing twilight
Raise your glass
Welcome to the creepshow!

Avantasia has been an established name in Germany with many shows and festival appearances. This is only the second time that Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia has landed in The Netherlands with the first show being part of the full metal cruise in 2013. Touching down in Tilburg this time, the crowd and the band were ready for a full Avantasia show.

A soft organ intro with the hit of the first riff, and down comes the curtain giving us a look at the stage and the band. Blasting out of the gates with “Creepshow” from the new album “Here Be Dragons” the crowd seems to already scream the lyrics to this catchy and new opener.  Sometimes when it’s too dark in the venue you have to “Reach Out For The Light” and that’s exactly what they did. Adrienne Cowan from Seven Spires joined Tobias Sammet for this song and it was nothing more than spectacular, what a voice she has.  The night is a mix of old and new songs plus many special guest vocalists, because this is the Here Be Dragons tour. Some new songs were being played and the crowd got a little “warning” that if we wanted a heavy metal party and a night to remember that we had to pretend it’s the best f**cking album in the history of music (this was all jokes btw).

A cloaked figure walked on stage with a microphone in hand for “The Witch”. The figure turned out to be none other than Kamelot’s Tommy Karevik! As he already sang the song on the album it just made sense he would be joining them on tour as well. This tour’s setlist has some songs that haven’t been played in a very long time or are making their live debut including “Devil in the Belfry”. “Phantasmagoria” had me scream with joy because my favorite guest vocalist made his return for Avantasia : Ronnie Atkins from Pretty Maids. The raw power in his voice just fits so amazingly with Avantasia and it was great to see him back on stage.

Eric Martin from Mr. Big joined with the slower and heartfelt song “ What’s Left of Me”. He really brought the energy to the audience before starting the crowd favorite “Dying for an Angel”.

3 songs from the new album in a row. “Against the Wind” (with Kenny Leckremo – H.E.A.T) , “Here Be Dragons” (with Tommy Kaverik) & “Avalon” (with Adrienne Cowan) marks the end of  the new stuff and only half way into the show we would be treated to classics and specials from now on. Tobias Sammet spoke to the crowd about having a cold, but from where we were standing we didn’t hear anything that sounded like he was sick or out of breath.

The longest song on the setlist played full length was “Let the Storm Descend Upon You” joining Sammet on stage were Herbie Langhans and Ronnie Atkins for the 12 minute spectacular. When the song was over Sammet returned backstage for a bit while heavy hitters Jackass Jones (As Atkins lovingly calls Eric Martin)  & The man who is well preserved by time (Martin’s nickname for Ronnie Atkins) take us to the “Promised Land”. While Sammet returns with a massive throne that breathes fire “The Toy Master” a song that hasn’t been played since 2010 before returning backstage again and letting the guests sing a few songs. Martin & Atkins start off with “Twisted Mind” trading places with Leckremo & Kaverik for “The Wicked Symphony” only for Kaverik to make place for Langhaus, to take “Shelter From The Rain”.

Sammet returns for one of my personal favorites and a song that has been my alarm for 10+ years “Farewell” this time featuring Chiara Tricarico from Moonlight Haze. The crowd turned into one big singalong with accompanying lights from the audience. Now it’s time for another crowd favorite “The Scarecrow”  (With Atkins) but there’s one song that caught me off guard the most and it had me and the crowd jumping up and down. “Death Is Just A Feeling” which hasn’t been played since 2011 had me tearing up and smiling with joy.

After a short break it was time for the encore. A piano was dragged onto the stage and while Sammet sat down behind it, I knew what time it was. It was time for “Lucifer” and a loud “SET IT ON FIRE” was heard (as what happens during the song). Sammet started laughing and responded with “hehehe Yeah before we play just set it on fire and see whatever happens afterwards just burn it” to continue with “No actually there’s so many bands these days that set everything on fire and use backing tracks and do whatever shit that needs to be done these days. We don’t set so much stuff on fire, we suck honestly, no Artificial Intelligence involved in this show, everything is just beautiful, handmade human stupidity.”  Even played some wrong notes to show everyone that it was really him playing the piano, when eventually the piano gets caught on fire. Now it’s time for the only hit single Avantasia ever had in Germany with Sammet calling the band the “no hit wonders”, crowd and fan favorite “Lost In Space” turns 013 into a big singalong. To conclude the show with a medley “Sign of the Cross/The Seven Angels” with everyone joining on stage to let everyone go home satisfied after a 2 hour and 50 minute show.

The band played as a well oiled machine and the mix of guest vocalists who were all great made this night absolutely freaking amazing and I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.
And to make it even more special Sammet said that it would not take 12 years to come back this time!

If you ever have the chance to see Avantasia you should take it and you would not be disappointed. 2 hours and 50 minutes of nothing but well written music delivered by world class musicians, I would say it’s worth every penny !

setlist :

1. Creepshow
2. Reach Out for the Light (with Adrienne Cowan)
3. The Witch (with Tommy Karevik)
4. Devil in the Belfry (with Herbie Langhans)
5. Phantasmagoria (with Ronnie Atkins)
6. What’s Left of Me (with Eric Martin)
7. Dying for an Angel (with Eric Martin)
8. Against the Wind (with Kenny Leckremo)
9. Here Be Dragons (with Tommy Karevik)
10. Avalon (with Adrienne Cowan)
11. Let the Storm Descend Upon You (With Ronnie Atkins & Herbie Langhans)
12. Promised Land (With Ronnie Atkins & Eric Martin, without Tobias Sammet)
13. The Toy Master
14. Twisted Mind (With Ronnie Atkins & Eric Martin, without Tobias Sammet)
15. The Wicked Symphony (With Tommy Karevik & Kenny Leckremo, without Tobias Sammet)
16. Shelter from the Rain (With Herbie Langhans & Kenny Leckremo, without Tobias Sammet)
17. Farewell (with Chiara Tricarico)
18. The Scarecrow (with Ronnie Atkins)
19. Death Is Just a Feeling
20. Lucifer
21. Lost in Space
22. Sign of the Cross / The Seven Angels (with Everyone)