Band:	Edguy
Album:	Theater Of Salvation
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	January 27, 1999
A review by:	Dream Taster

01. The Healing Vision
02. Babylon
03. The Headless Game
04. Land Of The Miracle
05. Wake Up The King
06. Falling Down
07. Arrows Fly
08. Holy Shadows
09. Another Time
10. The Unbeliever
11. Theater Of Salvation
12. For A Trace Of Life [Japanese bonus]
13. Walk On Fighting [live] [Japanese bonus]
14. Fairytale [live] [Japanese bonus]

Question: what makes a great band? Answer: great albums! So after the not really well acclaimed "Vain Glory Opera", the German power metal band Edguy had to reach another level of quality to interest the masses. Well, 1999's "Theater Of Salvation", the title says it all. That was the album that made them enter the very protected circle of famous power metal bands. Leaded by their extravagant [I should say crazy] front man and singer Tobias Sammet, this young band played a traditional power metal. However, their songs are something more complex than the usual cliches about power metal [and I don't dare to write names here but... You know Halloween, Gamma Ray, Hammerfall... Damn...]

At first, this album was like a whole new experience for me, but I was a little bit disturbed by Tobias' voice. But that was at first. Then, you learn to do with it, and finally, you happen to love that voice! How do you feel about yourself after that? I don't know? But that's not the point here.

After the short piano intro, the melodic fury of 'Babylon' grabs you and the follower 'The Headless Game' produces the same effect. Hard to describe but good to listen, you know what you ought to do! Then 'Land Of The Miracle', which is my favorite ballad ever. Back to power metal business with 'Wake Up The King', 'Falling Down' and 'Arrows Fly'. So many great songs on the same album, that's almost too many to be true. But it is. And the best is yet to come.

'Holy Shadows' makes "Theater Of Salvation" worth checking out by itself. Acoustic guitars mixed with heavy riffs, perfect keys, great vocals... A great, great moment. 'Another Time' is another tremendous ballad, maybe a little too calm, but still beautiful [and so sad...]

'The Unbeliever' and the epic 'Theater Of Salvation' compose the grand finale of this amazing album. While it is hard to make any song catchier than 'The Unbeliever', 'Theater Of Salvation' is a long [around 12 minutes] and superb composition, in which the vocals are simply fabulous. Both of these songs are one of those you never forget, believe me!

After all that, if you're still not convinced, you either have three bonus tracks on the European release, including a good live performance of 'Walk On Fighting' [from "Vain Glory Opera"] or the funniest hidden track I have ever heard on a CD, on the US release. It's some kind of funny sounding keyboards with crazy voices that lead you to laugh like crazy. Well, well, Toby, I though you were a very serious fellow [lol]!

"Theatre Of Salvation" is an amazing album. Once you've overcome the peculiar voice of Tobias Sammet [if you need to], you're going to enjoy that CD without any limit. Enjoy!