This “Opera” raises questions about free will and whether it can be sacrificed for the sake of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding.
Tell me how should I embrace
Like roses we’ll wither on the vine
Why should I bide my time
If it flies away sometime
Avantasia is a German supergroup led by vocalist and bassist Tobias Sammet. The band pioneered the genre people have come to call Metal Opera. Each album tells a story in which special musical guests play various characters. The album Ghostlights is the second part of a two part story, picking up where the previous album, The Mystery of Time, left off. As the story goes, a group of scientists are attempting to find a way to align peoples’ personalities in order to make it easier for people to understand each other. Through the course of this album, they begin to raise various existential questions, realizing that what they are attempting to do would become a way to control people, and may not actually be beneficial to humankind. This “Opera” raises questions about free will and whether it can be sacrificed for the sake of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding.
The song, Draconian Love features vocalist Herbie Langhans. The song itself is a discussion between two of the scientists on the concept of love and human nature. The song is the perfect demonstration of what “Metal Opera” is. The back and forth between the 2 vocalists whose voices play so excellently off of eachother carries a spectacular atmosphere. The smooth low voice of Herbie Langhans contrasted against the high and expressive voice of Tobias Sammet accentuates the concept of a dialogue between 2 characters. The music itself is remarkably catchy and, as a stand-alone song, is still incredible. The talent on display is of the highest order, and one can’t help but get behind the amazing groove and melodies of this song.
I am a huge fan of Avantasia and the musical style they have created. Sammet and his supergroup are a testament to good songwriting and composition. The band goes out of their way to create incredible stories through their music and invoke deep thought and introspection. Their music continues to be some of the most well written and deliberately composed music around.
Listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGYfpDCBJ4A
Submitted by Prashant Srinivasan Sarkar
Draconian Love
You shed draconian love
You shed draconian…
You shed draconian love
You shed draconian…
Welcome to your way
Seemingly endless as you take your wings
The world through kaleidoscope eyes
Until you unlearn what you keep inside
Those innocent eyes…
Refracting the light for an innocent soul
Till the cold around’s not gonna wait its turn
Wait its turn no more
Tell me how should I embrace
Like roses we’ll wither on the vine
Why should I bide my time
If it flies away sometime
Where are you now, where are you now
Leaving me down here, lost in the waves
Hey hey hey
When will God explain this draconian love
You shed draconian love, you shed draconian love
Where do I go, where are you now
Selling me love through the fiery rain, angel
When will you explain this draconian love
It’s all draconian love, it’s all draconian
Infiltrate us with mercy
Bait us with sympathy
Blind us with love
We’re lost in the clouds rolling by
And in what some of us read
Into what they feel
Like a grain of nothing
I feel cast in the wind of enthean caprice
Of an unbred cause, of an unborn will
whatever that may mean
Tell me how should I embrace
like roses we’ll wither on the vine
Tell me why should I bide my time
if it flies away sometime
Where are you now, where are you now
Leaving me down here, lost in the waves
Hey hey hey
When will God explain this draconian love
You shed draconian love, you shed draconian love
Where do I go, where are you now
Selling me love through fiery rain, angel
When will you explain this draconian love
It’s all draconian love, it’s all draconian
Aspiration and tears, heartache and fears
Draconian love, you shed draconian love
Unrequited love – down on my knees
Draconian love, it’s all draconian
Where are you now, where are you now
Leaving me down here, lost in the waves
Will you explain this draconian love
Where are you now, where are you now
Leaving me down here lost in the waves
Hey hey hey
When will God explain this draconian love
You shed draconian love, you shed draconian love
Where do I go, where are you now
Selling me love through fiery rain
Hey hey hey
Will you explain this draconian love
It’s all draconian love, it’s all draconian
Where are you now, where are you now
Leaving me down here, lost in the waves
When will God explain this draconian love
You she draconian love, you shed draconian love
Where do I go, where are you now
Selling me love through fiery rain…
