Edguy - Vain Glory Opera (1998)

We start 1998 with Edguy's Vain Glory Opera, a real jump in quality from previous work.  It isn't a complete success (I could have done without the weak ballad "Scarlet Rose"), but the title track is a classic, and other pieces like "Until We Rise Again" and "No More Foolin'" are also impressive, while the record finishes with a cover of one of my favourite Ultravox songs, "Hymn". While, generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of cover songs by anyone, I do kind of like crossovers like this, and Edguy does a pretty good job with it. And, let's face it, power metal and 80s pop do have a few things in common.
Timo Tolkki produced this album, and appears on it, as does Hansi Kursch (doesn't he appear everywhere?) and, while it isn't up to the standards of those two performers' respective bands, it remains a very worthwhile listen.

***1/2