Five years in the making, the third installment of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon, the outstanding metal opera which saw the return of the highly talented Finnish musician to the heavy metal scene, is ready for release. “Return To Eden” took a few years to be completed as Tolkki had to battle his personal demons during the process. He enlisted the outside help of Aldo Lonobile of Italian power/prog metal masters Secret Sphere, who co-produced the album and helped him with the recording of the various musicians who guest on the album. The result is convincing, inspired and stronger than ever. Tolkki resumed the work for the third album with the concept of developing the sound and the music in an even more grandiose and metallic mood, bringing back the emotions and highs of the classic Stratovarius years. The amazing vocal cast appearing this time includes renowned Dutch singer Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering), Zak Stevens (ex-Savatage), Todd Michael Hall (Riot V), Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania, Ardours), and Eduard Hovinga (ex-Elegy). Tolkki has traveled a hard road to get to today, but he is back again and more determined than ever to take back his rightful place in the metal scene that he so much deserves after all these years. Listen and believe!
