Heart Healer - 'The Metal Opera by Magnus Karlsson'

MK has experience of working with ensemble vocalists, notably with the excellent Free Fall album last year. The only lady on that album was leather-lunged, Norse goddess Noora Louhimo from Battle Beast and she features prominently on this record too, notably on early single “Into the Unknown”. The other marquee name is Anette Olzon who has amassed an excellent body of work since leaving Nightwish in her rear-view mirror, including the excellent Allen / Olzon and Dark Element albums.

The real star of the show, however, is the astonishing Adrienne Cowan who plays the title role. Adrienne first came to my attention as a touring backing singer with Avantasia, particularly when grabbing the spotlight with Tobi on ‘Moonglow’. She then stepped up to lead vocals on the Sascha Paeth’s Masters of Ceremony album and should have been on tour in Europe with them this year. Her own band, Seven Spires, was formed with fellow virtuosos out of the Berklee School of Music where Adrienne was classically trained as both a vocalist and arranger and they have already released two conceptual albums of dark symphonic rock with another on the way.

“Awake” is a splendid opener with Adrienne as The Heart Healer channelling her inner Disney Princess (of Darkness) but she’s definitely more Maleficent than Sleeping Beauty. The orchestral arrangements are epically cinematic in a Hans Zimmer kind of way with Magnus unleashing some superb neo-classical guitar bursts to keep it metal.

This sets up the story of the mysterious and amnesiac, Heart Healer, who cures the people she meets by touch but becomes weaker each time she does so. Along the way she meets both friends and foes played by the other singers; Netta Laurenne (Smackbound and soon to be on the Laurenne/Louhimo album), Youmna Jreissati (Ostura), Ailyn (Her Chariot Awaits) and Margarita Monet (Edge of Paradise). It’s an easy-to-follow story but, of course, you can also just enjoy it as a collection of superior symphonic metal songs.

Noora, Anette and Adrienne (twice) each get featured solo songs and there are various duets and three-part vocals as the story unfolds. Adrienne’s two-handers with Anette (“Who Can Stand All Alone”) and Noora (“Evil’s Around the Corner”) are particularly strong but everyone gets a chance to shine.

The big show-stopping tune at the end features all the singers and is entitled “This is Not the End”. I certainly hope it is not and a second instalment will be very welcome.