Metal Underground.com

Sometimes it seems the U.S. is the last to know about something good – such is the case with former Stratovarius guitarist Timo Tolkki's rock opera, the first installment of which is called "Saana – Warrior of Light Part 1: Journey To Crystal Island." Released in Europe nearly a year ago, and leaked on Youtube as early as 2008, this masterpiece is scheduled to hit the U.S. on February 22, 2011. And "Saana" is a masterpiece – a melodic, mostly classical piece that may not exactly fit in the metal niche, but will definitely satisfy those with an appreciation for more highbrow compositions.

One of the complaints I kept coming across while reading user comments on Youtube was that "Saana" was boring. Well, to those people I say that while "Saana" lacks the power metal guitar and drums typically associated with Stratovarius, the songs still have a familiar feel to them. Tolkki has simply amped up the symphonic side, bringing to the table woodwinds, brass and piano instead. And anyone who likes classical vocal style will be blown away by guest soprano Jennifer Sowle. Her role as the lead character Saana is mesmerizing, and I'd love to hear her pair up with some symphonic metal bands.

The first ten tracks of this installment center around Sowle's character, and as Tolkki has pointed out, they're all basically one song with breaks, much like a true opera. At least listening to it digitally, this makes for a few spots where the breaks between tracks don't quite work, but this is a minor flaw. Of this portion of the album, the best track is probably "3 At 7," a duet that finds piano and orchestral instruments providing the perfect backdrop. Hushed and calm until this point, there's a point in this song where the brass instruments enter with a big crescendo and then fade away again, but the moment will bring chills. "3 At 7" is truly a masterpiece.

At track eleven we finally meet Freya, who Saana will learn is actually her mother, though not necessarily biological. As a Norse goddess, all her followers are considered her children, and it becomes evident that Saana was a lost soul who perhaps had not learned the teachings of the goddess before now. Freya is played by Finnish female vocalist Heikki Poyhia, of the power metal band Twilightning, and her more mature, deeper voice is the perfect contrast to Sowle's pure first soprano.

With the appearance of Freya comes a little heavier sound, with a more pulsing tempo. "Freya’s Teachings" has a short-lived power metal feel with some chugging guitar, but the next song, "Warrior Of Light" should please power metal fans who maybe were disappointed with the rest of the opera. It's the turning point of the album, and though it's near the end, it promises that Part 2 will probably be more palatable to fans who favor a heavier sound.

When you reach the final note of the closing track "Journey To The Azores," you feel like you have to take a moment to take it all in, almost like watching a suspense movie and knowing you need to watch it again because there were parts you missed. Tolkki has created a true work of art with "Saana," and the most impressive part is that with the exception of guest vocalists and drums, he is solely responsible for all the other instruments, the mixing, and production. That alone makes this one of my top picks for album of the new year.