New masterpiece from Tobias Sammet out now on Nuclear Blast
GERMANY – The Mystery of Time, the latest release from German composer and vocalist Tobias Sammet’s, Avantasia, released last week in North America, selling nearly 2,000 copies and checking in at #9 on the Billboard “Heat Seekers” chart. The record also debuted at #33 on the “Hard Rock” chart.
On March 22nd the new AVANTASIA single “Sleepwalking” will hit the online stores for downloading. Tobias and AVANTASIA have also shot a video clip for the song. Check out the images below to get an impression of what the Sleepwalking video will look and feel like. The video was shot in a magical forest in Germany on a snowy winter‘s night. Tobias comments: “It was far below freezing. And there we were, standing in the snow storm for hours, walking through a haunted forest. It felt a bit like Sleepy Hollow meets Brothers Grimm, but the pictures that came out were really great and compensated for the torture.”
About the song itself Tobias says: “Sleepwalking is the most enchanting pop song I’ve ever written. Yes, it’s a pop song, and I am the first to admit it. I love stuff like A-Ha, Cutting Crew, Enya and Sarah Brightman. You know, the whole album is a journey, someone said, that “The Mystery Of Time“ is the most adventurous AVANTASIA album to date. What makes AVANTASIA what it is, is its diversity. We have five double bass songs, two big epics, a beautiful flamboyantly orchestrated ballad, and monumental mid tempo groovy stuff with big choirs. AVANTASIA has always been defined by its diversity and mingling of styles. It is an Epic Metal record and there are so many different things to be discovered, you have to give the album at least ten listens to discover half of what’s going on. Sleepwalking are four wonderful minutes out of 60 minutes, but there is not one song on the album that can represent AVANTASIA on its own, it’s the full 60 minutes you have to pay attention to, to grasp the magic of this piece!”
The new album “The Mystery Of Time” will hit the stores on March 29th, “Sleepwalking” will be released on March 22nd.
A lyric video for the hard-rockin’ AVANTASIA track “Invoke The Machine” – featuring Tobias Sammet and guest vocalist Ronnie Atkins of Pretty Maids – is now up on Nuclear Blast’s YouTube channel:
AVANTASIA – The Mystery Of Time
“Invoke The Machine” comes from AVANTASIA’s upcoming The Mystery Of Time album, due out in North America on April 30th.
AVANTASIA’s latest rock opera features artwork by the highly-acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews (Thin Lizzy, Asia, Nazareth, Magnum) and includes guest appearances by the following rock & metal heavy weights: Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow, ex-Deep Purple), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Biff Byford (Saxon), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween, Unisonic), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, ex-Vengeance), Bruce Kulick (Grand Funk Railroad, ex-KISS, ex-Meat Loaf), Russell Gilbrook (URIAH HEEP), Bob Catley (Magnum), guitarist/producer Sascha Paeth, and the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg.
About Ronnie Atkins‘ guest appearance, AVANTASIA mastermind Tobias Sammet has previously stated:
“I have been a huge Pretty Maids fan since I was a teenager. I already asked Ronnie to be on the Metal Opera in 1999, but he was busy back then. Last year I saw Pretty Maids live and they were a steam train on stage – unbelievable! After the show we met and Ronnie was a great guy. Finally after 13 years, I am really proud to have him on the new AVANTASIA album. And his kick-ass performance leaves no doubt: It was a great decision to ask him!”
The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon, AVANTASIA’s last two studio albums, were released in 2010. “Dying For An Angel” (featuring SCORPIONS’ Klaus Meine), “Carry Me Over,” and “Lost In Space” videos are available for viewing on YouTube.
Tobias Sammet also fronts the high humor/high energy heavy metal band EDGUY.
On March 30th the new AVANTASIA-album “The Mystery Of Time“ will be released. If you register for the backstage section of tobiassammet.com (HERE), you can now see the new artwork there. It has been hand-painted by world acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Amongst Rodney’s most famous artworks are not only album covers for Rock legends such as Magnum, Thin Lizzy, Asia or Nazareth. He has also designed the characters for the TV-series “Lavender Castle“ and created the covers for novels by British fantasy author Michael Moorcock and many more.Tobias: “It is a great honour for me to have Rodney create the artwork of ‘The Mystery Of Time‘. Since the new album is a conceptual album and its story has a magical and enchanting atmosphere, there was no other painter I could think of to create the artwork. I’ve had several creative conversations with Rodney during the process and I had the feeling that the concept was inspiring to him right from the start. I put a lot of energy into producing a very detailed and fascinating album, and Rodney had that same enthusiasm to create an artwork just as detailed and fascinating. This is a new chapter in AVANTASIA’s history and I think it didn’t deserve less than a magical painting by my favorite painter and childhood hero: The one and only Rodney Matthews!“
The Mystery Of Time tracklist:’Spectres’
‘The Watchmakers’ Dream’
‘Black Orchid’
‘Where Clock Hands Freeze’
‘Sleepwalking’
‘Savior In The Clockwork’
‘Invoke The Machine’
‘What’s Left Of Me’
‘Dweller In A Dream’
‘The Great Mystery’
In April an all-star Avantasia ensemble will set off on a world tour, playing three-hour indoor shows on their own plus a few chosen festivals.
Guests on The Mystery Of Time rock opera include: Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow, ex-Deep Purple), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Biff Byford (Saxon), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween, Unisonic), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, ex-Vengeance), Bruce Kulick (Grand Funk Railroad, ex-KISS, ex-Meat Loaf), Russell Gilbrook (URIAH HEEP), guitarist/producer Sascha Paeth, and the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg.
AVANTASIA’s last two albums, The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon, were released in 2010 and included guest appearances by Klaus Meine (SCORPIONS), Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN), Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-ICED EARTH), Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), and Jon Oliva (JON OLIVA’S PAIN, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, SAVATAGE) among others.
AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen (also ex-BODINE, VENGEANCE) has been confirmed as one of the guest musicians who will appear on “The Mystery Of Time”, the new album from EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet’s AVANTASIA project. Also scheduled to make appearances on the CD are Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, HELLOWEEN), SAXON frontman Biff Byford, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick and drummer Russell Gilbrook of URIAH HEEP.
Commented Sammet: “To me, he used to be what John D. Rockerduck is to Scrooge McDuck: an adamant longtime rival; in our case, when it comes to producing rock operas. Well, if you can’t beat your enemy, make him your ally! And so I opened the door and literally invited pestilence into my world, ha!
“Seriously, the truth is that the ‘pestilence’ I’m talking about is really one of the nicest, coolest and loveliest plagues I’ve ever come to know, an ambitious artist through and through and a real great guitar player. So, having just come back from a shopping tour in 2912 — where apparently he found himself a brand new pair of bad-ass pants and boots — he went into the studio to record some additional lead guitar for the forthcoming AVANTASIA album, ‘The Mystery Of Time’: AYREON mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen!”
A YouTube clip containing footage of the orchestra recordings as well as a rough-mix sample of a song featuring Kiske is available below.
Bruce previously appeared on AVANTASIA’s “The Wicked Symphony” and “Angel Of Babylon” CDs and Tobias contributed guest vocals to Bruce’s last solo release, “BK3″.
The new AVANTASIA CD is being recorded in part at VOX Klangstudio in Bendestorf, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth (KAMELOT, EDGUY, EPICA, RHAPSODY).
Immediately after the release of “The Mystery Of Time”, a metal opera based on a story written by Sammet, the band will embark on a full-fledged indoor tour, during which the band and special guests will bring the epic undertaking to the stage.
Since the performances will embrace all the different eras and history of AVANTASIA, these shows will feature an extended playing time and the entire evening will be dedicated to AVANTASIA with no support acts.
Tobias originally wanted to put AVANTASIA to rest after the release of the “The Flying Opera – Around The World In 20 Days” concert DVD in April 2011, but he has since had a change of heart. He explains, “Even though I love to record and tour with EDGUY, I didn’t foresee how much I need AVANTASIA when I decided to finish this chapter of my life in 2011. I didn’t know if there would be another AVANTASIA album one day, but I didn‘t feel like doing it. After the worldwide success of the latest studio releases, an arena world tour that was sold out pretty much everywhere, collaborations with childhood heroes like Alice Cooper, Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Eric Singer of KISS, etc. I ‘knew’ that I had said everything I could possibly say in the name of AVANTASIA. But that’s not what AVANTASIA is all about. I wanna create more great music, I wanna create more fantasy worlds, the bigger and the more epic, the better. And listening to the material that I have created for this forthcoming chapter in the history of AVANTASIA, I know there is no way I am not going to do it! I have got the feeling and the certainty that this is absolutely meant to happen and to be!”
AVANTASIA mastermind Tobia Sammet (EDGUY) has issued a special Christmas update for the fans:
“Hey friends, as you know I am currently working on a new Avantasia album. It’s a lot of work, but I am so proud of what we are creating right now – it’s amazing stuff. As my little Christmas gift to, and to make Christmas even a little more exciting for you, I’ll reveal some secrets today: Of course, Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) is on board again! I bet you expected this, you can hear him loud and clear, and he is still the number one vocalist in that range – unbelievable! But, what is really new: For the first time in the history of Avantasia, we’re working with a real symphonic orchestra: The German Film Orchestra Babelsberg! You may remember it, they have worked with RAMMSTEIN, BRYAN ADAMS, SHANIA TWAIN, and also with Edguy on the Hellfire Club album. It’s an enchanting fairytale we are working on, so we really have no choice but to finally have a real orchestra – after all it’s an epic Rock-, or probably Metal Opera! Okay, I don‘t wanna talk much, but wish you a Happy Christmas. If you click on the clip below, you can check out the orchestra recordings and also, you’ll hear a little sample, a rough mix of what’s to come in March 2013: The Mystery Of Time!
Enjoy… and Merry Christmas!”
As previously reported, Avantasia are the latest act confirmed for Sweden Rock Festival 2013. Sammet promises an even more celebrity-filled show, which says a lot since previous performances have included such names as Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, Jørn Lande and Bob Catley. This will be Avantasia’s only show in Sweden for the summer of 2013.
Sweden Rock Festival 2013 will take place June 5th – 8th in Sölvesborg, Sweden.
Confirmed acts now include: ACCEPT, AMARANTHE, AMON AMARTH, AUDREY HORNE, AVANTASIA, AXXIS, BULLET, CANDLEMASS, CIVIL WAR, CRAZY LIXX, DEMON, DORO, JON ENGLISH, FIREWIND, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, HUNTRESS, HYPOCRISY, IHSAHN, KISS, KREATOR, KROKUS, MORGANA LEFAY, LENINGRAD COWBOYS, LEPROUS, MANILLA ROAD, MARTIN PRAHL’S SKELTER WHEEL, NAGLFAR, NINE BELOW ZERO, PARADISE LOST, RAUBTIER, RUSH, SATAN, SAXON, THE SCAMS, SISTER SIN, SONATA ARCTICA, STATUS QUO, TANKARD, THRESHOLD, UFO, VADER, WITCHCRAFT.
Sweden Rock Festival is a four-day festival with a total of 80 bands performing on five outdoor stages. More info can be found at Swedenrock.com.
Avantasia’s complete live schedule can be found at this location.
AVANTASIA – watch The Mystery of Time unfold itself before your eyes
Tobias Sammet’s AVANTASIA will enchant the world again during their MYSTERY WORLD TOUR 2013 which will be the staging of their new release THE MYSTERY OF TIME (out March 2013).
We are very proud to announce their appearance at the Turbinenhalle Oberhausen on 25th April 2013.
Presales will start on December 17th, 2012 and tickets will be available on:www.metaltix.com & www.konticket.de AVANTASIA are famous for their rock opera styled concept albums which feature a lot of guest musicians and tell a mystic, dark, complex and thrilling story, each song representing one fragment of the storyline.
For their new release AVANTASIA so far confirmed (amongst others to be announced) SAXON’s legendary singer Biff Byfford, URIAH HEEP drummer Russell Gilbrook and Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS & MEAT LOAF).
NWOBHM living legend Biff Byford of SAXON will be performing guest vocal duties on the latest rock opera by AVANTASIA, The Mystery Of Time. Watch studio footage taken by AVANTASIA frontman/mastermind Tobias Sammet in Brighton, England on AVANTASIA’s official YouTube channel.
Musicians also confirmed to make appearances on The Mystery Of Time – slated for release in 2013 – include drummer Russell Gilbrook (URIAH HEEP), guitarist/producer Sascha Paeth, and guitarist BRUCE KULICK (ex-KISS/GRAND FUNK RAILROAD).
AVANTASIA’s last two albums, The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon, were released in 2010 and included guest appearances by Klaus Meine (SCORPIONS), Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN), Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-ICED EARTH), Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), and Jon Oliva (JON OLIVA’S PAIN, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, SAVATAGE) among others.
Watch Tobi’s first studio report from Germany here.
The German metallers, Edguy, have developed their sound from traditional German power metal more into the melodic hard rock approach. The band’s latest effort AGE OF THE JOKER is an excellent output and a testimony of the band’s skills and talents to create catchy metal with a hard rock approach. Edguy have always had the good following in Finland, but the five piece haven’t visited that often. Therefore visiting the Finnish Metal Expo was definitely godspeed for both band and above all fans. Before Edguy took to the stage, Metal-Rules.com had an excellent opportunity of talking to the guitarist of the band Jens Ludwig. So here we go.
Interview and pics by Marko Syrjala and Arto Lehtinen
AVANTASIA – founded by EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet – will release their new double DVD concert film and documentary, called The Flying Opera: Around The World In 20 Days, on March 18th via Nuclear Blast Records. The title will be released in Japan/East-Asia on Avalon-Marquee.
Started only as a studio project, in 2008 Avantasia embarked on a world tour to write heavy metal history. For the first time a giant all-star project like that did not only gather in the studio to record an album, but The Metal Opera went on tour to play to hundreds of thousands of fans all over the globe within just a few weeks.
On March 18th fans will get the chance to relive the experience with the 2DVD package. One DVD will feature a full concert film in stereo and Dolby 5.1, recorded during their shows at Wacken Open Air 2008 and Masters Of Rock Festival 2008, the second DVD contains a documentary, shot by a camera team that followed the giant trek around the globe to give viewers the chance to catch a glimpse of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage, interview-material, the start of Avantasia and its history and all the video clips that Avantasia has ever shot.
The limited edition also contains two CDs featuring the concert and many never before seen photos.
Sammet says: “I am so proud of this DVD package and the featured footage, even though it took a little longer to finally complete it. It gives people an idea of what an impact the first appearance of Avantasia on stage had, and you will get an idea of how everything went beyond our expectations and what the roots and the seeds for the current Avantasia tour are. It portrays one year in Avantasia’s history, maybe the most important year in the project’s history because that is when a studio-project became a traveling institution. There are many Metal Operas, but we made it something real, something to take hold of. Something alive…”
AVANTASIA — the project led by EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet — is putting the finishing touches on its two-disc DVD, “The Flying Opera – Around The World In 20 Days”, for an early March release via Nuclear Blast Records in Europe and Avalon Marquee in Asia.
According to a press release, “The DVD is a documentary of the legendary 2008 world tour of AVANTASIA, when the band hit the road for the first time to write a new chapter in metal history; traveling around the world with a giant all-star ensemble to bring the metal opera on stage and play on three continents within a few days, crossing the dateline and eventually playing to a total of 400,000 people within only a few weeks. The first DVD contains a live concert with a running time of almost two hours featuring footage filmed at the headlining shows of Wacken Open Air (Germany) and Masters Of Rock (Czech Republic). On the second DVD there will be a movie, ‘Around The World In 20 Days’, that gives fans the opportunity to join AVANTASIA backstage and take a look at the surroundings and the thrill behind the scenes that go along with an extensive undertaking such as this. The DVD set will portray AVANTASIA 2008 when it all started.”
“The Flying Circus – Around The World In 20 Days” will be available as a two-disc DVD set featuring the documentary movie, a live concert film, and additional bonus material. It will be also available as a double live album on CD and as a limited-edition two-CD/two-DVD box set.
Commented Tobias: “I am so proud of this DVD package and the featured footage, even though it took a little longer to finally complete it. It gives people an idea of what an impact the first appearance of AVANTASIA on stage had, and you will get an idea of how everything went beyond our expectations and what the roots and the seeds for the current AVANTASIA tour are. It portrays one year in AVANTASIA’s history, maybe the most important year in the project’s history because that is when a studio project became a traveling institution.
“There are many metal operas, but we made it something real, something to take hold of. Something alive…”
AVANTASIA kicked off its “The Metal Opera Comes To Town” world tour 2010 on November 30 at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland. Joining Sammet in AVANTASIA’s touring lineup are a number of special guests, including GAMMA RAY/ex-HELLOWEEN guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen, Bob Catley (MAGNUM), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Amanda Somerville, Olli Hartmann and Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN).
Although rumors keep circulating about further shows from AVANTASIA in 2011, a statement on Tobias’ official web site makes it clear that after AVANTASIA’s December 2010 world tour, there will be no more tours or festival appearances from the project apart from the Wacken Open Air show in August 2011.
AVANTASIA released its new epic masterpiece on April 3, 2010 as regular CDs (“The Wicked Symphony” and “Angel Of Babylon”), two separate double picture vinyls, and as a beautiful collector’s edition with an AVANTASIA picture book.
As always, the top albums are for releases from 2010 that are full albums (no EP’s or demos). They also have to be new studio albums for 2010, not re-recordings, re-releases, cover songs, or live material. Below the combined TOP 30 are links to each staff members personal "best of" lists which besides the top albums contains such things as best new band, best DVD/Blu-Ray, disappointments of 2010, greatest hopes for 2011, personal metal discovery of 2010, and various other metal-related categories. Enjoy!
The Top 30 Heavy Metal Albums of 2010
(Click the album cover to read our review.
If no review is available the link it to the band’s MySpace page.)
1. Accept – Blood of the Nations
Wolf Hoffman’s reaction to the band’s #1 placement in our list was:
"Sensational!!! We are so happy about this reaction by the fans. This last year has been nothing short of phenomenal for Accept."
BLOOD OF THE NATIONS is a fantastic album, so fantastic that it very easily came out on top when we compiled our best of 2010 list! In the media, producer Andy Sneap said when he worked with the band he made them go back and listen to the 80’s albums, and it worked. Accept have delivered the album they needed to make. Accept reformed with a vocalist who is just as good as Udo Dirkschneider. Vocalist Mark Tornillo rages through the songs with power and charisma, without being a clone. Accept have proven to the world in 2010 they are still relevant, powerful, uncompromising and most of all entertaining. Welcome back!
2. Blind Guardian – At the Edge of Time
Easily the best and strongest Blind Guardian album since NIGHTFALL IN MIDDLE-EARTH with a maximum of variety and everything that has turned these guys from Krefeld into what they are today: one of Germany’s most successful and influential metal bands. With AT THE EDGE OF TIME, Blind Guardian returned to the fold in total triumph. This is an album to be enjoyed for numerous repeat listens. Newer fans should eat it up, and older fans should be appeased with the band’s renewed emphasis on their thrashy roots.
3. Ratt– Infestation
Ratt is Metal. Always have been and likely always will be. From their appearance on the very first Metal Massacre compilation in 1981 alongside the likes of Metallica, Malice, and Bitch, to the new 2010 album, Ratt have always been among the heaviest of the so-called "hair metal" bands. So despite what the revisionists may think, Ratt have a firm spot in the development and evolution of the Heavy Metal genre and have earned their spot in this year’s list. Sonically the Ratt Pack is back! The band had stated they wanted a real up-tempo record and distinctly aimed for the classic sound. They nailed it. It’s all there, the swagger and slight sneer of Pearcy voice, the fluid and fiery soloing of DeMartini’s axe-work, the complimentary work of Cavazo…it’s a beautiful thing to behold!
4. Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones
Thomas Gabriel Fischer (AKA Tom G. Warrior) has nothing to prove to anyone. As the principal architect behind Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, Fischer’s body of work is the reason that many bands exist today. Two years since Celtic Frost’s very public dissolution, Fischer could have easily opted to rest on his laurels and bask in the afterglow of his evil legacy, but nooooo. To the contrary, Fischer has assembled a new band and recorded an album of new material that’s arguably some of the best in his career. Triptykon is the band, EPARISTERA DAIMONES is the album, and yes – it’s as good as Fischer has promised it to be!
5. Melechesh - The Epigenesis
Black/Death/Middle Eastern "Mesopotamian Metal" extremists made a big impact this year. Originally from IsraHELL and now based out of the Netherlands, the band has been around in some form since 1993. That Melechesh are able to maintain the album’s early momentum through to the record’s dying moments makes what they have achieved with THE EPIGENESIS that much more remarkable. Unlike so much of what passes for modern-day extremity, every one of this disc’s eleven tracks bristles with its own identity and design. It will demand a lot of attention – this definitely isn’t the record to whip out at your next kegger – but the rewards far outweigh the investment. Absolutely superb in every way.
6. Helloween – 7 Sinners
Helloween are very comfortable right now. They are back on a major label, the line-up has been stable for probably the longest stretch in the bands history, and they have fallen into a great pattern of releasing a studio album every couple of years (right around Halloween naturally). Relaxed, confident and mature the band have nothing to prove but instead of delivering a complacent record, the band have delivered the fastest, heaviest album of their career. It’s their 26th release over and 13th full-length studio album of all-new, original material. Lucky #13 for the band sees a crowning achievement with 13 killer cuts spread across the hour. Helloween have delivered a masterpiece. It will quickly silence all the fans who couldn’t stomach UNARMED from earlier this year.
7. OverKill – Ironbound
The veteran New Jersey boys return with a compelling slab of unmistakeably old school thrash that is tinged with a fine mix of groove, progressiveness and melody that separates Overkill from the multitudes of carbon-copy thrashers out there. This is modern thrash the way it should be played: roots in the 80s but with its direction and ambition befitting a metal scene on the cusp of its 30-year anniversary. It’s a beautiful thing to behold: while most of their contemporaries have split up or sold out, Overkill are still doing their thing, updating and improving but never forgetting where they came from.
8. Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy
Five years – that’s how long Nevermore made us wait for a sequel to the still awe-inspiring THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOUR. By modern-day standards that’s an absolute eternity, the length of which only the likes of Slayer or Metallica could reasonably be expected to get away with. Regardless of delay, the album is a perfect example of heavy metal in its purest, most intelligent and provocative form. As always the band defies classification with elements of power, thrash, prog, blended together into a mixture that is uniquely Nevermore.
9. Sabaton – Coat of Arms
Sweden’s war metallers, Sabaton, have been consistently moving to the forefront of the power metal movement in the last few years. COAT OF ARMS continues Sabaton’s fine tradition of power metal with bite. The band is in fine form throughout and do not disappoint. You listen to a Sabaton album for the pounding marches (“Uprising”) the fast assaults (“Midway”, “Screaming Eagles”), and the catchy hooks and choruses (every damn song!) and COAT OF ARMS has it all!
10. Halford – IV – Made of Metal
Finally! Halford was really overdue. Despite having a skeleton of a catalog, Halford really needed to put some meat on the bones of his solo career. MADE OF METAL is really only the third studio album of all new material in over 10 years. Sure the catalog looks impressive but in reality, live albums, demo albums, EP’s, digital only live albums and novelty Christmas albums are just filler. Halford needed to deliver the goods and we’re pleased to say he is still made of Metal. The album clocks in at a whopping 14 tracks at over an hour it is his longest solo album to date.
Number 11 to 20
11. Crazy Lixx – New Religion
12. Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier
13. Scorpions – Sting In The Tail
14. Immolation – Majesty and Decay
15. Avantasia – The Wicked Symphony / Angel Of Babylon
Bob Catley (MAGNUS), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Amanda Somerville, Olli Hartmann and Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN) are among the musicians who will tour with AVANTASIA, the project led by EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet, on the group’s upcoming tour.
* Due to the fact that this is not a regular or annual tour but an extensive AVANTASIA event and experience, these shows will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m.
“It’s gonna be a once-in-a-lifetime affair!” said Sammet when the all-star project first set off on a world tour a few years ago. And although it seemed impossible to bring the project onto the stage after an extensive preparatory time, AVANTASIA headlined some of the biggest summer festivals in 2008. To this day, many fans recall the AVANTASIA live shows as magical, once-in-a-lifetime concert experiences.
Commented Sammet: “There has always been the desire to do it again, but, of course, there is always a risk. It requires a huge amount of time and energy; there are no figures based on experience, because I don’t know anybody who has taken an all-star metal opera on the road to play indoor venues. The stage production is abnormally expensive and you must not forget the many people who are involved and who come from different parts of the world. It requires a good timing.
“At some point we sat together and checked if and how we could possibly do it once again and we soon found out that December 2010 would be the right period to do a real tour.
“I admit that four weeks [is] not really a long time frame, but it’s better to do a short tour than no tour at all. And if we hadn’t taken that chance, it would have never happened because we will come with a lot of musicians and vocalists and it’s a nightmare to mind all our individual schedules with our main bands.”
Unlike AVANTASIA‘s festival tour of 2008, the band’s upcoming dates will be full-fledged headlining performances, with the group performing longer sets than has been the case in the past.
“It was great to play Wacken and Sweden Rock Festival, but playing a festival you only have so much time,” explained Sammet. “You play ten songs and people have a party and everybody’s got fun. But doing our own tour, we can really create an atmosphere, we can play a lot longer and take people on a journey through the history of AVANTASIA. We can actually take people to the world of AVANTASIA itself.
“Fans can expect a bombastic concert experience.
“Many so-called ‘metal operas’ have been released on albums recently, but AVANTASIA will bring it on stage and take fans around the globe with them.
“You can’t compare a normal band to what we are going to do. If all your favourite singers appear on one stage at the same night to take you on a musical journey, then this isn’t just great, it’s über-great!”
AVANTASIA released its new epic masterpiece on April 3 as regular CDs (“The Wicked Symphony” and “Angel Of Babylon”), two separate double picture vinyls, and as a beautiful collector’s edition with an AVANTASIA picture book. The deluxe box set features two CDs in two digibooks with impressive booklets, codes for online content (like bonus tracks, etc.) and the AVANTASIA book “The Wicked Trilogy”, including many never-before-seen photos from the tour and from photo sessions, etc. An exclusive interview, liner notes, and a biography is also included. All the album versions were released simultaneously on April 3, so no one ise forced to buy everything piece by piece; instead everyone is able to choose a version of his/her choice right from the release date.
“Dying For An Angel”, the new video from AVANTASIA, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in late January at the ancient town hall in Hannover, Germany and features a special guest appearance by SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine.
“The Wicked Symphony” and “Angel Of Babylon” are the continuation of the trilogy that began with the 2008 album “The Scarecrow”.
The cover artwork for the two CDs (see below) was created by Thomas Ewerhard, who also worked on EDGUY‘s “Hellfire Club” and AVANTASIA‘s “The Scarecrow” albums.
Regarding his decision to release the new AVANTASIA chapter in two separate CDs, Tobias said, “I have always given my very best, but this new chapter in AVANTASIA‘s history is too much and too ambitious to be just a regular album. I have worked on it for years now, and it has become even more than two albums!
“I knew that story would be spread out over two albums back then when we started working on it in 2006, ’cause we had written a real rock opera of over 20 songs even back then. But since then, we kept composing, and out came even bigger and better material.
“Looking at the music industry today with all the CD burning and downloading, I guess in the near future many of us traditional rock and metal bands won’t be able to spend such a production budget. I am afraid I won’t be able to afford so many guests and such a big production with orchestration and a choir and all that. That’s why this production takes so much time; it may be the last big epic I will be able to afford, and I want it to be the biggest piece I have worked on so far.”
Kiske has appeared on every AVANTASIA album so far, including the first two full-length releases, “The Metal Opera” (2001) and “The Metal Opera Pt. II” (2002).
Thanks to Toby at CMM gmbh for help for making the interview possible.
Promo pictures from the Hartmann website.
Oliver Hartmann is one of the most renowned singers in the melodic hardrock scene. He has recently released his third solo album simply titled 3. I thought that the album was brilliant and felt like it was time to check out what this genius singer was up to. Hartmann had the time to sit down and had a chat with me. Besides his own solo career we also talked about his performances on the Avantasia albums and his collaborations with Edguy singer Tobias Sammett.
