AVANTASIA's TOBIAS SAMMET Discusses 'Ghostlights' Concept (Video)

EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet‘s AVANTASIA project released its seventh studio album, “Ghostlights”, on January 29 via Nuclear Blast. The twelve-song CD was produced by Tobias and Sascha Paeth at Gatestudio in Wolfsburg, Germany. Paeth engineered and mixed “Ghostlights”, while the mastering was done by Michael Rodenberg.

A new four-and-a-half-minute video clip in which Sammet discusses the concept behind “Ghostlights” can be seen below.

AVANTASIA released a new digital single, “Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose”, on December 11.

Commented Tobias: “In my humble opinion, [‘Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose’] is the perfect overture to the seventy-minute journey which the full album is going to be.

“Although ‘Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose’ is a rather short composition compared to most other AVANTASIA songs, I wanted to embellish and amplify it with flamboyance and all AVANTASIA trademarks. I wanted to make it a detailed piece of fantasy art, but at the same time it was a big challenge to make that painting look inherently consistent if you view it from the distance. The layered choirs took us forever to record and yet nothing distracts from the main theme and flow of the song. Every time you give it a listen, you will discover something else going on.

“I have a feeling that I have never managed to create such an epic and dreamy atmosphere in just four minutes. I’ve gotta admit I am slightly proud of it!”

“Ghostlights” features guest appearances by:

* Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER)
* Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE)
* Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH)
* Sharon Den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION)
* Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN)
* Ronnie Atkins (PRETTY MAIDS)
* Bob Catley (MAGNUM)
* Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN)
* Bruce Kulick (KISS)
* Robert Mason (WARRANT)
* Herbie Langhans (SEVENTH AVENUE, SINBREED)
* Oliver Hartmann
* Sascha Paeth

The instrumentalists on “Ghostlights” are as follows:

* Sascha Paeth – rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, additional keys
* Michael Rodenberg – orchestration, keys
* Tobias Sammet – additional keys and bass
* Bruce Kulick – lead guitar
* Oliver Hartmann – lead guitar
* Felix Bohnke – drums

01. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
Lead vocals: Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

02. Let The Storm Descend Upon You
Lead vocals: Tobias, Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, Robert Mason
Lead guitar: Oliver Hartmann

03. The Haunting
Lead vocals: Dee Snider, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

04. Seduction Of Decay
Lead vocals: Geoff Tate, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

05. Ghostlights
Lead vocals: Michael Kiske, Tobias, Jorn Lande
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann

06. Draconian Love
Lead vocals: Herbie Langhans, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

07. Master Of The Pendulum
Lead vocals: Marco Hietala, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

08. Isle Of Evermore
Lead vocals: Sharon Den Adel, Tobias

09. Babylon Vampyres
Lead vocals: Tobias, Robert Mason
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick, Oliver Hartmann, Sascha Paeth

10. Lucifer
Lead vocals: Jorn Lande, Tobias
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick

11. Unchain The Light
Lead vocals: Tobias, Ronnie Atkins, Michael Kiske
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann

12. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
Lead vocals: Bob Catley, Tobias
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick

Digibook

CD 1

01. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
02. Let The Storm Descend Upon You
03. The Haunting
04. Seduction Of Decay
05. Ghostlights
06. Draconian Love
07. Master Of The Pendulum
08. Isle Of Evermore
09. Babylon Vampyres
10. Lucifer
11. Unchain The Light
12. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
13. Wake Up To The Moon (bonus track)

CD 2 (Bonus Disc – AVANTASIA live)

01. Spectres
02. Invoke The Machine
03. The Story Ain’t Over
04. Prelude
05. Reach Out For The Light
06. Avantasia
07. Whats Left Of Me
08. Dying For An Angel
09. Twisted Mind
10. The Watchmakers’ Dream
11. Another Angel Down
—
Earbook (digibook including 68-page photobook, 28.5×28.5cm)+ CD 3 karaoke version of CD 1 without bonus track

Mailorder Box

– Earbook
– Poster
– Autograph
– Lanyard + Pass
– 10″ Vinyl (tracks to be confirmed)

Vinyl

Side A

01. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
02. Let The Storm Descend Upon You
03. The Haunting

Side B

01. Seduction Of Decay
02. Ghostlights
03. Draconian Love

Side C

01. Master Of The Pendulum
02. Isle Of Evermore
03. Babylon Vampyres

Side D

01. Lucifer
02. Unchain The Light
03. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
04. Wake Up To The Moon (bonus track)

AVANTASIA will play three North American shows in April:

April 11 – House Of Blues – Anaheim, CA
April 13 – Queen Elizabeth Theater – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
April 15 – Playstation Theater – New York, NY

The AVANTASIA lineup for these shows will consist of the following musicians:

* Tobias Sammet – Vocals
* Michael Kiske – Vocals
* Eric Martin – Vocals
* Ronnie Atkins – Vocals
* Jorn Lande – Vocals
* Amanda Somerville – Backing vocal/vocals
* Herbie Langhans – Backing vocal/vocals
* Sascha Paeth – Guitars
* Oliver Hartmann – Guitars
* Miro Rodenberg – Keyboards
* Andre Neigenfind – Bass
* Felix Bohnke – Drums

Commented Sammet: “Great news , my North American friends: we’re coming back! You know, the few memories I have of our last AVANTASIA show in Canada are a bit blurry. Back then, I went from hospital right to the stage as I had some real mean flu. I was so high on whatever medication the doctor gave me to make the show, all I remember are the green little creatures in my dressing room that were calling me names but always disappeared under the sofa whenever I tried to catch them to confront them with their silly behavior… Now, looking at the video, I sounded quite a bit awful, ha! But I’ve been told I was funny and a very happy person that night.

“And I am happy to say we’ll be back — in great shape. Unfortunately Bob [Catley] won’t be able to join us for the dates outside Europe as he will be off on a MAGNUM tour, but we’ll bring Michi Kiske, Jorn Lande, Eric Martin, Ronnie Atkins, Amanda Somerville, Herbie Langhans, Sascha Paeth, Olli Hartmann and me, of course… And Miro. And Andre on bass… And as if that wasn’t enough, on drums, there will be no other than… THE DRUMMER!!! Can’t wait to hit the stage!”

AVANTASIA has promised to take the fans to a magical world all its own, with a setlist that embraces its entire history, from “The Metal Opera” to “Ghostlights” and everything in between.