Edguy

All posts tagged Edguy

AVANTASIA: The Mystery Of Time Album Artwork Revealed

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 1, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet‘s all-star project, AVANTASIA will release their new rock opera, The Mystery Of Time, on March 30th via Nuclear Blast. The cover artwork for The Mystery Of Time, hand-painted by world famous British fantasy painter Rodney Matthews, can be seen below:

AvantasiaMysteryOfTime

About the artwork, Tobias states: “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 is as follows:

‘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’

BW&BK scribe Carl Begai attended a listening session at Nuclear Blast headquarters on January 19th in Donzdorf, Germany and has checked in with the following first impressions of the album:

“Folks have said Sammet and guitarist/producer Sascha Paeth lost the plot last time out in 2010 by releasing a 22 song double album that pounded the listener into submission with too much information. The Mystery Of Time sees the dynamic duo taking a step back and focusing on crafting a “simple” no-nonsense rock opera; 10 songs, two of ‘em ballads, two of them hitting the 10+ minute mark, and influences/inspiration worn shamelessly on the Avantasia sleeve. Of all their releases thus far, the new record is by far the most theatrical, a point driven home by opening track ‘Spectres’, the epic ‘Savior In The Clockwork’, and the closing MEAT LOAF-esque ‘The Great Mystery’. The use of a flesh and blood orchestra really DOES make a difference against dial-up digital magic, made all the more special because the boys didn’t use it on every single track (which is usually the downfall of productions like this).

Plenty of heavy over-the-top metal moments from Paeth’s treasure trove of riffs, to guitar leads from Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS) on three tracks, and Arjen Lucassen (AYREON) trading licks with keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg (ROUGH SILK) on ‘The Watchmaker’s Dream’. Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) blows the doors off with his circa ’87 performance on ‘Where Clock Hands Freeze’ (speedy and heavy), but the big prize goes to ‘Invoke The Machine’ for it’s blatant tip of the hat to cult fave Danish bashers PRETTY MAIDS featuring PM vocalist Ronnie Atkins in a duet with Tobi. Several journalists at the session agreed the song is the high point of the record.

Having Biff Byford (SAXON), Eric Martin (MR. BIG) and Joe Lynn Turner (ex-RAINBOW) on board… jobs well done all around but nothing mindblowing. Instantly recognizable voices, sure, but of the three only Byford really stands out thanks to being placed outside his Wheels Of Steel comfort zone.

Tagging Martin to sing a ballad? Meh. Too easy, and probably the only real disappointment to be had.

As for Master Of Ceremonies Sammet, he’s his expected high-on-adrenaline self, easily outpacing and outperforming the latest Edguy record (Age Of The Joker), definitely crushing The Wicked Symphony / Angel Of Babylon albums on all fronts.”

Watch for our exclusive interview with Sammet, coming soon.

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.

Shows in Amsterdam (details here) and Spain have been scheduled for May and June. Avantasia’s complete routing is available at this location.

avantasia

AVANTASIA: New Album Tracklisting Revealed; JOE LYNN TURNER Added As New Guest

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 19, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet‘s all-star project, AVANTASIA will release their new rock opera, The Mystery Of Time, on CD and vinyl in March.

avantasia

The Mystery Of Time marks a conceptual story again, and the tracklist reads as follows:
‘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 other news, another guest star has been revealed: legendary former DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN vocalist Joe Lynn Turner will appear.

JoeLynnTurner

Turner joins a big list of guest stars such as: Arjen Lucassen (AYREON), Biff Byford (SAXON), Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN), Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS, ex-MEAT LOAF), Russell Gilbrook (URIAH HEEP), Ronnie Atkins (PRETTY MAIDS), Eric Martin (MR. BIG) the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. More musicians will be announced soon! In April an all-star ensemble will set off on a world tour, playing three-hour indoor shows on their own plus a few chosen festivals.

Shows in Amsterdam (details here) and Spain have been scheduled for May and June. Avantasia’s complete routing is available at this location.

ARJEN LUCASSEN To Guest On New AVANTASIA Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 27, 2012
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

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.

Arjen Lucassen

Arjen Lucassen

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!

avantasia

“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: European Tour Dates Announced

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 16, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet has revived his all-star project AVANTASIA to produce a new rock opera album called The Mystery Of Time (to be released in March 2013), followed by monumental live venture – The Mystery World Tour. In a few chosen cities around the globe Avantasia (featuring guest stars you’d expect but also some major surprises) will hit the stage with their infamous magical show. During their own headlining indoor tour the band will play three-hour shows in order to embrace all eras of their history and play enough songs from their early works, but also recent and current material. At the summer festivals the band won’t be able to play three hour shows of course, but nevertheless they will deliver a more compact set, dedicated to the new album and some of their greatest hits.

TobiasSammet

The Mystery World Tour 2013 European leg:

April
13 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7
14 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7
16 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
18 – Ludwigsburg, Germany – MPH Arena
19 – Kaufbeuren, Germany – All – Karthalle
20 – Fulda, Germany – Esperanto Halle
22 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom
23 – Hamburg, Germany – tba
25 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle
26 – Lichtenfels, Germany – Stadthalle

Ticket information and worldwide dates to be announced soon! If you have subscribed to our newsletter you will be informed shortly, all others will find the information on this website in the forthcoming weeks.

As previously reported, musicians who have been confirmed as guests on The Mystery Of Time include, SAXON’s Biff Byford, URIAH HEEP drummer Russell Gilbrook, producer and guitarist Sascha Paeth, former GRAN FUNK RAILROAD guitarist Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS), and of course Tobias on bass and vocals.

For more details visit Tobiassammet.com.

AVANTASIA Back In The Studio; Tobias Sammet Posts Video Message

Posted by aliblackdiamond on October 25, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com 

Tobias Sammet (EDGUY) is currently in the studio working with a legion of guest instrumentalists and vocalists on a new AVANTASIA album, to be released in spring 2013. The album will once again be a Rock Opera based on a conceptual story very similar to the early AVANTASIA albums.

Nevertheless, Tobias explains that the album is not a mere journey back in time: “The new material sounds very fresh and new and yet you can hear the old classic Avantasia vibe on the album, it will be an enchanting fairytale again, far away from any musical trends. Our latest album was our most successful album of all time, but I guess it was only that successful because it came from the heart. That’s the only proven remedy I wanna stick to. I tried to lay down any thought of expectations, but instead just do a completely unseasonable, unfashionable and even unreasonable piece of art. Anyway, I feel at home when I listen to those melodies, choirs and guitars. I just talked to (singer) Michi Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) and he said that the stuff reminds him a lot of the old classic AVANTASIA material in the good old Keeper style. As a fan, now that sounds even exciting to me, so the circle shuts. For myself it’s hard to describe the material in words, I had and have so many ideas that I had to restrain myself a little, otherwise the album would become too long, and I’m trying not to do a double album this time. However, I am really excited, and I just thought I’d let you know how excited I am. I’ll try to give you more updates from now on.”

Check out a video update from Tobias Sammet below:

 

 

 

EDGUY Getting Ready For Americas

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 6, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

German metallers EDGUY have issued the following update:

“Edguy have just finished rehearsals for the forthcoming tour dates in Central and South America and the subsequent European dates with DEEP PURPLE and the two festivals with MOTÖRHEAD. While the Brazilian shows will be special guest shows to former GUNS N” ROSES guitarist SLASH and his solo band, in Mexico and Argentina Edguy will play full fledged headlining shows on their own! As some of you may have heard, Rocktober Festival in England unfortunately has been canceled due to organizational problems, the band is really sorry about that and promises to come back to the UK as soon as possible on their own again. Nevertheless Edguy are looking forward to heading to Mexico, Brazil and Argentina now!”

Edguy’s tour schedule can be found here.

EDGUY: Pro-Shot Footage Of Entire WACKEN OPEN AIR Performance

Posted by aliblackdiamond on August 6, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

 

Professionally filmed video footage of EDGUY‘s entire August 4 performance as the “surprise” closing act at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany can be seen below.

As previously reported, EDGUY vocalist Tobias Sammet slipped off the stage this on July 14 during the fifth song of the band’s performance at the Bang Your Head!!!festival in Balingen, Germany. While the rest of the band continued to play, Tobias fell into the photographers’ pit, hit the concrete ground and sustained a number of injuries: a fracture of the nose, a severe hip contusion, a severe rib contusion and several abrasions and cuts. Despite the fact that Tobias was in severe pain, EDGUY performed its full set, which went on for another hour.

EDGUY‘s new album, “Age Of The Joker”, sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD debuted at No. 21 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

EDGUY‘s previous CD, “Tinnitus Sanctus”, opened with 600 units back in February 2009 to land at No. 88 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.

“Age Of The Joker” was released in Europe on August 29, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Peppermint Park studio (SCORPIONS, PHIL COLLINS) in Hannover, which was previously described by the group as “a recording temple with a tremendously great-sounding room.” The album features 11 songs with a total running time of over one hour. The limited-edition digipack contains a bonus disc with six additional songs.

 

 

 

Source: Blabbermouth.net

EDGUY Frontman Falls Off Stage At Germany’s BANG YOUR HEAD!!! Festival

Posted by aliblackdiamond on July 15, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , . Leave a Comment

 

Vocalist Tobias Sammet of German melodic metallers EDGUY slipped off the stage yesterday (Saturday, July 14) during the fifth song of the band’s performance at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany. While the rest of the band continued to play, Tobias fell into the photographers’ pit, hit the concrete ground and sustained a number of injuries: a fracture of the nose, a severe hip contusion, a severe rib contusion and several abrasions and cuts. Despite the fact that Tobias was in severe pain, EDGUY performed its full set, which went on for another hour.

Commented Tobias:”Thanks for your kind wishes. I am alright. I do not have a clue how it happened. The stage wasn’t damp, my shoes were alright, I do not have to mention that I was completely sober as this must have been obvious to everyone. I have no clue how it happened. I just fell and suddenly there was blood and a little pain, which got worse song by song. I didn’t know you can squeeze so much blood out of such a little nose (well, it‘s not exactly little at this point…). The doctor just said the nose will be fine in a few weeks. Anyway, there was too much adrenaline to stop the show. The fans were so great, it just felt wrong to stop the show, so we decided to just go on and have the doctors repair me afterwards. I am okay now, looking terrible and hurting, but who cares… I‘ll be fine. Thank you for your wishes and for making the show a great show, despite the little incident.”

EDGUY‘s new album, “Age Of The Joker”, sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD debuted at No. 21 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

EDGUY‘s previous CD, “Tinnitus Sanctus”, opened with 600 units back in February 2009 to land at No. 88 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.

“Age Of The Joker” was released in Europe on August 29, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Peppermint Park studio (SCORPIONS, PHIL COLLINS) in Hannover, which was previously described by the group as “a recording temple with a tremendously great-sounding room.” The album features 11 songs with a total running time of over one hour. The limited-edition digipack contains a bonus disc with six additional songs.

 

 

 

 

Source: Blabbermouth.net

TUSKA 2012 – New Additions

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 23, 2012
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

TUSKA OPEN AIR METAL Festival has issued the following:

Finland’s biggest metal festival, the fifteenth edition of the annual Tuska Open Metal Festival has announced more Artists.

Thrash metal fans are in for a treat on Friday June 29th, as legendary Bay Area Thrashers EXODUS and re-united Finnish thrash trailblazers A.R.G. have been added to the bill. Also appearing on Tuska Friday will be Norwegian Avantgarde-metal act ARCTURUS.

British grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH have been added to the line up for Saturday June 30th.

General confusion will be added by urban grinders RAMIN KUNTOPOLKU.

Confirmed bands For TUSKA 2012 at this point:

Fri 29.6.2012
Megadeth, Exodus, Edguy, Trivium, Hatebreed, Saint Vitus, Arcturus, Animals as Leaders, Lock Up, Suidakra, Profane Omen, Demigod, A.R.G., Unkind, Inferia.

Sat 30.6.2012
Sabaton, Sonata Arctica, Mokoma, Behemoth, Napalm Death, Insomnium, Swallow The Sun, Textures, Amoral, Metsatöll, Horna, Victims, Afgrund, Winterwolf, For The Imperium, Corpsessed, Vorum.

Sun 1.7.2012
Ministry, Lamb Of God, Apocalyptica, Overkill, Suicide Silence, Baroness, Skeletonwitch, The Man-Eating Tree, Final Assault, Jess & The Ancient Ones, One Morning Left, Bob Malmström.

More than 50 bands will appear at Tuska 2012.

TICKET SALES
Tickets for Tuska 2012 are now on sale at www.tiketti.fi and www.lippupalvelu.fi.

Advance ticket prices: 3 days 115 euros, one day 65 euros.

Tickets from the festival box office (if not sold out): 3 days 130 euros, one day 75 euros.

In co-operation with: Radio Rock, Inferno Magazine, Imperiumi.net, Musamaailma and Koff.