Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Tobias Sammett about Avantasia’s album ninth studio album A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society. which was released Oct 21, 2022 via Nuclear Blast.
Tobias Sammett was asked in the chat which singers he would like to be guests on future Avantasia albums he replied, “Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) is an open secret but Rod Smallwood who’s a very nice chap and always very respectful lets me know that it’s not going to happen. Paul Stanley is a great singer, one of my heroes I have to say of course. Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and Steve Perry. But I have to say Avantasia is not to be mistaken for one of those bucket list bands. I think that (guests) should be subordinate to the songs and to the performances themselves. The people I worked with on this record are six old family members and two new family members. I think they helped me to realize my idea, my feelings and I think they give the songs what they need and that’s why I think that should be more important. I don’t want this project to become one of those bands where people say, oh the songs don’t really matter but the new records got Steven Tyler, the Pope and …ect”
A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society consists of eleven magical songs and features numerous prestigious guest stars. It’s an adventure that’s sure to captivate the audience.
The album was produced by Tobias Sammet alongside AVANTASIA guitar player Sascha Paeth. The fantastic cover artwork was done by Swedish illustrator Alexander Jansson.
A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society Tracklisting: 1. Welcome to the Shadows 2. The Wicked Rule the Night 3. Kill the Pain Away 4. The Inmost Light 5. Misplaced among the Angels 6. I Tame the Storm 7. Paper Plane 8. The Moonflower Society 9. Rhyme and Reason 10. Scars 11. Arabesque Total running time: 53:5
Today is a great day for fans of cinematic heavy metal as Tobias Sammet’s AVANTASIA release their ninth studio album A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society.
To mark the occasion, AVANTASIA have also released a new single titled ‘Kill The Pain Away’. Featuring NIGHTWISH vocalist Floor Jansen, ‘Kill The Pain Away’ is another impressive duet, that serves as a powerful and transportive piece of emphatic power metal.
Tobias Sammet comments: “When I was writing ‘Kill The Pain Away’ I immediately had Floor’s voice in my head. I basically wrote the song for her being my duet partner. The song may have an 80’s pop-touch for some and stylistically may also remind others of NIGHTWISH, but in the end it still sounds like AVANTASIA”.
A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society consists of eleven magical songs and features numerous prestigious guest stars. It’s an adventure that’s sure to captivate it’s audience.
The album was produced by Tobias Sammet alongside AVANTASIA guitar player Sascha Paeth. The fantastic cover artwork was done by Swedish illustrator Alexander Jansson.
Tobias Sammet’s AVANTASIA have today released ‘The Inmost Light’ featuring Michael Kiske. The new track is the latest single from AVANTASIA’s upcoming ninth studio album A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society. The song sees both vocalists trading off their signature styles over a short, sharp attack of classic heavy metal that’s destined to be a hit live.
Tobias Sammet comments: “Michi Kiske is not only a good friend of more than 20 years, he has been with AVANTASIA right from the beginning. His singing inspires me when I compose songs, and while finalizing the writing for a duet with him it always ends up in a very powerful missile like “The Inmost Light”. The sound is in my DNA, it always was an important component of my songwriting and maybe that is the reason our voices form a strong unit together. It is always a challenge to work and sing with this kind of expert. You have to put a lot of effort into it in order to not secede. Michi‘s singing and the sound of early HELLOWEEN influenced my career. I wrote “The Inmost Light” in the wake of just throwing everything overboard which would not be essential. I wanted to deliver a short and tight rocket”.
The video is a recap of AVANTASIA’s career so far. It’s an emotional ride that takes us all the way back to the projects roots.
A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society consists of eleven magical songs and features numerous prestigious guest stars. It’s an adventure that’s sure captivate the audience. The album was produced by Tobias Sammet alongside AVANTASIA guitar player Sascha Paeth.The fantastic cover artwork was done by Swedish illustrator Alexander Jansson.
A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society Track listing: 1. Welcome to the Shadows 2. The Wicked Rule the Night 3. Kill the Pain Away 4. The Inmost Light 5. Misplaced among the Angels 6. I Tame the Storm 7. Paper Plane 8. The Moonflower Society 9. Rhyme and Reason 10. Scars 11. Arabesque Total running time: 53:58 min
The presale for the ninth AVANTASIA studio album A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society has begun, and their magical journey continues with the dramatic power ballad ‘Misplaced Among The Angels’ – featuring Floor Jansen.
AVANTASIA mastermind Tobias Sammet comments: “There are still some special voices and artists left that I wanted to work with; one of them being Nightwish singer and frontwoman, Floor Jansen. ‘Misplaced Among The Angels’ was already finished when I asked Floor to contribute to the song. She said she could imagine singing it, although she wasn’t 100% sure in the beginning if the lower range passages would suit her rather higher range singing style. But without further ado, she gave it a shot and she delivered unbelievably. I personally think that ‘Misplaced Among The Angels’, complete with Floor’s strong voice, is one of the best ballads of my entire career“.
The pre-order for AVANTASIA’s ninth studio album A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society has launched here: https://avantasia.bfan.link/APEWTMS.ema
A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society consists of eleven magical songs and features numerous prestigious guest stars. It’s an adventure that’s sure to captivate. The album was produced by Tobias Sammet alongside AVANTASIA guitar player Sascha Paeth. The fantastic cover artwork was done by Swedish illustrator Alexander Jansson.
Tour dates: 19.08. Moravsky Krumlov, Czech Rep. – Rock Castle 26.08. Coburg, Germany – Schloßplatz 03.09. Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Amphitheater
“You Know We’ll Return Once Again / You Can Turn The Page / The Image Will Remain / We’re In Your Dreams” (The Wicked Rule The Night – AVANTASIA)
Today is an exciting day as TOBIAS SAMMET’S AVANTASIA herald a new age in the fantastic, ever-expanding universe of AVANTASIA with “The Wicked Rule The Night“.
After almost three years of hibernation, mastermind Tobias Sammet and his outstanding all-star formation inspire us with an epic full-throttle track, in which the master himself presents his absolute world-class vocal form alongside guest vocalist Ralf Scheepers.
The song, which gives a first impression of the ninth AVANTASIA album “A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society” to be released in autumn, comes with a lavishly animated lyric video, for which Costin Chioreanu is responsible.
“I’m so happy with the upcoming album that you could put out any song as the first single. But somehow, after the last two years, I felt the need to go full steam ahead as soon as I’m let off the leash. And honestly, it’s also cool to know that many would probably have expected a less extreme track to accompany AVANTASIA‘s re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere. But AVANTASIA is not stylistically fixed, anything goes, commercial, epic, grotesque or full on the bell, doesn’t matter: All that is part of AVANTASIA‘s very own world. We have found our own pigeonhole and different laws apply there. The fans of the first hour know that. And so I have the feeling that “The Wicked Rule The Night” is unpredictable, exciting, fresh and new, despite my trademarks, as you know them partly from AVANTASIA or also EDGUY. Playing it safe is a lot of hogwash.
On “The Wicked Rule The Night” you can hear: Tobias Sammet | vocals, keyboards, bass Sascha Paeth | guitar Felix Bohnke | drums Ralf Scheepers | vocals
AVANTASIA live
24.06. ES Cartagena – Rock Imperium Festival 08.07. FI Tampere – Sauna Open Air 09.07. FI Oulu – Rock in the City 11.07. NO Oslo – Sentrum Scene 13.07. SE Gävle – Gefle Metal Festival 21.07. DE Fulda – Domplatz 23.07. CH Pratteln – Z7 Summer Nights 03.08. DE Wacken – Wacken Open Air 04.08. DE Ludwigsburg – KSK Music Open 19.08. CZ Moravsky Krumlov – Rock Castle 26.08. DE Coburg – Schlossplatz 03.09. DE Gelsenkirchen – Nine Lives Open Air Festival
Having reached #2 a total of three times now, AVANTASIA frontman Tobias Sammet canfinally say he has conquered the official German album charts by landing a #1 with his sensational new album “Moonglow“. To celebrate this triumphant success, the elated band leader has released a lyric video for new track, ‘Starlight’.
Watch and listen, here:
“It’s a really extraordinary feeling, to reach the very top after being only second for such a long time“, says TOBIAS SAMMET.
AVANTASIA can now look back on almost 20 years of global success. His previous album „Ghostlights“ hit the charts in more than a dozen countries across the world, including the USA, Canada, UK, Japan and Germany. TOBIAS has worked with the likes of Alice Cooper, Klaus Meine, members of KISS, URIAH HEEP and JUDAS PRIEST, as well as sharing the stage with AEROSMITH, SLASH, SCORPIONS, IRON MAIDEN and DEEP PURPLE. With over a million fans on Facebook, he has played the prestigious Wacken Open Air 10 times in his career, most recently as a headliner. In 2019 the project will be embarking on another world tour that includes dates in Japan, Australia, the Americas, Russia and Europe.
AVANTASIA’s latest opus, “Moonglow“ is a masterpiece in rock, that transports fans on a fantastic journey to another world. Without the pressure of time or obligation, and free from the constraints of the music industry, the singer songwriter barricaded himself in his home studio and worked on new material night and day, until “Moonglow” was finally born.
„It’s beautiful to see how this worked out for me with a sound, for which – according to the opinion of some experts – there is no place in this generic mainstream world. And the best thing is: Fans all around the world love the record and we can kick off our world tour knowing of their support and have lots of fun!“ comments TOBIAS SAMMET about his first #1 in his home country.
AVANTASIA – »Moonglow World Tour 2019« Presented by Metal Hammer, Piranha, Musix, Rock It! 27.03. SK Presov – Tatran Handball Aréna 28.03. SK Bratislava – Hant Aréna 30.03. DE Kaufbeuren – All-Karthalle 31.03. IT Milan – Alcatraz 02.04. CZ Prague – Forum Karlín *SOLD OUT* 03.04. DE Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt 05.04. DE Ludwigsburg – MHP Arena 06.04. DE Bamberg – Brose Arena 08.04. DE Fulda – Esperantohalle 09.04. DE Saarbrücken – Saarlandhalle 10.04. FR Paris – Olympia 12.04. DE Osnabrück – Osnabrück Halle 13.04. DE Hamburg – Mehr! Theater *SOLD OUT* 14.04. DE Oberhausen – König-Pilsener-Arena 16.04. UK London – The Forum 18.04. DE Offenbach – Stadthalle 19.04. CH Pratteln – Z7 20.04. CH Pratteln – Z7 24.04. ES Bilbao – Santana 27 26.04. ES Barcelona – Razzmatazz 1 27.04. ES Madrid – Palacio Vistalegre 02.05. SE Stockholm – Arenan 04.05. RU Moscow – Glavclub Green Concert 06.05. HU Budapest – Barba Negra Track 09.05. JP Tokyo – Blitz Akasaka 12.05. AU Sydney – Metro Theatre 14.05. AU Melbourne – The Forum 17.05. US San Jose, CA – City National Civic 19.05. US Anaheim, CA – City National Grove 21.05. US Chicago, IL – Patio Theater 23.05. CA Montreal, QC – Metropolis 24.05. US Worcester, MA – Palladium 26.05. MEX Mexico City – Auditorio BlackBerry 29.05. RCH Santiago – Teatro Caupolican 31.05. RA Buenos Aires – El Teatro Flores 02.06. BR São Paulo – Espaço das América
Festivals: 11. – 13.07. D Balingen – Bang Your Head!!! 11. – 14.07. CZ Vizovice – Masters of Rock 09.- 11.08. B Kortrijk – Alcatraz Metal Festival 14. – 17.08. D Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze 18.08 BG Varna – Varna Rock
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 