AVANTASIA founder/frontman Tobias Sammet is featured in a new interview on his official website discussing the making of the new album. It appears below in its entirety.

Q: Tobias, how are things going in the studio?

Sammet: "I am pretty damn busy, there's a lot of work to be done. I've been working on this forthcoming material for more than two years on and off. But the material will be worth the wait. We got quite many songs, and it ranges from epic ballads to metal opera. From pop to hard rock to folk to speed metal. My best friend who co wrote the story of The Metal Opera back then just listened to some of the tracks and he said that it will blow people away and enchant Avantasia fans and it will surely piss people off."

Q: What do you mean? It will offend people?

Sammet: "Well, it always does. It's a tradition for everything I've done. The Metal Opera did because it wasn't fashionable, The Scarecrow did because it wasn't fashionable and it wasn't The Metal Opera. And this one will do as well, cause it isn't fashionable, it isn't The Metal Opera and it isn't The Scarecrow. It's just enchanting music. And these days honest and good music is kind of offending to some, that's pretty sick, isn't it? But as long as I get goosebumps hearing majestic music I do not really care if I am fashionable or not."

Q: Can you reveal some names of the guests who will be included?

Sammet: "Of course I could. But at this point I don't wanna say too much. I will keep people posted on the website, the countdown is on. We will reveal secret by secret when we feel the time is right."

Q: When can we expect the album to be due?

Sammet: "I don't know exactly, there's a ton of work to be done. There 'll be some extensive choir sessions to be done. It's not the kind of album you do in a couple of weeks. This whole project is probably the most ambitious I have worked on. I know, I said that about previous albums before, but that being said: You better believe it. I have worked on more than ten albums, and this time the amount and intense of the music is mindblowing. So, back to the question: I work on it until we are happy with every single syllable and note. I feel this album is the soundtrack to a certain era of my life, so I don't wanna rush. I feel this is going to be a very important album in my career, so I'll take all the time I need."

Q: Any last words for the visitors of tobiassammet.com?

Sammet: "Thanx for your patience people. I am really enjoying working on that album, I don't want the production to come to an end, that's why I take my time. I hope you bear with me and feel the magic once it's going to be released. I'll put a lot of it in there!"