Radiometal.com spoke with AVANTASIA mainman Tobias Sammet recently about a number of topics including the band's new albums, The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon, which will be released on April 3rd. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Radio Metal: Can you describe the whole process an AVANTASIA record goes through? In which order are things done? What do you do first? Lyrics, music, looking for the guests?

Tobias Sammet: "It pretty much works hand in hand, there's no fixed work order. Usually it's the music that comes first, before the lyrics. Sometimes the music is inspired by the guests that I have in mind when I’m composing the music. When I knew Michael Kiske was going to be part of the album, all of a sudden I came up with a song called 'Wastelands', which has a melody with long, high notes. For Bob Catley, my subconscious was full of MAGNUM. It's very inspiring. So sometimes it’s the idea of a singer that inspires me to write a song. But usually, it’s music first. Then you have the story, and the lyrics have to reflect that story."

Radio Metal: The upcoming album is the most impressive in terms of the popularity of the guests. How difficult was it to manage the project? Were there some of the guests that had greater egos than others?

Sammet: "That was no problem at all. To be honest with you, I don’t think a single one of the guests had a big ego. Of course, they all had to deal with my own ego! More seriously, singers always have a big ego, but all the egos involved were quite reasonable. So no problem at all."

Radio Metal: The story is apparently over. Won’t you miss it?

Sammet: "Definitely. I’ve been asked recently if I’m happy it’s over, now that the record is coming out. It’s kind of OK now, because most of the pressure is gone. I’m not talking about pressure in terms of sales or expectations, but about creative pressure. The emotional pressure of letting something out to the public is gone. That’s something I’m not really sad about. What’s coming now is the post-production hole. For a long time I had something to do every morning when I got up, even if I didn’t have to actually produce anything. At least I could think about how I could do things, at least I had a target. All of a sudden, that’s gone. That makes me a little sad."

Read more here.

Avantasia recently have released their new video, for their new single 'Dying For An Angel', featuring legendary SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine. Check out the clip below.

As previously reported, The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon will be available as normal CDs, as two separate double-picture vinyls, and as a beautiful collector's edition with a beautiful Avantasia-picture-book. The deluxe box set will feature 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 will also be included.

The tracklistings for each album are as follows:

The Wicked Symphony:

'The Wicked Symphony'

'Wastelands'

'Scales Of Justice'

'Dying For An Angel'

'Blizzard On A Broken Mirror'

Runaway Train'

'Crestfallen'

'Forever Is A Long Time'

'Black Wings'

'States Of Matter'

'The Edge'

Angel Of Babylon:

'Angel Of Babylon'

'Stargazers'

'Your Love Is Evil'

'Death Is Just A Feeling'

'Rat Race'

'Down In The Dark'

'Blowing Out The Flame'

'Symphony Of Life'

'Alone I Remember'

'Promised Land 2'

'Journey To Arcadia'

This sequel of Avantasia's 2008 chart breaker album The Scarecrow will feature the following guest stars: Klaus Meine (SCORPIONS), Ripper Owens (CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, HAIL!, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), Michael Kiske (ex-HELLOWEEN), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Jon Oliva (JON OLIVA'S PAIN, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, SAVATAGE) Andre Matos (ANGRA, SHAMAN), Bob Catley (MAGNUM), Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), Eric Singer (KISS), Bruce Kulick (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, ex-KISS, MEAT LOAF), Felix Bohnke (EDGUY), Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS), Alex Holzwarth (RHAPSODY), Felix Bohnke (Edguy), Ralf Zdiarstek (AMITAF), producer Sascha Paeth (ex-HEAVEN'S GATE), Cloudy Yang and Tobias on bass guitar and lead vocals.

For more info visit www.tobiassammet.com.