Germany's EDGUY have confirmed Age Of The Joker as the title for their forthcoming album, due for release via Nuclear Blast in August. More details will be revealed soon.

Frontman Tobias Sammet recently issued the following update on the recording sessions:

"We have chosen the Peppermint Park to record the basics there. I had done a few little bits and pieces for AVANTASIA there, but it's so great to record drums and stuff like Hammond B3 with a big bad fat mean Leslie there. The room is big and the sound is mean! We were always striving for a powerful but natural sound. I guess we had a good sound recently, but I think there is always room to improve. The more I listen to what's going on in the Heavy Metal world these days, the more I long for drums that sound like drums. I want them to sound powerful without sounding like Atari. Sascha and I came to the conclusion that we have to start from scratch and do things the way they have to be done, not the fashionable way. I don't want a distorted master-copy, just so it is loud enough on an iPhone or on PC-speakers. If you talk to your most fancy producer he will say something like: 'Well, it's the sign of the times, you have to be able to compete in the loudness war…' What the fuck?! If I want it to be loud I turn up the stereo. I want dynamics, room, a real big sound, not that distorted trendy compression. Why don't we all move back a little and record great sounding music, not loud sounding music? Do a Google search for 'loudness war' and you'll see what I mean.

Whatever, the new songs sound great, we have thirteen of them, and we'll pick maybe ten and put them on the album. We have anthemic melodies, although it's not kitsch. When you record anthemic music, you tend to be dangerously close to kitsch, it's a fine line and I think we balance on that fine line pretty well. To cut a long story a little insignificantly shorter: I just think it is great, and that's what counts. Real music, you know? We'll keep you informed, if you want it or not!"

Edguy have also confirmed a European tour in the fall with KOTTAK, fronted by SCORPIONS drummer James Kottak, supporting. Dates are as follows:

September

23 - Malmö, Sweden - KB
24 - Gothenborg, Sweden - Trädgarn
25 - Stockholm, Sweden - Tyrol
27 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks
28 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Club
30 - Essen, Germany - Grugahalle

October

1 - Fulda, Germany Wartenberg Oval
2 - Bamberg, Germany Arena
4 - Filderstadt, Germany Filharmonie
6 - Prague, Czech Republic - KD Vitavska
7 - Langen, Germany -Stadthalle
10 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
11 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
12 - Lyon, France - Transbordeur
14 - Madrid, Spain - Heineken
15 - Barcelona, Spain - Apollo
16 - Bilbao, Spain - Rock Star
18 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
19 - Paris, France - Bataclan
21 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
22 - Straubing, Germany - Messehalle
23 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Rock Cafe