Today (March 22nd) the new AVANTASIA single 'Sleepwalking' has hit online stores for downloading.

Leader Tobias Sammet and the band have also shot a video clip for the track which was shot in a magical forest in Germany on a snowy winter‘s night. Tobias comments: "It was far below freezing. And there we were, standing in the snow storm for hours, walking through a haunted forest. It felt a bit like Sleepy Hollow meets Brothers Grimm, but the pictures that came out were really great and compensated for the torture."

Check out the clip below:

About the song itself Tobias says: "Sleepwalking is the most enchanting pop song I've ever written. Yes, it's a pop song, and I am the first to admit it. I love stuff like A-HA, CUTTING CREW, ENYA and SARAH BRIGHTMAN. You know, the whole album is a journey, someone said, that The Mystery Of Time is the most adventurous Avantasia album to date. What makes Avantasia what it is, is its diversity. We have five double bass songs, two big epics, a beautiful flamboyantly orchestrated ballad, and monumental mid tempo groovy stuff with big choirs. Avantasia has always been defined by its diversity and mingling of styles. It is an Epic Metal record and there are so many different things to be discovered, you have to give the album at least ten listens to discover half of what's going on. Sleepwalking are four wonderful minutes out of 60 minutes, but there is not one song on the album that can represent Avantasia on its own, it's the full 60 minutes you have to pay attention to, to grasp the magic of this piece!"

'Sleepwalking' is found on Avantasia's new album, The Mystery Of Time, which will hit the stores on March 29th and features a plethora of guest stars including: Biff Byford (SAXON), Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN), Joe Lynn Turner (ex-RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE), Eric Martin (MR. BIG), Ronnie Atkins (PRETTY MAIDS), Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS), Arjen Lucassen (AYREON), Russell Gilbrook (URIAH HEEP), Bob Catley (MAGNUM) and more.

The cover art and the tracklisting for The Mystery Of Time are 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'

'The Cross And You' *

'Death Is Just A Feeling' *

* bonus tracks on limited edition hardcover book

Check out audio samples below:

On April 12th a giant all-star ensemble will set off on the band's Mystery World Tour. In addition to: Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, France, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Japan, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia and England, Avantasia are set to play Costa Rica for the first time. For more details visit Avantasia's live itinerary at this location.