AVANTASIA mastermind Tobias Sammet has confirmed SAXON frontman Biff Byford as one of the singers due to appear on the next album, The Mystery Of Time, which is currently in the works. Check out a video clip of the recording session featuring Sammet and Byford in a studio in Brighton, England below:

Immediately after the release of this new metal opera, based on a story written by Tobias Sammet, the band will embark on a full-fledged indoor-tour, during which the band and special guests will bring the epic undertaking to the stage. Due to embracing all of the different eras and history of Avantasia, these shows will have an extended playing time, and the whole evening will be dedicated to Avantasia with no support acts. Guests and album details will be announced soon.

According to an update from TRILLIUM vocalist Amanda Somerville, "I'll once again be touring the world with Avantasia this spring and summer! Finishing up our Trillium tour with MAGNUM and then Bob Catley and I will head out again together."

Sammet's tour management is currently working on a headlining indoor tour for the band in April. They will also play a few chosen summer festivals, and a South American and Asian tour is planned for late summer.

Sammet: "I know I once said we weren't gonna do it again, but then I don‘t see a reason to let this die. I wanna put on the biggest thing you have ever seen, I wanna bring more vocalists, play longer shows, and just make it a giant Rock Opera. I love to headline festivals, you run over people in 90 minutes and kick ass. But I also like to do our own Avantasia indoor tour because we can make it much more Avantasia oriented and play almost three hours without caring about anything else but Avantasia. So we said, we have to do a giant indoor tour as well, and it's going to happen in April. I am so looking forward to it. The stage designer has just showed me his stage and light design, and it looks absolutely killer. It will be huge. 2013 will be a major year for Avantasia, and people don't have a clue how big things are actually going to be! I am very excited - the album will be amazingly epic, and the tour will be too!"

As previously reported, Avantasia are confirmed to play their first ever show in France on June 21st, 2013. They will be performing alongside KISS, KORN and TWISTED SISTER. Avantasia will perform a 90-minute headlining show at Hellfest in Clisson.

Sammet: "It's amazing. We are working on this great album which is scheduled to be out in late March by the way, and I have such a great feeling about it as the first tracks sound really huge. Now, we have announced that we'll do a little tour and all of the sudden we're getting the opportunity to headline shows and festivals all over the world! Czech Republic, England, France, Belgium... A lot of first time Avantasia appearances. But this is not it! More dates are being scheduled. In April we'll do Europe. Our own tour, doing two - three hours! No support act, just Avantasia in arenas and theaters. Further information and dates coming soon."

After having been confirmed as next year's headlining act of the Masters Of Rock Festival in Czech Republic on July 14th, and Power Prog Festival in Belgium on April 12th, Avantasia are also confirmed to hit the stage at Bloodstock Festival in England on August 10th. These shows are going to mark Avantasia's first appearances in England and Belgium. Further tourdates will be announced soon.