On Saturday, September 8th BW&BK; scribe Carl Begai attended a listening session for EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's forthcoming AVANTASIA album, The Scarecrow. On offer were 11 rough mixes featuring the official Avantasia line-up of Sammet (vocals), Sascha Paeth (rhythm and lead guitars), Eric Singer (KISS/drums) and Miro Rodenberg (keyboards and orchestration), Henjo Richter (GAMMA RAY/additional lead guitars), and several guest performers. According to Carl's report, the title track of the album "features Jorn Lande's best vocal performance ever" - a claim seconded by Paeth, who produced and is mixing the album - and "the heaviest song Alice Cooper has ever done." An in-depth report from the session will be available soon.

Artists appearing on the new Avantasia album include Roy Khan (KAMELOT/vocals), Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY/guitars), Oliver Hartmann, Jorn Lande (ex-MASTERPLAN/vocals), Bob Catley (MAGNUM/vocals), Michael Kiske (ex-HELLOWEEN/vocals), Rudolph Schenker (SCORPIONS/guitars), Alice Cooper (vocals) and Amanda Somerville (vocals).

The Scarecrow tracklist is as follows:

1) 'Twisted Mind' - Tobias Sammet, Roy Khan (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitar)

2) 'The Scarecrow' - Tobias Sammet, Jorn Lande (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitars)

3) 'Shelter From The Rain' - Michael Kiske, Bob Catley, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Henjo Richter, Kai Hansen (lead guitars)

4) 'Carry Me Over' - Tobias Sammet (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitar)

5) 'What Kind Of Love' - Amanda Somerville, Michael Kiske, Tobias Sammet (vocals)

6) 'Another Angel Down' - Jorn Lande, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Sascha Paeth, Henjo Richter (lead guitars)

7) 'The Toy Master' - Alice Cooper, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Sascha Paeth, Henjo Richter (lead guitars)

8) 'Devil In The Belfry' - Jorn Lande, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Henjo Richter (lead guitars)

9) 'Cry Just A Little' - Tobias Sammet, Bob Catley (vocals), Sascha Paeth (lead guitars)

10) 'I Don't Believe In Your Love' - Oliver Hartmann, Tobias Sammet (vocals), Rudolph Schenker (lead guitar)

11) 'Lost In Space' - Tobias Sammet (vocals)

Fans should note that the Lost In Space EPs (Part 1 and Part 2), due to be released on November 16th, will feature non-album material including cover versions of ABBA's 'Lay All Your Love On Me' and the UNTRAVOX hit 'Dancing With Tears In My Eyes'.

The Scarecrow is due to be released in January 2008.