Frontiers Records has announced that Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) has agreed to start working on a third PLACE VENDOME album. With Dennis Ward producing again, the album will be recorded during winter 2013 and will hopefully see the light of day after the summer.

Although his participation as guest vocalist on the new AVANTASIA album never has been any real secret, Michael recently confirmed the continuation of long-term collaboration with Tobias Sammet.

Kiske states: “I will sing on three to four songs, although it might be possible that there will be even more as the guys are still in the middle of songwriting and recording. The songs I will sing are typical Avantasia songs, great melodies in a power metal vesture. I really like the material, Tobi simply is able to compose excellent and great melodies.”

As previously reported, Tobias Sammet (EDGUY) is currently in the studio working with a legion of guest instrumentalists and vocalists on a new Avantasia album, to be released in spring 2013. The album will once again be a Rock Opera based on a conceptual story very similar to the early Avantasia albums.

Nevertheless, Tobias explains that the album is not a mere journey back in time: "The new material sounds very fresh and new and yet you can hear the old classic Avantasia vibe on the album, it will be an enchanting fairytale again, far away from any musical trends. Our latest album was our most successful album of all time, but I guess it was only that successful because it came from the heart. That's the only proven remedy I wanna stick to. I tried to lay down any thought of expectations, but instead just do a completely unseasonable, unfashionable and even unreasonable piece of art. Anyway, I feel at home when I listen to those melodies, choirs and guitars. I just talked to (singer) Michi Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) and he said that the stuff reminds him a lot of the old classic Avantasia material in the good old Keeper style. As a fan, now that sounds even exciting to me, so the circle shuts. For myself it's hard to describe the material in words, I had and have so many ideas that I had to restrain myself a little, otherwise the album would become too long, and I'm trying not to do a double album this time. However, I am really excited, and I just thought I'd let you know how excited I am. I'll try to give you more updates from now on."

Check out a video update from Tobias Sammet below: