Avantasia mastermind Tobias Sammet has checked in with a new update, calling the new Avantasia album “one of my strongest albums ever.”

“It's 23 years of Avantasia this year!” says Sammet. “Started the project in 1999, and finally we'll do some anniversary shows this year. It's hard to make a set list for this year, so many great songs to choose from, plus - and I am sure it is - one my strongest albums ever on the way to be released in summer and we may do a few new numbers too probably. Which songs do you wanna hear this summer? Can't wait to be back on the road to rock with you guys!”

Wacken TV continues to share pro-shot video from the Wacken Open Air archives, and they recently posted footage of Avantasia performing "Dying For An Angel" at the 2014 edition of the festival. Check it out below.

Avantasia mastermind Tobias Sammet is currently working on the follow-up to 2019’s Moonglow and in a new social media post has expressed his excitement for the new album.

“Astounded by the stuff I am just listening to,” writes the Edguy frontman. “Listening to an amazing performance of a guest singer for the new Avantasia album. It's a lot of work and many night shifts currently. But it's worth it! By the way, kudos to Markus Bertram whose company built me the best studio one can think of. The folks at Abbey road would be jealous of my magical cozy little retreat! 🤘 perfect for Avantasia!!!”

Vocalist Michael Kiske is best known as the singer for Helloween - now sharing vocal duties with Andi Deris in the band's expanded line-up - but he has been a member of Avantasia's ever-changing roster of singers since the band's 2001 debut album, The Metal Opera. Sammet recebntly posted the following words of praise for Kiske on social media:

"Metal is always supposed to be serious! With Michi Kiske on stage, what a great character, you gotta love him. It never gets boring on stage. And when I am down he cheers me up!

As a fan, so glad he's back in Helloween. That's where he truly belongs, and without 'Eagle Fly Free' and his performance, there would have been none of us kinds of bands. No 'Reach Out For The Light', no 'Babylon', no 'Ghostlights'!

Those five Hamburgers invented something we all built some of our stuff upon."