April 16, 2013

AVANTASIA ON TOUR - FIRST SHOWS SOLD OUT!

AVANTASIA have just hit the road to bring the Metal Opera Experience to venues all over the globe. The all-star ensemble feat. Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween/Unisonic), Bob Catley (Magnum), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Tobias & Felix (Edguy), Oliver Hartmann, Amanda Somerville, Thomas Rettke (Heavens‘ Gate) and many more has just finished their first 3-hour-shows. Both Swiss shows were completely sold out and the crowd reportedly left speechless, witnessing what many consider to be the most epic AVANTISIA show ever with the band even paying attention to lengthy never before played tracks such as "The Seven Angels" or "Savior In The Clockwork" as well as classics such as "The Scarecrow" or "Reach Our For The Light". Check the tour section - you definitely don't want to miss the show of shows!

April 16, 2013

AVANTASIA ENTER THE UNITED WORLD CHARTS

Just after we received the information that the new album THE MYSTERY OF TIME has also entered the Swiss album Top 10 charts at #5 we can proudly announce that it has also entered the United World Charts at position #31 - marking Tobias‘ highest world chart entry ever and making AVANTASIA the only German music act in the worldwide sales charts that combine sales of all major music markets such as the USA, UK, Asia and Europe. What makes it even more astonishing is that the album hasn't even been released in the USA and Canada yet.

Other chart entries read as follows: Germany #2, Switzerland #5, Sweden #9, Finland #9, Austria #11, Hungary #15, Norway #19, England #6 (Rock, #97 international), Czech Republic #20, Spain #29, France #48, Netherlands #85, Japan #17 (international artists).

April 09, 2013

AVANTASIA HIT THE GERMAN CHARTS AT #2

While the band are preparing to hit the road and bring the biggest show in the band's history to the stages around the globe (featured guests will be Michael Kiske, Bob Catley, Eric Martin, Ronnie Atkins, Amanda Somerville, Thomas Rettke, Olli Hartmann and Tobias of course) we have been informed that the new AVANTASIA album THE MYSTERY OF TIME is breaking all records in the history of AVANTASIA. Having sold more than twice as many copies as any previous AVANTASIA album in the first week of its release, THE MYSTERY OF TIME has rocketed straight to #2 of the official German Mediacontrol album charts. For the first time AVANTASIA has also made it to the Top10 in Finland, not to mention making it to the Top10 in Sweden again, while none of the previous albums had made it there. Also, the album made it to the Top10 of the English Rockcharts for the first time in the history of AVANTASIA. First chart positions read as follows (other countries will follow shortly):

Germany #2
Sweden #9
Finland #9
Austria #11
Norway #19
England #6 (Rock, #97 international)
France #51
Netherlands #85

In Japan the album went in at #17 of the international artists album charts.

Tobias has sent us the following statement:

"To all fans, thank you all for your support! A lot of amazing musicians have worked their asses off to make "The Mystery Of Time" a timeless piece of art. Is it Heavy Metal? Is it Classic Hard Rock? Is it Epic Metal? Is it Rock? The answer to all of those questions is "yes, it is!" It is all of that. I'd call it a piece of music that I put together being nothing but a fanboy myself! It reflects my personal taste, nothing else! I am really proud and thankful. And I also wanna thank everybody who've helped me put it together. Now we are getting ready for the tour and Jesus Christ, this show will be massive! Tomorrow I am gonna meet the rest of the guys to rehearse and bring the Metal Opera on the road again!!!!!!!! Playing three hours might be a challenge, but we have to cover six albums, so it would be even more of a challenge to just play two hours and pick the right songs. What I can say?! We'll play a lot of the "Metal Opera 1 & 2" and pretty much all of the new album… Plus the highlights of "The Scarecrow", "The Wicked Symphony" and "Angel Of Babylon". A lot of people kept asking if we do the whole show in all countries, I have to admit: We can't do the full three hours at the festivals, we can't play a 15 minutes track at festivals! Impossible! So, it will be 90 minutes at festivals only, but we give our best nevertheless… Thank you all for your support and see you on the road!!! Tobi"

The MYSTERY WORLD TOUR will kick off next Friday in Mons, Belgium.

The special three hours shows read as follows:

13.04. Switzerland, Pratteln, Z7 (sold out)
14.04. Switzerland, Pratteln, Z7
16.04. Italy, Milano, Alcatraz
18.04. Germany, Ludwigsburg, Arena
19.04. Germany, Kaufbeuren, All-Karthalle
20.04. Germany, Fulda, Esperantohalle
22.04. Germany, Berlin, Tempodrom
23.04. Germany, Hamburg, Große Freiheit
25.04. Germany, Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
26.04. Germany, Lichtenfels, Stadthalle

April 09, 2013

AVANTASIA BREAK INTO THE CHARTS

It's been less than two weeks since the new AVANTASIA album THE MYSTERY OF TIME has been released and the album breaks new records for AVANTASIA. Never has an AVANTASIA album sold more copies in the first week of its release. The first album positions read as follows:

Sweden #9
Finland #9
Norway #19
England #6 (Rock, #97 international)
France #51
Netherlands #85

In Japan the album went in at #17 of the international artists album charts. We'll keep you posted!

April 05, 2013

TOBIAS SAMMET SPECIAL GUEST ON RADIO HR3

On Friday night at 1:00 AM a guest appearance of Tobias is going to be broadcast during "Die lange harte Nacht" on German radio HR3 with famous Heavy Metal radio DJ Christoph Habusta. Tobias will give in-depth information about the new AVANTASIA masterpiece "The Mystery Of Time", the featured guests on the forthcoming European tour and talk about his favorite bands. Don't forget to tune in!