Ex-QUEENSRŸCHE Singer GEOFF TATE To Guest On New AVANTASIA Album 'Ghostlights'

Former QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME vocalist Geoff Tate will guest on the forthcoming seventh studio album from EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA project, "Ghostlights", which is due in early 2016 via Nuclear Blast. An EP/single will precede the full-length effort in the fall.

Says Sammet: "I have been fortunate enough to meet many amazing classic metal vocalists. Whenever we've talked about our influence as vocalists, the name Geoff Tate was brought up.

"Throughout his incredible career of more than 30 years, Geoff has constantly explored new territory as an artist and vocalist, while he has always managed to maintain this distinctive signature vocal sound that makes him stand out.

"His contribution [to 'Ghostlights'] sounds nothing but amazing, and you will immediately know why the man had such a huge impact on vocalists and fans around the globe! Enchanting, unique, amazing, progressive in the purest sense of the word!

"Thank you for joing the AVANTASIA family, Geoff Tate!"

Also scheduled to appear on "Ghostlights" is ex-MASTERPLAN singer Jorn Lande.

AVANTASIA's all-star lineup will embark on the "Ghostlights" world tour next year. The trek will kick off in Berlin on March 4, 2016.

Commented Tobias Sammet: "In the past months, I've spent a lot of time in the studio, an odd recluse in the basement, secretly working obsessively on something that reads and feels and sounds like a new — very strong — chapter in the story of AVANTASIA.

"I must say AVANTASIA is a fantastic outlet for creativity, and it's truly inspiring to create a piece of music for so many great vocalists and instrumentalists.

"The new material is very bombastic and dynamic, and even though it's extremely diverse, every minute of it sounds like AVANTASIA.

"I'm really proud of what we're creating right now. And as if that wasn't enough: I'm anxiously looking forward to hitting the road again.

"I didn't necessarily expect this to happen, as in the past, it has always been difficult to align the individual schedules of the guest stars, but things have worked out, and we're ready to make it happen one more time! We'll put on a big show, we're gonna play over three hours, and we'll take the fans to a magical world all its own — to AVANTASIA. The live setlist is going to embrace the entire history of AVANTASIA, from 'The Metal Opera' to 'Ghostlights' and, of course, everything in between!"

AVANTASIA's latest album, "The Mystery Of Time", was released in March 2013.

AVANTASIA made its North American debut on July 7, 2013 at the Quebec City Summer Festival (Festival D'été De Québec) in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.