Video Premiere: AVANTASIA's 'Draconian Love'

May 12, 2016

"Draconian Love", the new video from EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA project, can be seen below. The clip contains live footage from AVANTASIA's recent shows in Brazil.

"Draconian Love" is taken from AVANTASIA's seventh studio album, "Ghostlights", which entered the German chart at position No. 2. Released on January 29 via Nuclear Blast, the twelve-song CD was produced by Tobias and Sascha Paeth at Gatestudio in Wolfsburg, Germany. Paeth engineered and mixed "Ghostlights", while the mastering was done by Michael Rodenberg.

In an interview with Myglobalmind, Tobias stated about the lyrical themes covered on "Ghostlights": "It's a concept that started in novel form on 'The Mystery Of Time' and 'Ghoslights' is based on that one, so it finishes the story. The twelve new songs represent twelve stations on the protagonist's journey. It's a journey where he is looking for answers for some questions about his own existence and that leaves its mark on his philosophical worldview as well. Those twelve songs represent key moments on this journey and then it's done. There is no happy end indeed — it's a very open ending — but I didn't want to continue the story in fairytale form. Instead I wanted it to be more universal, so that people can think about the things that happen in the story. You should be able to interpret it for yourself in the end. So this concept and topic is definitely finished."

Tobias also talked about the musical direction of "Ghostlights". He said: "I'm not that kind of person who sits down after a large market analysis and says, 'The next album has to be faster, darker or softer.' That will never happen, and that's good, because you can keep it interesting for yourself. I never really know in which direction it will lead. I just have a rough idea in mind when I develop a concept and of course there is a certain quintessence that is always present during the whole process, but I never really know how it will turn out. You never know if a song gets more dark or something like that. These are simply nuances. So many things are happening during the development process, so because of smallest changes a song can go into a different direction in the end. Let me give you one example. There is one song called 'Draconian Love' that sounds quiet dark, but that just happened in the studio. Originally this one was a typical AVANTASIA track in the vein of 'Dying For An Angel' or 'Avantasia' from the very first record. At the end of the day, Sascha Paeth came up with the idea that my duet partner Herbie Langhans from SINBREED could sing his part an octave lower than me to get a bigger discrepancy between our two voices. And suddenly this song got this kind of… many people call it 'gothic' touch. I really can't compare it, since I'm not into this style of music, but because of that little change this song got a more darker tone."

"Ghostlights" features guest appearances by:

* Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER)
* Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE)
* Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH)
* Sharon Den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION)
* Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN)
* Ronnie Atkins (PRETTY MAIDS)
* Bob Catley (MAGNUM)
* Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN)
* Bruce Kulick (KISS)
* Robert Mason (WARRANT)
* Herbie Langhans (SEVENTH AVENUE, SINBREED)
* Oliver Hartmann
* Sascha Paeth

The instrumentalists on "Ghostlights" are as follows:

* Sascha Paeth - rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, additional keys
* Michael Rodenberg - orchestration, keys
* Tobias Sammet - additional keys and bass
* Bruce Kulick - lead guitar
* Oliver Hartmann - lead guitar
* Felix Bohnke - drums

01. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
Lead vocals: Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

02. Let The Storm Descend Upon You
Lead vocals: Tobias, Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, Robert Mason
Lead guitar: Oliver Hartmann

03. The Haunting
Lead vocals: Dee Snider, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

04. Seduction Of Decay
Lead vocals: Geoff Tate, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

05. Ghostlights
Lead vocals: Michael Kiske, Tobias, Jorn Lande
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann

06. Draconian Love
Lead vocals: Herbie Langhans, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

07. Master Of The Pendulum
Lead vocals: Marco Hietala, Tobias
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

08. Isle Of Evermore
Lead vocals: Sharon Den Adel, Tobias

09. Babylon Vampyres
Lead vocals: Tobias, Robert Mason
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick, Oliver Hartmann, Sascha Paeth

10. Lucifer
Lead vocals: Jorn Lande, Tobias
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick

11. Unchain The Light
Lead vocals: Tobias, Ronnie Atkins, Michael Kiske
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann

12. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
Lead vocals: Bob Catley, Tobias
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick

Digibook

CD 1

01. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
02. Let The Storm Descend Upon You
03. The Haunting
04. Seduction Of Decay
05. Ghostlights
06. Draconian Love
07. Master Of The Pendulum
08. Isle Of Evermore
09. Babylon Vampyres
10. Lucifer
11. Unchain The Light
12. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
13. Wake Up To The Moon (bonus track)

CD 2 (Bonus Disc - AVANTASIA live)

01. Spectres
02. Invoke The Machine
03. The Story Ain't Over
04. Prelude
05. Reach Out For The Light
06. Avantasia
07. Whats Left Of Me
08. Dying For An Angel
09. Twisted Mind
10. The Watchmakers' Dream
11. Another Angel Down
---
Earbook (digibook including 68-page photobook, 28.5x28.5cm)+ CD 3 karaoke version of CD 1 without bonus track

Mailorder Box

- Earbook
- Poster
- Autograph
- Lanyard + Pass
- 10" Vinyl (tracks to be confirmed)

Vinyl

Side A

01. Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
02. Let The Storm Descend Upon You
03. The Haunting

Side B

01. Seduction Of Decay
02. Ghostlights
03. Draconian Love

Side C

01. Master Of The Pendulum
02. Isle Of Evermore
03. Babylon Vampyres

Side D

01. Lucifer
02. Unchain The Light
03. A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
04. Wake Up To The Moon (bonus track)

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