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Avantasia - New Album Cover Revealed


The cover for the forthcoming Avantasia album The Mystery Of Time has just been unveiled. You can feast your eyes below on the artwork which was hand-painted by world acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. The album's release date has now been set for March 30th.

More album details were previously reported here and also here.

Statement from Tobias Sammet: "On March 30th, the new Avantasia album The Mystery Of Time will be released. If you register for the backstage section, you can now see the new artwork there. It has been hand-painted by world acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Amongst Rodney's most famous artworks are not only album covers for Rock legends such as Magnum, Thin Lizzy, Asia or Nazareth. He has also designed the characters for the TV-series Lavender Castle and created the covers for novels by British fantasy author Michael Moorcock and many more."

"It is a great honour for me to have Rodney create the artwork of The Mystery Of Time. Since the new album is a conceptual album and its story has a magical and enchanting atmosphere, there was no other painter I could think of to create the artwork. I've had several creative conversations with Rodney during the process and I had the feeling that the concept was inspiring to him right from the start. I put a lot of energy into producing a very detailed and fascinating album, and Rodney had that same enthusiasm to create an artwork just as detailed and fascinating. This is a new chapter in Avantasia 's history and I think it didn't deserve less than a magical painting by my favorite painter and childhood hero: The one and only Rodney Matthews!"





The Mystery Of Time tracklist:

01. Spectres
02. The Watchmakers' Dream
03. Black Orchid
04. Where Clock Hands Freeze
05. Sleepwalking
06. Savior In The Clockwork
07. Invoke The Machine
08. What's Left Of Me
09. Dweller In A Dream
10. The Great Mystery

Source: tobiassammet.com
Band profile: Avantasia
Posted: 01.02.2013 by R Lewis


Comments

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Comments: 24   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 305 users
01.02.2013 - 17:17
Introspekrieg
Totemic Lust
That damn owl is everywhere.
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01.02.2013 - 17:28
R Lewis

Well, it seems painting awful covers is pretty cool these days...
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We could be so much more than we are. Stop.
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01.02.2013 - 17:37
Andreas

Nice artwork. Somehow reminds me of Trans-Siberian Orchestra...
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01.02.2013 - 17:48
Patrick.

Looks cool. I think I actually prefer this kind of hand-drawn or painted approach, as opposed to those that look very animated and computer-made.
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01.02.2013 - 17:54
Seita
Account deleted
Written by Patrick. on 01.02.2013 at 17:48

Looks cool. I think I actually prefer this kind of hand-drawn or painted approach, as opposed to those that look very animated and computer-made.


You and me both!

I like the cover itself quite a bit but I highly doubt the music will live up to the imagery; I am not a big fan of Tobias Sammet's sense of composition, arrangement and melody, whether it's Edguy or Avantasia or anything else he may have been involved with ...
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01.02.2013 - 18:31
Patrick.

Written by Guest on 01.02.2013 at 17:54

You and me both!

I like the cover itself quite a bit but I highly doubt the music will live up to the imagery; I am not a big fan of Tobias Sammet's sense of composition, arrangement and melody, whether it's Edguy or Avantasia or anything else he may have been involved with ...


I'm on the complete opposite side, as a big fan of his music. Although he may not be the most ambitious composer in complexity and such, he is brave enough to experiment (with mostly great sucess IMO) beyond the tried-and-true formula with venturing into other genres and sounds. In terms of arrangements and especially the melodic aspect, I think this is where he truly shines. A bit of orchestral elements here and there, acoustic sections, choirs and stuff can often be heard accompanying a great melody of his... Fair enough, however! Each to his own!
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01.02.2013 - 18:39
Patrick.

Written by Irritable Ted on 01.02.2013 at 18:16

I prefer it too. Everything so far makes me think that the new album will be closer to the original two.


The list of vocalists announced so far is perhaps a bit in contradiction to this, but based on the artwork and on that which Sammet has already said, I agree.
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01.02.2013 - 18:47
Opethian

Omfg .. that is horrible
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01.02.2013 - 18:55
jaumetalium

Sorry, but i don't like it...
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01.02.2013 - 19:05
Vombatus
Potorro
Reminds me of those cheesy christmas carol-things... but it could have been even worse if Seth Siro was in charge
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01.02.2013 - 19:55
Baz Anderson

Written by Introspekrieg on 01.02.2013 at 17:17

That damn owl is everywhere.

Hahaha
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01.02.2013 - 19:59
renai

Remind me a movie, Hugo. Btw, I missed Avantasia, good news.
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hey...my blog >>> http://metalharem.blogspot.com/
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01.02.2013 - 20:53
Kingface

Written by Baz Anderson on 01.02.2013 at 19:55

Written by Introspekrieg on 01.02.2013 at 17:17

That damn owl is everywhere.

Hahaha


I echo Baz's amusement and approval!

Artwork looks great, looking forward to this one.
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01.02.2013 - 23:07
Lit.
Account deleted
Looks like a Disney movie.
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01.02.2013 - 23:15
Seita
Account deleted
Written by Patrick. on 01.02.2013 at 18:31

Written by Guest on 01.02.2013 at 17:54

You and me both!

I like the cover itself quite a bit but I highly doubt the music will live up to the imagery; I am not a big fan of Tobias Sammet's sense of composition, arrangement and melody, whether it's Edguy or Avantasia or anything else he may have been involved with ...


I'm on the complete opposite side, as a big fan of his music. Although he may not be the most ambitious composer in complexity and such, he is brave enough to experiment (with mostly great sucess IMO) beyond the tried-and-true formula with venturing into other genres and sounds. In terms of arrangements and especially the melodic aspect, I think this is where he truly shines. A bit of orchestral elements here and there, acoustic sections, choirs and stuff can often be heard accompanying a great melody of his... Fair enough, however! Each to his own!


Oh yeah, I think Tobias has got a lot of talent and I think he takes more heat from the scene than he deserves, I just don't connect with his stuff personally. I am a big fan of Tony Kakko, for example, so perhaps that gives you a good idea of something I do connect with that's related to power metal and comparable to Tobias.
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02.02.2013 - 00:40
Constantine

Oh...
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02.02.2013 - 00:48
Nemo Atkins

The cover's pretty good, but I think the goblins could have been done better. They don't seem to fit properly with the rest of the cover to my eyes.

That said, it's an impressively scenic album cover. It seems like it could have come straight out of a Grimm fairy tale, which is definitely interesting to consider for what the storyline of the album could be. Definitely will check this out when I can.
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02.02.2013 - 02:57
Patrick.

Written by Guest on 01.02.2013 at 23:15

Oh yeah, I think Tobias has got a lot of talent and I think he takes more heat from the scene than he deserves, I just don't connect with his stuff personally. I am a big fan of Tony Kakko, for example, so perhaps that gives you a good idea of something I do connect with that's related to power metal and comparable to Tobias.


I agree, and I see what you mean.

It's interesting when you listen to a band or an artist and recognize "good" music. Good melodies, guitars, lyrics, different elements or whatever but you still can't seem to wrap your ears properly around it in order for you to enjoy the music in relation to what your mind already tells you about it's "quality". One such band for me is Dream Theater. I really "want" to enjoy them, but because of the already mentioned "predicament", I can't lol. So if this is what you mean specifically, then I can absolutely relate to it. A bit funny how that works at times...

Anyhow, I agree! Kakko is a great songwriter and vocalist. I've only gotten into Unia so far and enjoy it immensily. Stones Grow Her Name is on my radar currently, and it will be exciting to become more familiar with this band.
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02.02.2013 - 03:17
Seita
Account deleted
Written by Patrick. on 02.02.2013 at 02:57

Written by Guest on 01.02.2013 at 23:15

Oh yeah, I think Tobias has got a lot of talent and I think he takes more heat from the scene than he deserves, I just don't connect with his stuff personally. I am a big fan of Tony Kakko, for example, so perhaps that gives you a good idea of something I do connect with that's related to power metal and comparable to Tobias.


I agree, and I see what you mean.

It's interesting when you listen to a band or an artist and recognize "good" music. Good melodies, guitars, lyrics, different elements or whatever but you still can't seem to wrap your ears properly around it in order for you to enjoy the music in relation to what your mind already tells you about it's "quality". One such band for me is Dream Theater. I really "want" to enjoy them, but because of the already mentioned "predicament", I can't lol. So if this is what you mean specifically, then I can absolutely relate to it. A bit funny how that works at times...

Anyhow, I agree! Kakko is a great songwriter and vocalist. I've only gotten into Unia so far and enjoy it immensily. Stones Grow Her Name is on my radar currently, and it will be exciting to become more familiar with this band.


Haha, you hit the nail on the head! That is exactly how I feel in regards to Edguy and Avantasia and, ironically enough, Dream Theater as well, haha. Dream Theater has loads of talent and has an impressive catalog of releases about them but I just can't get into it either - it's not my cup of tea but the appreciation is there wholeheartedly. I tend to be kind of picky when it comes to music in general, like unless I love pretty much everything about an artist I usually won't bother to collect the catalog or anything like that. I still try to keep up with things, of course, and am always interested in hearing new artists and/or albums - nine times out of ten I won't care all that much for it, true, but then other times I discover a real gem and it's very rewarding. I would take Edguy over Dream Theater any day, however. I like their earlier albums more than the later ones although Age Of The Joker was pretty impressive all around.

Unia is a great Sonata Arctica album, definitely one of their more progressive offerings, far away from their power metal roots. I would suggest Reckoning Night next as it's kind of the "bridge" album between their older sounds and their newer ones. Stones Grow Her Name is an amazing album, if you like Unia I am sure that you will like it.
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02.02.2013 - 05:07
Opethian

Written by Guest on 01.02.2013 at 23:07

Looks like a Disney movie.


A low budget one at that hahaha
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02.02.2013 - 11:27
Dinruth

Urgh .. not a fan of it
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02.02.2013 - 14:03
Patrick.

Written by Guest on 02.02.2013 at 03:17

Haha, you hit the nail on the head! That is exactly how I feel in regards to Edguy and Avantasia and, ironically enough, Dream Theater as well, haha. Dream Theater has loads of talent and has an impressive catalog of releases about them but I just can't get into it either - it's not my cup of tea but the appreciation is there wholeheartedly. I tend to be kind of picky when it comes to music in general, like unless I love pretty much everything about an artist I usually won't bother to collect the catalog or anything like that. I still try to keep up with things, of course, and am always interested in hearing new artists and/or albums - nine times out of ten I won't care all that much for it, true, but then other times I discover a real gem and it's very rewarding. I would take Edguy over Dream Theater any day, however. I like their earlier albums more than the later ones although Age Of The Joker was pretty impressive all around.

Unia is a great Sonata Arctica album, definitely one of their more progressive offerings, far away from their power metal roots. I would suggest Reckoning Night next as it's kind of the "bridge" album between their older sounds and their newer ones. Stones Grow Her Name is an amazing album, if you like Unia I am sure that you will like it.


I too prefer Edguy's earlier works to their more recent ones. Especially the 4-in-a-row of Theater Of Salvation, The Savage Poetry, Mandrake and Hellfire Club.

Thanks for the recommendation. As I already began listening in the "wrong" direction with Unia and now Stones also, I'll follow your words about Reckoning. From that point on I guess the attention will turn to The Days Of Grays (what's your two cents on that album?) and eventually their first three as well somewhere later down the line. So thanks again.
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02.02.2013 - 14:49
andreosokin
SOUNDERY
Honestly, that's a nice cover and I'm not a big fan of Avantasia
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02.02.2013 - 16:38
Seita
Account deleted
Written by Patrick. on 02.02.2013 at 14:03

Written by Guest on 02.02.2013 at 03:17

Haha, you hit the nail on the head! That is exactly how I feel in regards to Edguy and Avantasia and, ironically enough, Dream Theater as well, haha. Dream Theater has loads of talent and has an impressive catalog of releases about them but I just can't get into it either - it's not my cup of tea but the appreciation is there wholeheartedly. I tend to be kind of picky when it comes to music in general, like unless I love pretty much everything about an artist I usually won't bother to collect the catalog or anything like that. I still try to keep up with things, of course, and am always interested in hearing new artists and/or albums - nine times out of ten I won't care all that much for it, true, but then other times I discover a real gem and it's very rewarding. I would take Edguy over Dream Theater any day, however. I like their earlier albums more than the later ones although Age Of The Joker was pretty impressive all around.

Unia is a great Sonata Arctica album, definitely one of their more progressive offerings, far away from their power metal roots. I would suggest Reckoning Night next as it's kind of the "bridge" album between their older sounds and their newer ones. Stones Grow Her Name is an amazing album, if you like Unia I am sure that you will like it.


I too prefer Edguy's earlier works to their more recent ones. Especially the 4-in-a-row of Theater Of Salvation, The Savage Poetry, Mandrake and Hellfire Club.

Thanks for the recommendation. As I already began listening in the "wrong" direction with Unia and now Stones also, I'll follow your words about Reckoning. From that point on I guess the attention will turn to The Days Of Grays (what's your two cents on that album?) and eventually their first three as well somewhere later down the line. So thanks again.


If you like those Edguy albums best than it is likely that you will like the early Sonata Arctica material best as well. If you like Reckoning Night you should then move backwards chronologically from there. I think The Days Of Grays is an absolute masterpiece and it's actually my favorite Sonata Arctica album but I would also say it's the hardest one to get into of theirs. I have been listening to Sonata Arctica for twelve/thirteen years so I am very familiar with everything they've done so it's a bit easier for me to dive into the band's more abstract material but, for a new listener, The Days Of Grays is the album I'd actually suggest going for last.
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