In a recent interview, AVANTASIA's mastermind, Tobias Sammet, discussed the project's mission to unite musicians from different nations. He was asked if it was always his intention to bring together artists from various countries, given his previous collaborations with renowned vocalists such as Jørn Lande, Michael Kiske, Bob Catley, Dee Snider, Klaus Meine, and Sharon Den Adel, among others. Sammet, as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, responded, "Well, it's certainly united people from Finland, from Brazil, from America, England, and all the people who are on stage with me and in Norway, Denmark, Italy, and Canada. Now Tommy [Karevik, KAMELOT singer and current AVANTASIA touring vocalist] is residing in Canada."
Sammet explained that the project was not meant to be political, but rather a celebration of the unifying power of heavy metal and hard rock. He stated, "Heavy metal and hard rock unite people because wherever you go, you meet people who are like you, who share the same values, and who share the same love for music. It doesn't matter if you grew up in Australia or Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, or South Africa; we all agree that the 'Turbo' album by JUDAS PRIEST is a great album, and things like that. We all agree that our type of music started with [HELLOWEEN's] 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part I' - period; no discussion. We all agree that HELLOWEEN is not spelled with an 'A' and has nothing to do with a holiday. HELLOWEEN is spelled with an 'E' and has to do with German-made power metal. So that's what the whole world agrees on."
Sammet emphasized his approach to the project, stating, "Apart from that, my approach is just not to divide people and not to spread negativity. I wanna spread positivity. My music is very personal; it's always been music speaking from my heart as the underdog that I always felt I was as a kid, bullied kid or whatever you have. And I think I spoke on behalf, without intending it, on behalf of other people who feel the same way, who didn't feel too comfortable in the mainstream world, but who, just like me, felt like, 'I'm living in the shades and I'm probably a bit different to everybody else. And my musical taste is not exactly what is being played on the radio. I'm maybe a bit different, but I got a right to be myself.' And that's something, I think, that a lot of people can identify with, and I think that's a very uniting feeling and it comes from the heart."
AVANTASIA's tenth studio album, 'Here Be Dragons', was released in February 2025 via Napalm Records. The album, written and composed entirely by Sammet, was produced and recorded by Sammet and Sascha Paeth, mixed by Paeth, and mastered by Michael Rodenberg. The cover art was once again created by the acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews.
AVANTASIA's success story is impressive, with nine previous studio albums (including the 2019 offering 'Moonglow', which charted at No. 1 in Germany), gold awards, hundreds of millions of streams, and headline shows at all important metal festivals. They have also embarked on worldwide sold-out arena tours with tens of thousands of devoted fans. But here's where it gets controversial... Sammet's emphasis on the unifying power of heavy metal and hard rock may not resonate with everyone. Some may argue that the genre can be exclusive or even alienating to those who don't identify with its subculture. And this is the part most people miss... While AVANTASIA's music may be personal and relatable to some, it may not be accessible to those who don't share the same musical tastes or experiences. So, what do you think? Do you agree with Sammet's statement, or do you have a different perspective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
