It’s been a while since I took a good long listen to the weird world of Avantasia . Tobias Sammet ’s enchanting symphonic metal powerhouse is always such a pallet cleanser for me. There are always three things you’re guaranteed going into every Avantasia album: Wonderful vocals, epic orchestration and infinitely creative imagination. Their new album Here Be Dragons is yet another notch on the belt of Sammet’s ever-expanding career and I am so here for it. This album is jam-packed with inventive writing and each song has just the right amount of that over-the-top quality that we all love from them. The 10-track offering in its entirety was written and composed by Tobias Sammet himself, produced and recorded by Sammet together with Sascha Paeth , mixed by Paeth and mastered by Michael Rodenberg . This is the tenth record from the band and man it feels like they reinvent themselves with every release, yet somehow they keep that core that makes the Avantasia experience unique. Like a...
Ever since I first heard the incredible talent of Wille and The Bandits , I have been completely captivated by their music. I am particularly interested in their unique songwriting style and their remarkable ability to hold the audience’s attention throughout their performances. As they prepare for their massive headline tour and a short run of opening dates for Beth Hart , I had the opportunity to sit down with frontman and bands namesake, Wille Edwards . In this candid interview, we discuss their approach to live performances, their major musical influences, their fans, and Wille’s deep appreciation for music. Mick: You've got a pretty lengthy tour upcoming, so what's involved in your preparation for touring? Wille: Funny you should say that actually, because it's exactly what I've been doing running around. Just working out what guitars I'm going to take out, working the setlist. We always record our rehearsals, listen back to them and try and sculpt the set in a...