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Floor Jansen is the main vocalist on Avalon II, the album and European tour planned for May 2014

The Nightwish/ReVamp singer Floor Jansen will appear in the leading role on the next album of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon Metal Opera.

Jansen is the main vocalist on the album and sings lead vocals on the first single and promotional video. The release date for both single and the video is planned for March. The recordings are currently taking place in East Sound Studios in Helsinki, Finland. Jansen joins the cast that already includes Epica singer Simone Simons and the reunion of the early Stratovarius. Lineup: Tuomo Lassila on drums (the founder of Stratovarius) and Antti Ikonen on keyboards (the original keyboard player of Stratovarius).

A European Tour is also planned for May 2014, to coincide with the release of the album. More details on the live lineup and dates will be revealed later.

Timo Tolkki comments straight from the studio: “I am right now recording probably the best vocalist I have worked with in my whole career. This has been a jaw dropping experience and I thought I have already seen it all. Floor has proven me wrong. For example in the 10 minute title track of the album, she delivers in my opinion the best vocals of her career so far. This song is probably the biggest sounding of my whole career and Floor simply makes it an astonishing, almost breathtaking experience! We are both surprised of how amazing this has turned out to be and both very happy to hear how amazing it sounds.”

TIMO TOLKKI’S AVALON REVEALS THE ALBUM TITLE AND THE REST OF THE CAST

The anticipated sophomore release from Timo Tolkki’s Avalon will be entitled “Angels Of The Apocalypse” and is slated
for a May release through Frontiers Records.

The singers that will appear on the album are: Floor Jansen (new NIGHTWISH singer), Simone Simons (of EPICA), Fabio Lione (of RHAPSODY OF FIRE), David DeFeis (of VIRGIN STEELE), Elize Ryd (of AMARANTHE) and Caterina Nix (who will release her debut album produced by Tolkki, later this year).

Other musicians which will appear on the album include two other former members of STRATOVARIUS: Tuomo Lassila (STRATOVARIUS' founder) on drums and Antti Ikonen, the original keyboard player of STRATOVARIUS.

Timo Tolkki also announces a contest for guitar and keyboard players. Now you have the chance to play a solo with Timo Tolkki in one song of the album. Please send one MP3 that contains your solo playing
to this email address: solos@tolkki.org

The winner will receive a backing track and will play his/her solos to this. The MP3’s for the contest has to be sent by 16th of February.

You can also visit http://www.avalonopera.com for videoblogs that has been made from the recordings of the album.
The website will be updated later today.