AVANTASIA with former Impellitteri's frontman Rob Rock singing the part of "bishop von Bicken" on the songs "The Glory of Rome" and "Sign of the Cross" seems to become AFM's most successful release in the company's history. The concept album of EDGUY mastermind Tobias Sammet entered the official German album charts on #35 and as it looks at the moment it will remain a Top 50 album for at least another two or three weeks.

In Sweden the album went straight to #53 and climbed up to #48 in the second week, in Finland it reached #73 in the week of the release.  In the Netherlands, AVANTASIA was voted for the "Album Of The Month" in Aardschok magazine. In most other magazines in the world, it is a Top 3 Album.  The album is scheduled for release on January 22, 2001.  
 

THE INSTRUMENTALISTS:

Henjo Richter (GAMMA RAY)- all rythm & lead guitars
Markus Grosskopf (HELLOWEEN) - all bass
Alex Holzwarth (PARADOX, RHAPSODY)- all drums
Tobias Sammet - all keys and orchestration
Norman Meiritz - acoustic guitar on track 6
Frank Tischer - piano on track 11
Jens Ludwig - lead guitar on tracks 12 & 13
 

Rob Rock (Impellitteri, Axel Rudi Pell, Joshua, Angelica, MARS, Driver & Warrior) as "bishop von Bicken" appears on tracks 7 & 12;
Tobias Sammet (Edguy) as "novice Gabriel" appears on tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 & 13;
Ernie as "druid Lugaid Vandroly" appears on tracks 2, 5, 6, 9, & 13;
David Defeis (VIRGIN STEELE) as "friar Jakob" appears on tracks 3 & 13;
André Matos (ANGRA) as "Elderane, the elf" appears on tracks 11, 12 & 13;
Ralf Zdiarstek as "baliff von Kronberg" appears on tracks 4 & 7;
Sharon Den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION) as "Anna Held" appears on track 6;
Oliver Hartmann (AT VANCE) as "Pope Clemens IIX" appears on tracks 7, 12 & 13;
Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY) as "Regrin, the dwarf" appears on tracks 11 & 12; and 
Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius) as "voice in The Tower" appears on track 13.