Finnish composer/producer and guitar player Timo Tolkki has tapped Dutch singer Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH, REVAMP) to lay down the main vocals on the follow-up to TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON's debut album, "The Land Of New Hope". Jansen will also take part in TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON's upcoming European tour which is planned for May 2014. Other guest musicians who appear on the new TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON CD include EPICA singer Simone Simons and two members of an early incarnation of STRATOVARIUS: Tuomo Lassila (STRATOVARIUS' founder) on drums and Antti Ikonen (the original keyboard player of STRATOVARIUS) on keyboards.

Jansen sings lead vocals on the first single and promotional video from TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON's forthcoming album. The single and the video will be made available in March.

The recordings for the new TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON CD are taking place at East Sound Studios in Helsinki, Finland. Tolkki states: "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."

Tolkki's sequel to his first metal opera will feature 11 tracks and will be released in late spring via Frontiers Records.

Fans can follow the progress of the making of the album, including writing and recording sessions and special cameos from the musicians and singers involved, from the new web site at this location.

To date, Timo Tolkki has sold over two million records in his career, has won a Finnish Grammy-equivalent and has been chosen by the readers of the American Guitar World magazine to Top 100 as "the fastest guitar player in the world" and "the most influential metal guitar player in the world." He has released 20 albums in his career and toured the world for over 3000 shows in 52 countries.