Posted by Hansi on the official site:

Here is a short update about what is going on at the moment:
Frederik did some kick ass drum arrangements for the new songs and now Oliver Holzwarth has started working on the bass arrangements. At the same time André, Marcus and I are fixing final arrangement issues but basically we have finished the biggest part of composing. We are going to start the production for the new album somewhere during the last days of August. As you can imagine everyone is highly motivated, excited and of course ready to go.

This is a a very rough schedule for the next months:

Late August - End of November:
Recordings
Mixing of the first single
Videoshooting

December - January:
Mixing

February/March:
Promotion
Release of the first single

April/May:
Release of the album and Warm up shows

June - August:
Warm up shows
South America
Japan
Release of the second single

September - October:
Europe

November:
Japan
Australia

December - February:
USA, Mexico and Canada

Source:	blind-guardian.com
Band profile:	Blind Guardian