My World of Music – est. 2013
What do we expect from a new Epica album? Atmospheric soundscapes, elaborate arrangements, symphonic moments and deep growls. It is all there on 'Aspiral', the new effort from the Dutch symphonic metal icons. The new album is Epica's ninth full-length release, and the first after completing a trilogy of albums with the "Omega" opus. Freed... Continue Reading →
Symphonic metal veterans Epica announced a new album called “Aspiral” which will be released on April 11th, 2025. The band will present the songs live on stage a few months later when embarking on a European tour. The “Arcane Dimensions Tour” will start on January 16th, 2026 in Cologne and will end on March 26th,... Continue Reading →
Dutch symphonic metal outfit Epica announced a new album. “Aspiral” is the title of the next longplayer which will be released on April 11th, 2025 via Nuclear Blast. “Aspiral” will feature 11 songs. “Cross the Divide” is one of these songs and is unveiled already. Cross the Divide Arcana Darkness Dies in Light - A... Continue Reading →
When two of the biggest names in Dutch rock and metal start working together, the result is guaranteed to be exciting. In this case it is Epica vocalist Simone Simons and none other than Arjen Lucassen, who started working together on Simons' first solo album. The Dutch singer had always wanted to work on such... Continue Reading →
Symphonic metal titans Epica have been announced as direct support for Metallica at Paris’ Stade de France and Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion during Metallica’s M72 world tour. Vocalist Simone Simons comments: “We are beyond excited to share the stage with the legendary Metallica that has had a great influence on the whole music scene, including Epica.” Epica... Continue Reading →
Hamburg faces tonight a kind of ‘-ca’ night with Apocalyptica and Epica being in town. The third band, being part of the ‘The Epic Apocalypse Tour’ are Wheel from Finland. The first thing one notices is a 200m queue of fans, waiting for the opening of doors of the Grosse Freiheit 36. Such a line... Continue Reading →
Apocalyptica unveiled with ‘Rise Again’ a new song, featuring Epica’s Simone Simons. The song is a renewed version of ‘Rise’, an instrumental track of the ‘Cell-O’ album. Eicca Toppinen from Apocalyptica on ‘Rise Again’: "It was so great to make Rise Again with Simone Simons! When we were putting the Epic Apocalypse tour together, we... Continue Reading →
Epica turned 20 this year, which the band celebrated with a brilliant live show at the legendary 013, Tilburg. Since only a limited number of fans could participate in such an event, the Dutchmen came up with something special. Epica has recorded a very exciting album called 'The Alchemy Project'. A total of seven songs... Continue Reading →
Wacken is a small village in northern Germany with a population of 1,800. Wacken would not be very well known if a few guys had not decided in 1990 to follow their passion for heavy metal and set up a festival themselves. We all know that what started small has become one of the most... Continue Reading →
After Forever was the springboard for a few musician towards a future career in rock and metal. Mark Jansen (Epica) was a band member as well as singer Floor Jansen, who later joined Nightwish and is currently part of the German TV-show ‘Sing mein Song’ (‘Sing My Song’). 15 years ago, After Forever unleashed a... Continue Reading →
The pandemic also causes another bad thing, the no-conceritis. In a time when live shows are rather limited/restricted or even need to be cancelled/postponed, the digital possibilities became an option, although they never can be a replacer. A band that also decided to use the opportunities and present the new material in a digital context... Continue Reading →
Dutch symphonic metal powerhouse Epica announce live streaming event, entitled 'Omega Alive'. It's the first show the band performs after having played at Webster Hall, NYC in January 2020, although this time in a totally different format. To support the latest record, the band perform songs from 'Ωmega' for the first time ever, along with the band’s... Continue Reading →
Dutch symphonic metal powerhouse Epica has a new album in the start blocks. 'Omega' is the title of their newest offer and Markus' Heavy Music Blog had a chance to talk to Mark Jansen (guitar/growls) about the new album, the impact of the pandemic, the beauty of vlogs and the Omega Point Theory. Markus’ Heavy... Continue Reading →
It was on January 12, 2020 that Epica, on their way back from the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, stopped in New York City to play a show at the venerable Webster Hall. The author of these lines was fortunate enough to see the concert in person, and at the time no one thought it... Continue Reading →
Best records 2020: Fates Warning - Long Day Good NightArmored Saint - Punching the SkyLong Distance Calling - How Do We Want to Live?Benediction - ScripturesZakk Sabbath - VertigoMr. Bungle - The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny DemoHittman - Destroy All HumansStygian Crown - Stygian CrownKatatonia - Dead AirSodom - Genesis XIXBruce Springsteen -... Continue Reading →
Markus' Heavy Music Blog 