EPICA Completes Work On New Album, Announces North American Tour

[Palabra de Dios]

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA entered Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany on March 2 with producer Sascha Paeth to begin recording the follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy", tentatively due in September/October via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented EPICA guitarist Mark Jansen: "It's been a great time at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg recording 'Design Your Universe'. We worked with the same team and we worked for the first time together with our new guitar player Isaac Delahaye [formerly of GOD DETHRONED]. This made a difference and made things very refreshing because we could add some new elements because of him. We have worked harder than ever on the details. We preferred to spend some extra money on great additions which brings our songs to a higher level instead of leaving things like they are. The result is that we worked so hard on this album that we hardly can listen to the album anymore. Now it's time to let it go and release it to humanity. We were already very happy with 'The Divine Conspiracy', but I'm sure this new album tops that one.

He added, "The album title, 'Design Your Universe', deals with new breakthroughs in quantum physics. It proves that we are all connected to each other on subatomic level. Also, it shows that we can create or at least influence matter with our thoughts… a very interesting fact. Because it changes everything for us, our whole worldview collapses once you accept these facts and integrate them in your lives. So this had to become the new album title."

EPICA will return to North America for a headlining tour in the beginning of 2010, with DAATH and BLACKGUARD as support. EPICA will offer fans a special VIP ticket which will grant them access to the venue an hour before door times, a pre-show meet-and-greet with EPICA and a event poster customized for the city of the show. Fans are urged to purchase these VIP tickets as only 50 are being allotted for each show. Tickets go on sale today through EnterTheVault.com exclusively until August 19, at which point they will be made available through all other normal ticketing outlets.

Confirmed tour dates are as follows:

Jan. 26 - Jaxx - West Springfield, VA
Jan. 27 - Trocadero Theater - Philadelphia, PA
Jan. 29 - The Blender Theatre at Gramercy - New York, NY
Jan. 30 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Jan. 31 - Club Soda - Montreal, Quebec - CANADA
Feb. 01 - MOD Club - Toronto, Ontario - CANADA
Feb. 03 - Peabody's - Cleveland, OH
Feb. 04 - The Pearl Room - Mokena IL
Feb. 05 - The Rave - Milwaukee, VI
Feb. 06 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
Feb. 08 - Royal Albert Arms - Winnipeg, Manitoba - CANADA
Feb. 10 - Starlite Room - Edmonton, Alberta - CANADA
Feb. 11 - Warehouse - Calgary, Alberta - CANADA
Feb. 13 - Sugar Nightclub - Victoria, B.C. - CANADA
Feb. 14 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
Feb. 15 - Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR
Feb. 17 - Slim's - San Francisco, CA
Feb. 18 - Key Club - West Hollywood, CA
Feb. 19 - U.B.'s Bar - Mesa, AZ
Feb. 20 - The Rock - Tucson - Tucson, AZ
Feb. 22 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
Feb. 23 - Marquee - Tulsa, OK
Feb. 24 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
Feb. 25 - Scout Bar - San Antonio, TX
Feb. 27 - Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC
Feb. 28 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

* * *

I'll try to make it out to the ATL show. I've seen Epica twice now, but the second time was with Amanda Somerville on vox, which was still pretty damn good. It'll be nice to see Simone again, though. I enjoy Blackguard being on the bill as well, they are pretty damn solid.

 

[Diabolik]

terrible opening acts....I see Blackguard are going to be the new Into Eternity. I heard that they are going to be opening for Ensiferum on the Winter US tour this year.

 

[Kazi]

Awesome, $40 seems like a good price for the VIP tickets. I'll try and see them when they come to Atlanta as well. I'm not familiar with either of the opening acts, but Epica by themselves would be worth it.

 

[War Ensemble]

terrible opening acts....

I agree. I don't see Daath as a strong direct support band. I am not a fan of "Children of" Blackguard.

 

[Diabolik]

I agree. I don't see Daath as a strong direct support band. I am not a fan of "Children of" Blackguard.

that is a great nickname for them.

 

[nailz]

i'll probably pickup a VIP ticket for this.

 

[Purveyor Of Evil]

terrible opening acts....I see Blackguard are going to be the new Into Eternity. I heard that they are going to be opening for Ensiferum on the Winter US tour this year.

HYPOCRISY is on that tour, too. Fucking love HYPOCRISY! BLACKGUARD is cool. I saw them on Paganfest 2 and enjoyed them.

 

[Perditions Ghost]

I'll be at the Worcester date. Whether I get the VIP ticket or not is up for debate, but I might. I've wanted to see Epica for quite awhile, so I'm happy either way, even if it is at the Palladium.

 

[Palabra de Dios]

So I'm guessing Blackguard isn't as good as the one song from them I've heard? Nuts.

 

[Palabra de Dios]

Just saw that the rumor is that it's Hypocrisy and Ex Deo on that Ensiferum tour. Hope that shit comes to the Southeast!!!

 

[AngraRULES]

Just saw that the rumor is that it's Hypocrisy and Ex Deo on that Ensiferum tour. Hope that shit comes to the Southeast!!!

Ensiferum, Hypocrisy and Ex Deo? Worth a trip anywhere in the USA imo.

 

[Palabra de Dios]

Agreed, it has been far too long since I've seen Hypocrisy, they were fucking brutal back in like 2006/07, whenever it was.

 

[Pellaz]

Daath opening for Epica? THAT's weird.

 

[Soundscape]

I want to meet Simone

 

[AngraRULES]

Agreed, it has been far too long since I've seen Hypocrisy, they were fucking brutal back in like 2006/07, whenever it was.

If the tour doesn't come near you and you wanna catch it, you're welcome to take a trip up here and stay over. I wouldn't wanna miss that for anything.

 

[Exploding Ned]

Looks like I'm heading to Raleigh to see them, since I sure as hell won't go to Masquerade in Atlanta

 

[Entrerie]

Finally playing in Atlanta aside from the time at Progpower which is probably the way I would want to remember them most, sadly at this point I think I'm not that excited as my musical tastes have changed slightly. Don't get me wrong I like me some Epica especially the Phantom Agony stuff but their last efforts really did not leave a memorable impression, lately all these female symphonic metal bands have turned into an amalgamation of the same sound. Nightwish of course has Marco and like Tabasco sauce a 'lil drop of Marco will do ya, and make the song gold for the most part. Still the music just doesn't seem fresh for lack of a better word anymore. Maybe I'm just jaded /shrug.

Personally I'm more excited about Gojira headlining the Masq on Sept 24th.

 

[Exploding Ned]

Finally playing in Atlanta aside from the time at Progpower which is probably the way I would want to remember them most, sadly at this point I think I'm not that excited as my musical tastes have changed slightly. Don't get me wrong I like me some Epica especially the Phantom Agony stuff but their last efforts really did not leave a memorable impression, lately all these female symphonic metal bands have turned into an amalgamation of the same sound. Nightwish of course has Marco and like Tabasco sauce a 'lil drop of Marco will do ya, and make the song gold for the most part. Still the music just doesn't seem fresh for lack of a better word anymore. Maybe I'm just jaded /shrug.

Female led symphonic metal has become formula laden, but I still hold out hope that Epica's new one will do something innovative and new. I think if any band can do that, it would be them. We'll see. Although, I doubt we'll see the bright shiny colours of say another Gathering "Mandylion" again.

 

[edgeofthorns]

Meh...I'm just not into Epica. I've seen them twice, once with Simone and the other when Amanda was fronting the band. Both were good live shows, but my interest just didn't exceed the live sets.

~Brian~

 

[7thSaviour]

I'm so glad to see they'll be playing ATL again!