MAYAN the band featuring EPICA guitarist/songwriter Mark Jansen alongside Jack Driessen (ex-AFTER FOREVER) and Frank Schiphorst has parted ways with Isaac Delahaye (EPICA).Said MAYAN in a statement: "As many of you have noticed, Isaac wasn't on our latest band photo."We all enjoy being part of this awesome band, but we also realize that each bandmember has a busy career next to it... We all agreed to respect that from each other when we started this adventure. "Isaac has decided to not take part in MAYAN anymore."We hugely thank Isaac for his amazing contributions, the funny moments and dedication. Possibly we'll share the stage again in the future."We're already working with a very likely replacement for the job. Soon more news on that.For now, we stay focussed on mixing the upcoming album. We can't wait to share it with you!!!"Added Isaac in a statement: "I recently decided to leave MAYAN because I want to concentrate on other things. For 'Quarterpast', I got asked to join as a session musician, and I've gladly helped them out. Now I feel it's time to pass this on to someone else. "It was absolutely awesome to be part of this, to help build up this band, and I wanna thank the fans, the band and everyone involved for the good times. Now all MAYAN has to do is finish that new album so I have some decent stuff to listen to!"MAYAN recently entered the studio to begin recording 11 new songs for its sophomore album, tentatively due in January 2014 via Nuclear Blast Records. The concept for the CD is based on "the current state of the world which is going totally insane," according to a press release. "For example the explosive situation in Syria, governments who constantly accusing each other of lying, spying and using tricks to revoke their own population." As a very special guest, Floor Jansen, singer of both REVAMP and NIGHTWISH, will contribute her enchanting voice.Says Mark Jansen: "I am very happy with the songs. "The first album was one big (cool!) experiment, but I have the feeling that the new material is more coherent and in balance. "The philosophy of MAYAN is to let things happen intuitively and be totally open-minded for each others ideas. This resulted in music that I can't stop listening to myself!"MAYAN's debut album, "Quarterpast", was released in Europe on May 20, 2011 and in North America on July 12, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded and mixed by Sascha Paeth (EPICA, KAMELOT).In an interview with The Great Southern Brainfart, Mark Jansen stated about MAYAN, "It started as just something for fun but soon it grew into something that had to be perfect as well. I thought it was just for fun to make music with old friends but now it's as serious for me as EPICA is. Of course, EPICA remains my priority band and that's the band that's doing the most of the tours but MAYAN will fill in the gaps."When asked if the MAYAN material is conceptually and lyrically similar to EPICA, Mark replied, "Lyrically, you will find a lot of comparisons because it's my style of writing. I didn't attempt to write about completely different stuff. It could have been lyrics for an EPICA CD as well but music-wise it's completely different. It contains way more grunts and it's way more heavy. It is still symphonic because I love that kind of music. It's like a mixture of SYMPHONY X and OPETH style. That kind of direction."
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