Epica

All posts tagged Epica

Source: Bravewords.com

Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA have been confirmed for Masters Of Rock 2013, taking place in Vizovice, Czech Republic from July 11th – 14th. The band will perform on the 14th. Go to this location for information and updates.

epica_band

Epica’s tour schedule is now as follows:

March
23 – Klokgebouw – Eindhoven, Netherlands (10th Anniversary Show)

April
11 – Yu Gong Live House – Beijing, China
13 – Mao Live House – Shanghai, China
14 – KHS Hall – Taipei, Taiwan
17 – Hi Fi – Brisbane, Australia
19 – Metro – Sydney, Australia
21 – Billboard – Melbourne, Australia

June
9 – Sonisphere – Amneville, France
30 – Graspop – Dessel, Belgium

July
14 – Masters Of Rock – Vizovice Czech Republic

Source: Bravewords.com

For the first time in their 10 year career, Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA will perform in the far east, hitting China and Taiwan with more shows in planning. Dates are currently as follows:

April
11 – Yu Gong Live House – Beijing, China
13 – Mao Live House – Shanghai, China
14 – KHS Hall – Taipei, Taiwan

epica2011

Source: Bravewords.com

Maria Voutyriadou and Dimitris Kontogeorgakos of Metal Kaoz recently conducted an interview with EPICA‘s mainman Mark Jansen, who talked about the band’s 10th anniversary show and upcoming album.

epica2011

An excerpt follows:

Q: So, we saw a post in Facebook that you have already recorded the next album, is this correct?

A: “No, it is not recorded. We have been writing some songs and it’s developing very well. We have about 10 songs but it’s still a lot of work that needs to be done. And before entering the studio to record, it will take a while since now we are very busy with the preparations of the 10th anniversary show that we are going to do next year and that’s going to take a lot of time as well.”

Q: So are you talking about only music or do you have a concept already behind the upcoming Epica album to support it?

A: “So far it’s only music; we start now discussing some topics but that’s only in a premature phase.”

Q: So there is no timetable about book a recording studio and I don’t know, stuff like that?

A: “No, we avoid using timetables too much because then you are force to finish something. Also, inspiration comes when it comes. And when you have to go to the studio, you need to have finished before, and when you think we have only six great songs, you don’t want to record because that’s could be eleven great songs as well.”

Q: Any hints about the music?

A: “Well, it can still develop in many directions (laughs). We are still in the ‘developing’ process.”

Q: OK. You talked about the 10th anniversary show; so how many songs are we talking about?

A: “We are thinking about a very long setlist, we don’t know exactly how long it’s gonna be, but don’t be surprised if it’s gonna end up like 3 hours or something like that. It’ll be a whole evening with Epica.”

Q: Wow! And I know you probably won’t tell me, but what about the guests?

A: “We are still working on that (laughs)… we have some guests in mind, and one of them really wants to do it. But still has to wait for his or her schedule (laughs).”

Q: So after this tour, we are talking about next year of course, you are having the Australian live dates and then the anniversary show, and then?

A: “First it’s the anniversary show and then it’s Australia. We are also working on some Asian dates and then we want to do a lot of summer festivals again.”

Q: So, when does the recording of the new album fit in all of these?

A: “We have to see (laughs). Things go like they go; of course we think about the schedule, but we don’t over-think it. Like I said, inspiration comes and when the album is finished we will start recording it. But we are not going to push it; take things step by step.”

Read the entire interview at this location.

Epica are currently on tour in Europe in support of their latest album, Requiem For The Indifferent.

Source: Blabbermouth.net 

Ali Blackdiamond of Bloodstock Radio conducted an interview last night with guitarist Mark Jansen of Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA for her “Metal Mayhem” show. You can listen to the chat using in the SoundCloud player below.

Regarding EPICA‘s U.K. tour, which starts today (December 11) in Nottingham, Mark said: “My feeling is it’s about time we return again. The last time we were there was already two years ago. We had lots of fans asking, ‘When are you coming back?’ I’m really looking forward to it. There are more dates this time. I have no idea what to expect, but the pre-sales look pretty good! What I like most about touring is the sightseeing part, meeting new people and the new cultures and of course the live show and interaction with the fans.”

Mark had the following to say about EPICA‘s upcoming tenth-anniversary show, “Retrospect”, which will take place in March 2013 in Eindhoven, Holland: “We’re hoping to record a DVD out of it, but [we're] not sure yet. Now it’s all progressed and we have enough to invest for the show. We sold lots of tickets. It’ll be a big production and we have a great live engineer who plans to make it a very special event out of this. If he can realize what he has in mind, it will be something we’ve never done before.”

Blackdiamond‘s “Metal Mayhem” airs every Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. (noon) on www.bloodstockradio.com.

“Retrospect” will be EPICA‘s most ambitious project to date, joined by a 70-piece symphonic orchestra and choir, international guests and lots of special effects.

Specially for this show, EPICA will be joined by the Hungarian Extended Remenyi Ede Chamber Orchestra and Choir of Miskolc National Theatre, the same orchestra and choir with whom EPICA recorded the highly acclaimed live album “The Classical Conspiracy”. This anniversary show will be a “Retrospect” on EPICA‘s career and will contain all trademark elements you can expect from EPICA.

EPICA‘s fifth full-length album, “Requiem For The Indifferent”, sold 4,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 104 on The Billboard 200 chart.

“Requiem For The Indifferent” was released on March 9 in Europe and four days later in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany under the watchful eye of Sascha Paeth.

 

Interviewed by Dylan Raine

I caught up with EPICA Guitarist ISAAC DELAHAYE in Nottingham a couple of hours before they kicked off the final leg of their tour in the UK.

Have a listen to the Full Interview below

Epica UK Dates:

11-12-2012 The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

12-12-2012 Corporation, Sheffield

14-12-2012 Academy, Newcastle

15-12-2012 Classic Grand, Glasgow

16-12-2012 Ritz, Manchester

18-12-2012 Robin 2, Wolverhampton

19-12-2012 Electric Ballroom, London (Camden Town)

EPICA FLAG

Source: Bravewords.com

Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA kick off the next leg of their European tour in support of their latest album, Requiem For The Indifferent, with shows in Switzerland, France and the UK.

epica2011

Dates are as follows:

December
7 – Metal Christmas Festival – Bern, Switzerland
8 – Le Splendid – Lille, France
9 – Bataclan – Paris, France
11 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, United Kingdom
12 – Corporation – Sheffield, United Kingdom
14 – O2 Academy 2 – Newcastle, United Kingdom
15 – Classic Grand – Glasgow, United Kingdom
16 – Manchester HMV Ritz -Manchester, United Kingdom
18 – Robin 2 – Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
19 – Electric Ballroom – London, United Kingdom

Epica recently posted a video announcement for their upcoming UK tour. Check it out below:

Source: Bravewords.com

According to an update from Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA, they have been confirmed to play Sonisphere France 2013, which takes place June 8th and 9th in Amneville.

Go to this location for event details.

SonisphereFrance2013

Epica recently posted a video announcement for their upcoming UK tour, which takes place in December. Check it out below:

The schedule is as follows:

December
11 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, United Kingdom
12 – Corporation – Sheffield, United Kingdom
14 – O2 Academy 2 – Newcastle, United Kingdom
15 – Classic Grand – Glasgow, United Kingdom
16 – Manchester HMV Ritz -Manchester, United Kingdom
18 – Robin 2 – Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
19 – Electric Ballroom – London, United Kingdom

STREAM OF PASSION are confirmed as direct support for the duration of the tour.

Graspop Metal Meeting 2013 is already shaping up to be a vintage edition of Belgium’s premier metal festival.

“Following the confirmation of headliners Iron Maiden for Sunday 30 June, we are pleased to announce another 22 names for next year’s festival: In Flames, Stone Sour, Parkway Drive, Saxon, Coal Chamber, Epica, Kreator, Mayhem, The Devil Wears Prada, Dark Funeral, Absu, God Seed, Every Time I Die, Winterfylleth, Lock Up, Aura Noir, After The Burial, Dunderbeist, Between The Buried And Me, Bullet, Heaven’s Basement, Hacktivist.

About the new names:
In Flames has been a GMM favourite for as long as we can remember and contrary to many other bands in the business, these guys don’t need a breather and just keep forging ahead. Their 2011 release ‘Sounds of a Playground Fading’ confirmed the band’s shift to the more poppy side of metal with clean vocals and more synthesizers. The album catapulted In Flames into the big leagues, as illustrated by their triumphant gig at this summer’s Lokerse Feesten.

Mayhem is probably the band with the most turbulent and eventful past ever to play our festival. The lives of these pioneers of Norwegian black metal are inextricably tied up with murder, suicide, substance abuse and violence, but let’s be honest here: black metal is not for the faint of heart.
Dark metal fans will be glad to hear Dark Funeral, Winterfylleth, Aura Noir, God Seed and Absu have also been confirmed for GMM2013.

With seven GMM appearances to their credit, Saxon are a household name at our festival. Their 8th GMM show promises to be a memorable occasion because the Barnsley lads are bringing their full Eagle Show.

This year marks Epica’s 10th anniversary and what better way to celebrate than with the band’s 6th GMM appearance? The band offers a blend of symphonic metal, death metal and gothic metal so there’s something for everyone here. We’re expecting fireworks both on and off stage for this one!

Mille Petrozza and Kreator have been shattering eardrums for over thirty years now and like wine, Kreator’s music just seems to get better with age. Their previous GMM set was one of the most memorable performances of GMM2011 so it’s great to have them back. Look forward to a mix of tracks from 2012’s ‘Phantom Antichrist’ album and thrash classics like ‘Flag of Hate’ and ‘Pleasure to Kill’. Thrash metal across the generations…

For more information, please visit: Graspop Metal Meeting 2013

Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA have posted a video announcement for their upcoming UK tour, kicking off on December 11th. Check it out below.

The tour dates are:

December
11 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, United Kingdom
12 – Corporation – Sheffield, United Kingdom
14 – O2 Academy 2 – Newcastle, United Kingdom
15 – Classic Grand – Glasgow, United Kingdom
16 – Manchester HMV Ritz -Manchester, United Kingdom
18 – Robin 2 – Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
19 – Electric Ballroom – London, United Kingdom

Source: Bravewords.com 
EPICA‘s new bassist Rob van der Loo is featured in a new interview with Shot @ The Show. An excerpt is available below:

Q: You joined the band in March of this year, replacing longtime bassist Yves Huts. How did the opportunity to play in EPICA come about?

Rob: “The whole thing about Yves leaving the band, it’s quite obvious – I don’t want to say issues, but he had this job, he was very busy with his other work and he wasn’t that dedicated to the band anymore. Not to speak negative about him at all because he’s always been dedicated to the band, but we kind of saw it coming.

I got the phone call and they had the group conversation and they decided to part ways. My feeling told me that it was coming this year somehow, but I was quite surprised when they called me. He’s been a member for such a long time and I get along with him pretty well. Of course, I’m pretty happy to join this band, but at the moment, I was sad to see him leave as well.”
Q: You’ve known the members of EPICA for a long time, right?

Rob: “I’ve known Mark (Jansen/guitars, founder) since his time with AFTER FOREVER and I remember a band called SAHARA DUST when it was starting up, which actually was a support band for my band, SUN CAGED, so it’s been quite a while. We’ve been in touch for many years already.”

Q: EPICA’s songs often contain heavy subject matter such as religious tensions, natural disasters and the world economy. Do you feel that not enough other bands are writing about these important topics?

Rob: “Of course, but this band is not exactly a band that likes to write about demons or wizards or love songs or whatever. I like that it’s not a typical gothic band that writes about fantasy stuff. These songs are really up to date.”

Q: When might the next album come out? 2014?

Rob: “We don’t have a real plan yet, but we’re aiming for that. To be honest, we’re already aiming for this summer to record the first songs. That’s our personal goal. The sooner, the better.”

Go to this location for the complete interview.

EPICA are currently on a headline tour through North America. The schedule is now as follows:

November
19 – Trees – Dallas, TX
20 – Scout Bar – Houston, TX
21 – Backstage Live – San Antonio, Tx
23 – Headliner’s Music Hall – Louisville, KY
24 – Soundstage – Baltimore, MD

Check out BW&BK’s recent interview with EPICA guitarist/founder Mark Jansen conducted by Mark Gromen here.