Recently, Dutch metal titans EPICA have launched a lyric video for ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ which is taken from the band’s upcoming re-release of »Design Your Universe« – Gold Edition. Today, the band has revealed the first album trailer, in which they share memories about the album, including the line-up changes that happened during »Design Your Universe«, how the title came to be and the touring, that followed the album.
Watch the new trailer here: https://youtu.be/ix63vZtQCWo
Also, watch the lyric video for ‘Kingdom Of Heaven’ on the band’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/hFlgT4dny4k
Mark Jansen comments: “’Kingdom of Heaven’ is very dear to me. This song was dedicated to my grandmother after she passed away. The lyrics are dealing with near-death experiences and the bridge between spirituality and science. Up until today it’s the EPICA song I’m most proud of and even though we cannot perform it that often live due to its length, we will perform it soon during the »Design Your Universe« 10th Anniversary shows. Enjoy this lyric video!”
»Design Your Universe«- Gold edition contains a remastered and remixed version of the album and a newly recorded acoustic bonus disc and will be released October 4th. The album and exclusive merchandise bundles are now available for pre-order now from: http://smarturl.it/epica
The tracklist reads as follows:
CD1: Album
01. Samadhi – prelude
02. Resign to Surrender – A New Age Dawns – pt IV
03. Unleashed
04. Martyr of the Free Word
05. Our Destiny
06. Kingdom of Heaven – A New Age Dawns – pt V
07. The Price of Freedom – interlude
08. Burn to a Cinder
09. Tides of Time
10. Deconstruct
11. Semblance of Liberty
12. White Waters
13. Design Your Universe – A New Age Dawns – pt VI
14. Incentive (bonus)
CD2: The Acoustic Universe / Bonus CD:
01. Burn To A Cinder
02. Our Destiny
03. Unleashed
04. Martyr Of The Free Word
05. Design Your Universe
To coincide with this release EPICA will perform a number of exclusive »Design Your Universe« 10th anniversary shows around the globe.
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Europe
w/ BLACKBRIAR
04.10. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
05.10. NL Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg *SOLD OUT*
06.10. F Paris – Élysée Montmartre *SOLD OUT*
10.10. IL Tel Aviv – Barby Club
12.10. RUS Moscow – Glavclub
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Latin America
21.10. MEX Monterrey – Escena
22.10. MEX Guadalajara – Diana Theatre
24.10. MEX Mexico City – Auditorio BlackBerry
26.10. BR São Paulo – Tropical Butantã
27.10. BR Rio de Janeiro – Circo Voador
29.10. AR Buenos Aires – El Teatro Flores
30.10. CR Santiago – Teatro Caupolicán
02.11. CO Bogotá – Royal Center
03.11. CR San José – Pepper Disco Club
2020:
03.01. CN Montreal – Corona Theatre
05.01. US Los Angeles – Regent Theater
12.01. US New Yorck City – Webster Hal
Tickets are on sale now through: www.epica.nl/tour
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
and launch pre-orders
Dutch metal titans EPICA have launched a lyric video for ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ which is taken from the band’s upcoming re-release of »Design Your Universe« – Gold Edition.
The lyric video can be viewed on the band’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/hFlgT4dny4k
Mark Jansen comments: “’Kingdom of Heaven’ is very dear to me. This song was dedicated to my grandmother after she passed away. The lyrics are dealing with near-death experiences and the bridge between spirituality and science. Up until today it’s the EPICA song I’m most proud of and even though we cannot perform it that often live due to its length, we will perform it soon during the »Design Your Universe« 10th Anniversary shows. Enjoy this lyric video!”
»Design Your Universe«- Gold edition contains a remastered and remixed version of the album and a newly recorded acoustic bonus disc and will be released October 4th. The album and exclusive merchandise bundles are now available for pre-order now from: http://smarturl.it/epica
The tracklist reads as follows:
CD1: Album
01. Samadhi – prelude
02. Resign to Surrender – A New Age Dawns – pt IV
03. Unleashed
04. Martyr of the Free Word
05. Our Destiny
06. Kingdom of Heaven – A New Age Dawns – pt V
07. The Price of Freedom – interlude
08. Burn to a Cinder
09. Tides of Time
10. Deconstruct
11. Semblance of Liberty
12. White Waters
13. Design Your Universe – A New Age Dawns – pt VI
14. Incentive (bonus)
CD2: The Acoustic Universe / Bonus CD:
01. Burn To A Cinder
02. Our Destiny
03. Unleashed
04. Martyr Of The Free Word
05. Design Your Universe
To coincide with this release EPICA will perform a number of exclusive »Design Your Universe« 10th anniversary shows around the globe.
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Europe
w/ BLACKBRIAR
04.10. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
05.10. NL Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg *SOLD OUT*
06.10. F Paris – Élysée Montmartre *SOLD OUT*
10.10. IL Tel Aviv – Barby Club
12.10. RUS Moscow – Glavclub
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Latin America
21.10. MEX Monterrey – Escena
22.10. MEX Guadalajara – Diana Theatre
24.10. MEX Mexico City – Auditorio BlackBerry
26.10. BR São Paulo – Tropical Butantã
27.10. BR Rio de Janeiro – Circo Voador
29.10. AR Buenos Aires – El Teatro Flores
30.10. CR Santiago – Teatro Caupolicán
02.11. CO Bogotá – Royal Center
03.11. CR San José – Pepper Disco Club
2020:
03.01. CN Montreal – Corona Theatre *NEW*
05.01. US Los Angeles – Regent Theater *NEW*
12.01. US New Yorck City – Webster Hal *NEW*
Tickets are on sale now through: www.epica.nl/tour
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
Simone Simons comments about the re-release: “’Design Your Universe’ is an album that is very dear to me not only because of the music, but also because of the message behind it. I am looking forward to the anniversary release and all the upcoming shows. The bonus CD is a worthy addition to DYU and I can’t wait for you all to hear the songs!”
“Design Your Universe” will be re-released as a 2-CD version and a digital version. Next to that the acoustic songs will be released as a separate Picture Disc. Pre-order will start on August, 9th.
To co-incide with the 10th Anniversary the band will perform a number of exclusive shows.
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Europe
w/ BLACKBRIAR
04.10. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
05.10. NL Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg *SOLD OUT*
06.10. F Paris – Élysée Montmartre *SOLD OUT*
10.10. IL Tel Aviv – Barby Club
12.10. RUS Moscow – Glavclub
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Latin America
21.10. MEX Monterrey – Escena
22.10. MEX Guadalajara – Diana Theatre
24.10. MEX Mexico City – Auditorio BlackBerry
26.10. BR São Paulo – Tropical Butantã
27.10. BR Rio de Janeiro – Circo Voador
29.10. RA Buenos Aires – El Teatro Flores
30.10. RCH Santiago – Teatro Caupolicán
02.11. CO Bogotá – Royal Center
03.11. CR San José – Pepper Disco Club
Tickets are on sale now through: www.epica.nl/tour
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
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EPICA
“The Essence Of EPICA” is available for pre-order now!
THE ESSENCE OF EPICA, the lavishly designed and fully illustrated, high-quality hardback which tells the story of symphonic metal titans EPICA in their own words, is available for preorder now at epicabook.com.
Created using rare and personal photographs – including baby, childhood and teen snaps – plus professional live and studio photography, THE ESSENCE OF EPICA is the story of the band told straight from the mouths of Mark, Coen, Simone, Ariën, Rob, Isaac, Yves and Ad.
Designed with care and precision, and a cover created by long-time design collaborator Stefan Heilemann, the book is as big and beautiful as the EPICA sound.
THE ESSENCE OF EPICA is available in two distinct editions: The Classic is a 208-page, hardback with foil detailing, filled with over 200 images. The Signature hardback is signed by the band and comes in a deluxe clamshell box with three exclusive, original art prints created by Stefan Heilemann.
THE ESSENCE OF EPICA is only available for pre-order at epicabook.com. Delivery will be in November 2019.
Here’s your chance to see EPICA live this year:
29.06. NL Hertme – Openluchttheater (w/ MaYaN, BLACKBRIAR)
03. – 06.07. D Ballenstedt – Rockharz Open Air
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Europe
04.10. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
05.10. NL Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg
06.10. F Paris – Élysée Montmartre *SOLD OUT*
10.10. IL Tel Aviv – Barby Club
12.10. RUS Moscow – Glavclub
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Latin America
21.10. MEX Monterrey – Escena
22.10. MEX Guadalajara – Diana Theatre
24.10. MEX Mexico City – Auditorio BlackBerry
26.10. BR São Paulo – Tropical Butantã
27.10. BR Rio de Janeiro – Circo Voador
29.10. RA Buenos Aires – El Teatro Flores
30.10. RCH Santiago – Teatro Caupolicán
02.11. CO Bogotá – Royal Center
03.11. CR San José – Pepper Disco Club
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
EPICA-announce additional »Design Your Universe« 10th anniversary shows for Latin America
Dutch Symphonic metal band EPICA will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of their fan-favorite album »Design Your Universe«.
After a phenomenal response from their Latin American fans, the band have decided to add more dates to the tour in Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica.
Coen Janssen comments:
“Wow! The response on the first announced dates for the Latin-American celebration of the 10-year anniversary shows for »Design Your Universe« was simply astonishing. There is only one thing we can do and that is comply to your wishes and add a few more shows!
I, for one, will certainly enjoy this prolonged stay in one of my favourite parts of the world and I can’t wait for this tour to be unleashed!! See you soon!”
Mark Jansen adds:
“We are very happy to announce some extra »Design Your Universe« tour dates for Latin America! It’s ‘Our Destiny’ to guide you through these ‘Tides of Time’, so let’s open the gates to the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’!”
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Latin America
21.10. MEX Monterrey – Escena *NEW*
22.10. MEX Guadalajara – Diana Theatre
24.10. MEX Mexico City – Auditorio BlackBerry
26.10. BR São Paulo – Tropical Butantã
27.10. BR Rio de Janeiro – Circo Voador
29.10. AR Buenos Aires – El Teatro Flores
30.10. CHI Santiago – Teatro Caupolican *NEW*
02.11. CO Bogota – Royal Center *NEW*
03.11. CRC San José – Pepper Club *NEW*
Tickets and VIP upgrades are available at: www.epica.nl/tour
The band will also play the following other shows this year:
29.06. NL Hertme – Openluchttheater
03. – 06.07. D Ballenstedt – Rockharz Open Air
»Design Your Universe« – 10th Anniversary Shows – Europe
04.10. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
05.10. NL Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg
06.10. F Paris – Élysée Montmartre *SOLD OUT*
10.10. IL Tel Aviv – Barby Club
12.10. RUS Moscow – Glavclub
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
EPICA-announce “Design Your Universe” 10th anniversary shows for Latin America
Dutch Symphonic metal band EPICA will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of their fan-favorite album “Design Your Universe”. In support of this anniversary, the band will perform a number of exclusive shows in Latin America in October.
Simone Simons comments
“We are super excited to tell you that due to a huge demand from our fans in Latin America for our ‘Design Your Universe’ anniversary shows. We have we decided to also celebrate the album’s anniversary there”.
Mark Jansen adds
“In celebration one of my personal favorite Epica albums we will return to one of my favorite territories. When a huge amount of our fans made us clear that we should bring this show to Latin America we started looking into possibilities and I’m very glad we found a way to make this happen!”
Dates:
22/10/2019 Diana Theatre – Guadalajara, Mexico
24/10/2019 Auditorio Blackberry – Mexico City, Mexico
26/10/2019 Tropical Butantã – Sao Paulo, Brazil
27/10/2019 Circo Voador – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
29/10/2019 Teatro Flores – Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tickets and VIP upgrades are available at: www.epica.nl/tour
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
EPICA–College of Metal launches EPICA guitar courses
College of Metal, an online educational metal music platform that enables anyone to learn from the best metal musicians in the world, announces that guitarist Isaac Delahaye released his first 6 EPICA courses. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/iVBPSyQj8Tk
Other than with most guitar lessons, artists at College of Metal focus on songs rather than on techniques exclusively. That’s why every individual course is a walk through of a song, explaining whatever techniques are used in the context of that specific song.
All courses have 3 camera views, including close-ups of both left and right hands. Every lesson includes accurate guitar tabs, reviewed by Isaac Delahaye himself. Also, he explains any differences between the recorded parts and the way he’s playing them in an ever-changing live environment. The individual EPICA courses and the full EPICA bundle are now available at https://store.collegeofmetal.com
Isaac Delahaye is best known as the lead guitarist of EPICA, and has also played for GOD DETHRONED and MAYAN. As a graduate from college of music in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, he’s been teaching guitar for around 20 years and a professional touring metal musician for 15 years now.
“After seeing that the general musical education system still treats metal music as an outsider, I decided to create College of Metal for anyone who is looking for in-depth lessons from the artists themselves. What better way to learn the songs/genre you love so much than having the composer/performer getting through the different parts, showing you the tricks and the techniques used, and explaining you why they do what they do. If you’re a self taught hobby player or an aspiring professional, this is what you’re looking for.”
College of Metal will continue to expand courses, bringing leading metal musicians to its base of subscribers. For more information, please visit www.collegeofmetal.com.
See EPICA live on one of the following dates:
Design Your Universe 10th Anniversary shows:
04.10. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
05.10. NL Utrecht – Tivoli Vredenburg
06.10. F Paris – Elysée Montmartre
10.10. ISR Tel Aviv – Barby Club
12.10. RU Moscow – Glavclub
Tickets and VIP upgrades go on sale Saturday 17th November at 10:00 am from: www.epica.nl/tour
Follow College of Metal:
Twitter @collegeofmetal
Instagram @collegeofmetal
Facebook /collegeofmetal
Follow Isaac Delahaye:
Instagram @isaacdelahaye
Facebook /isaacdelahayeofficial
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
Dutch Symphonic heavyweights EPICA announce a select number of exclusive shows in support of the 10th anniversary of their album “Design Your Universe”. The album until today holds a special place in the hearts of their fans and includes fan-favorites as ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and ‘Design Your Universe’. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of “Design Your Universe” the band will return to a number of venues they played while touring on the album back in 2009/2010 which most likely will sell out far in advance.
Simone Simons comments:
“After all those years, Design Your Universe remains one of my all-time favorite EPICA albums. I know that the message behind the title song also resonates with a lot our fans because there are so many “Design Your Universe” related tattoos. The title track and ‘Unleashed’ are songs that I hold very dear and the memories we made in that time of our career. I am looking forward to go back in time with you all while we play more songs from our “Design your Universe” album.”
Mark Jansen adds
“Design Your Universe is very dear to me, it’s an album that was written during a very inspiring time. The title track shows us that we can we all create our destiny and it’s still one of my favorite tracks to play live. Also, quite a few other songs of the album deserve to be played again and we will! Our set is gonna be filled with DYU songs so don’t miss one of these opportunities”
Design Your Universe 10th Anniversary shows:
04.10. D Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
05.10. NL Utrecht – Tivoli Vredenburg
06.10. F Paris – Elysée Montmartre
10.10. ISR Tel Aviv – Barby Club
12.10. RU Moscow – Glavclub
Tickets and VIP upgrades go on sale Saturday 17th November at 10:00 am from: www.epica.nl/tour
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
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EPICA VS METROPOLE ORKEST –‘Beyond The Matrix – The Battle’ out today; lyric video launched!
To celebrate the release of their new 10” inch today, metal giants EPICA have launched a lyric video to their bombastic track ‘Beyond The Matrix – The Battle’ – a unique collaboration with the Dutch Grammy-award winning METROPOLE ORKEST. Watch the clip, here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP8vRlp9PzM
Singer Simone Simons states:
“Here it is, our lyric video from ‘Beyond the Matrix- the Battle’. Get ready to dive into the sea of pure tranquility together with EPICA and the Metropole Orkest”
In the summer of 2017, with the help from their massive fan base, EPICA won a high-profile competition organized by the METROPOLE ORKEST. First prize was a recording of a song of their choice with the orchestra. In between EPICA‘s heavy touring schedule, the band was able to conjure up a unique, never-before-seen ‘Big Band meets Symphonic Metal’ rendition of ‘Beyond the Matrix’. As a bonus to all voters, runner-up in the competition and friend of the band, Arjen Lucassen (AYREON) contributed a beautiful guest-solo on the song.
EPICA vs METROPOLE ORKEST – ‘Beyond The Matrix – The Battle’ is out today and available as a limited-edition vinyl and digital download through Nuclear Blast. You can order the limited-edition 10-inch and bundles from the band‘s webshop http://smarturl.it/epica_vs_mo or from the Nuclear Blast mail-order: http://nblast.de/EpicaBeyondTheMatrix
Digital version: http://geni.us/EpicaBeyondTheMatrix
EPICA has also confirmed the following shows for 2019 so far:
29.06. NL Hertme – Openluchttheater
03. – 06.07. D Ballenstedt – Rockharz Open Air
www.epica.nl | www.facebook.com/epica | www.nuclearblast.de/epica
]]>The band’s decision to do cover songs is not paradoxical at all and actually made perfect sense after listening to the songs. The original songs are huge pieces on their own and are already symphonic by nature; multilayered with classical harmonies and a lot of rock elements. Attempting to do justice to the songs must have been a colossal job in its own right and I think Epica gave themselves a proper challenge embarking on this project.
The EP is initiated with “Crimson Bow & Arrow” – a detonating start that begins with a cinematic entrance akin to a film score that will grab you right from the get-go; something that is not at all atypical for the band. It builds and brews for some time to an inevitable concoction of a bombastic chorus that will have you moving your head around, senseless; the impact is nothing but memorable. They then progress to “Wings of Freedom” which, given the Epica treatment, feels more like a song written by the band themselves; that is, if we overlook the intro and the content of the lyrics for the moment as they confused my ears a bit; I’m just not used to hearing the band talk about “flying into victory” – a parochial idea, but it was an amusing thought. The opus is brought home with a hint of familiarity through Mark‘s intense growling over Ariën‘s blast beats and Isaac‘s leads on the guitar. Then the theatrics move on to “If Inside These Walls Was a House” which delivers a very musical and Disney-like sound, rendering the atmosphere and pace of the album to buffer and lead the tone for what is to come on the fourth track, “Dedicate Your Heart”. The song expresses a new wilderness that fans of the band have never heard of before. It is an ensemble packed with diversity and changing passages that makes one think of how talented and adaptable the band truly is, their potential to do other things. And if you have a passion for singing, then rejoice because the rest of the songs on the EP are the instrumental versions of the four songs. Having a run through them is worth it as they’ll give you a different perspective and experience of the songs. It’s a quick realization of the powerhouse of the band that is Simone and her vocal abilities to nail all those gigantic songs!
I can’t say that I’m a big fan of many covers, per se, but “Epica vs. Attack on Titan Songs” songs turned out to be superb renditions of great songs, there is nothing to complain about, really. It is nothing short of effort and has reminded me of my deep respect for this band as musicians as well as human beings – they are some of the most humble and happiest musicians I’ve ever met. Having met and interviewed a lot of musicians in metal, that is something I don’t often say.
Taking stock of their journey to this release, it’s obvious that Epica is still a brim-full of great ideas and continues to remain creative and dedicated musicians. Their skills have not halted and only soared over the years. I for one can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
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