In a brand new interview with Canada’s The Metallic Voice, EPICA singer Simone Simons mirrored on her band’s assist slot with METALLICA for 3 reveals on the latter group’s “M72” tour in Paris, France; Hamburg, Germany; and Gothenburg, Sweden. She mentioned (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “That was certainly one of our highlights. It was [May and June] 2023 [when] we performed with METALLICA. It was wonderful. I imply, it was a matter of seconds the place we needed to instantly leap in and make sure that we may do the gigs. And we could not imagine it ourselves, however we had been very grateful for it. It was pretty to play on that spherical stage — very totally different from what we’re usually used to. However I made a decision to not consider the magnitude of that present, however simply have a great time, run round on the stage. Fortunately I used to be going to the health club quite a bit, so my stamina was fairly good so I may run, leap and sing and entertain the gang.”
Requested if she received to satisfy the METALLICA guys when EPICA performed with the enduring San Francisco Bay Space-based act, Simone mentioned: “Sure. Yeah, we met the entire band. They usually had been very pretty. They usually had been additionally very hospitable. They’d welcome presents within the backstage. There was a cake and there have been playing cards — and, yeah, very nice. And we received a heat welcome from the fellows.”
Again in July 2023, Simons informed Balkanrock about what it was wish to share the stage with METALLICA: “It was wonderful, mind-blowing. First we received the decision if we may do reveals with METALLICA and if everybody had time, as a result of it was like in a few days. Magically all of us had time and couldn’t imagine it. It nonetheless feels surreal. Despite the fact that we completed three reveals, they had been all lovely in their very own means — Paris, Hamburg and Gothenburg. The METALLICA household was so good to us. We met them in particular person and that was one of many highlights of my profession. Nonetheless excited about it.”
Two years in the past, EPICA guitarist Isaac Delahaye informed Convey The Noise UK about how he discovered that his band was going to open for METALLICA: “It was humorous as my supervisor gave me an pressing name. I used to be in my dwelling studio engaged on a brand new track and he stored calling me and finally I answered and requested, ‘What the fuck?’, all agitated. He informed me to test my WhatsApp and there was particulars of three European reveals. I simply checked dates and missed the phrases ‘supporting METALLICA‘ and simply mentioned, ‘Yeah, that is tremendous,’ after which went again to work on my track. And it took a great 5 minutes for me to all of the sudden notice and return to learn it and sink in that it was METALLICA.”
He continued: “It was a really last-minute factor, as FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH needed to drop out, however we received the decision to do three European reveals with them which was very cool. The blokes all got here to say hello to us and the entire crew and band had been very welcoming. Having now performed a few reveals with them to these big crowds, it makes all the things to any extent further simpler.”
Requested if EPICA had been to cowl any METALLICA track, which would it not be, and on the identical time, which of EPICA‘s personal tracks he would love METALLICA to reimagine, Isaac mentioned: “Oh, that is a tough query and one thing I’ve by no means considered earlier than. I might in all probability select ‘Grasp Of Puppets’ because the track perhaps we might cowl, and for them I might get them to cowl ‘Consign To Oblivion’. It’s a lengthy track, however they might do quite a bit with it and perhaps shorten it to 2 minutes and inform us that is the nice components and that is what we might do with it.”
EPICA‘s new album, “Aspiral”, will see the sunshine of day on April 11 by way of Nuclear Blast.
To have a good time the “Aspiral” launch, EPICA will play three unique reveals in the USA in early Might: in New York Metropolis, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
The “Aspiral” LP title is derived from the eponymous bronze sculpture made by Polish sculptor and painter Stanisław Szukalski again in 1965 and stands for renewal and inspiration — key phrases that outline EPICA in 2025. In Szukalski‘s work each element is a chunk of artwork in its personal proper, and there is at all times extra to the story than you initially suppose. The band noticed this as the right analogy for the creation of this ninth album: every track stands by itself with a particular vibe and that means, whereas collectively they implement one another right into a monumental effort.
The album, that includes beautiful cowl art work by Hedi Xandt (RAMMSTEIN, GHOST, PARKWAY DRIVE),is now accessible for pre-order. The particular editions even embrace the Blu-ray and audio recordings of the total monumental “Symphonic Synergy” efficiency in Amsterdam that the band recorded in 2024 with an orchestra and choir.
Recorded as soon as once more at Sandlane Studios and expertly combined and produced by Joost Van Den Broek, “Aspiral” boasts 11 new tracks.
Launched final November, “Aspiral”‘s lead single, “Arcana”, marked EPICA‘s first new launch since “Omega” and the collaboration EP “The Alchemy Venture”.
The “Arcana” single additionally included “The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)”, EPICA‘s collaboration with Europe’s second-most visited theme park, Netherlands’s magical De Efteling, and their new attraction, Danse Macabre.
