In a brand new interview with Brazil’s Gustavo Maiato, EPICA singer Simone Simons was requested if she was “already a fan” of the symphonic steel style earlier than the making of the band’s debut album, 2003’s “The Phantom Agony”. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Sure. Yeah, I used to be. Earlier than I knew what steel music was, I used to be extra into rock, various rock bands like RADIOHEAD, SILVERCHAIR, DEFTONES, R.E.M. After which I bought into black steel, truly. I used to be a fan of CRADLE [OF FILTH], DIMMU BORGIR, MYSTIC CIRCLE, OLD MAN’S CHILD, to call a couple of. After which I heard bands like LACUNA COIL, NIGHTWISH, WITHIN TEMPTATION, AFTER FOREVER. Listening to this steel mixed with a stupendous feminine voice was one thing utterly new to me, and mixed additionally with classical music, classical singing, I believed it was magical.”
Requested if there have been any explicit information from these symphonic steel bands that caught her consideration again then, Simone mentioned: “Yeah. From LACUNA COIL, it is, I assume, ‘In A Reverie’. From WITHIN TEMPTATION, ‘The Dance’. NIGHTWISH — ‘Angels Fall First’ and ‘Oceanborn’, these albums. And TRISTANIA, I believe it is ‘Past The Veil’. These have been the albums.”
She added: “I not too long ago discovered — my mom gave me a cassette, slightly combine tape that I made out of my favourite bands again within the day, and there is LACUNA COIL on it and NIGHTWISH, DIMMU BORGIR. It is actually cute. I haven’t got a cassette participant or a Walkman anymore. I should purchase one so I can hearken to it, for nostalgic causes.”
EPICA‘s ninth studio album, “Aspiral”, got here out on April 11 by way of Nuclear Blast Information. The 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 bit of artwork in its personal proper, and there is at all times extra to the story than you initially assume. The band noticed this as the proper analogy for the creation of this ninth album: every tune stands by itself with a particular vibe and which means, whereas collectively they implement one another right into a monumental effort.
The album, that includes beautiful cowl paintings by Hedi Xandt (RAMMSTEIN, GHOST, PARKWAY DRIVE),was recorded as soon as once more at Sandlane Studios and expertly combined and produced by Joost Van Den Broek.
To rejoice the “Aspiral” launch, EPICA performed three unique exhibits in the USA in early Could: in New York Metropolis, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
Photograph credit score: Tim Tronckoe (courtesy of Nuclear Blast)