Mark Jansen, guitarist and songwriter for Holland’s symphonic metal band EPICA, checks in with a new album update plus a headlining North American 2010 tour announcement:

“It’s been a great time at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg (Germany) recording Design Your Universe. We worked with the same team (producer Sascha Paeth) and we worked for the first time together with our new guitar player Isaac Delahaye (formerly of GOD DETHRONED).

This made a difference and made things very refreshing because we could add some new elements because of him. We have worked harder than ever on the details. We preferred to spend some extra money on great additions which brings our songs to a higher level instead of leaving things like they are. The result is that we worked so hard on this album that we hardly can listen to the album anymore. Now it's time to let it go and release it to humanity. We were already very happy with The Divine Conspiracy but I'm sure this new album tops that one.

The album title, Design Your Universe, deals with new breakthroughs in quantum physics. It proves that we are all connected to each other on subatomic level. Also, it shows that we can create or at least influence matter with our thoughts… a very interesting fact. Because it changes everything for us, our whole worldview collapses once you accept these facts and integrate them in your lives. So this had to become the new album title.

We’ll be headlining a North American tour in 2010 featuring DAATH and BLACKGUARD. I can't wait for this tour as it's a strong package!”

About the band’s new material, singer Simone Simons has previously stated, "It is so exciting! I love the new songs and can't wait to play them live."

Confirmed tour dates are as follows:

January

26 - Jaxx Nightclub - West Springfield, VA
27 - Trocadero Theater - Philadelphia, PA
29 - The Blender Theatre at Gramercy - New York, NY
30 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
31 - Club Soda - Montreal, QC

February

1 - MOD Club - Toronto, ON
3 - Peabody's - Cleveland, OH
4 - The Pearl Room - Mokena IL
5 - The Rave - Milwaukee, VI
6 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
8 - Royal Albert Arms - Winnipeg, MN
10 - Starlite Room - Edmonton, AL
11 - Warehouse - Calgary, AL
13 - Sugar Nightclub - Victoria, BC
14 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
15 - Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR
17 - Key Club - West Hollywood, CA
19 - U.B.'s Bar - Mesa, AZ
20 - The Rock - Tucson - Tucson, AZ
22 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
23 - Marquee - Tulsa, OK
24 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
25 - Scout Bar - San Antonio - San Antonio, TX
27 - Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC
28 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

Exclusive pre-sale tickets for the tour are available online beginning July 20th at EnterTheVault.com through August 19th. On August 20th, tickets go on sale through all normal ticketing outlets.