Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA have issued the following update:

"Although Epica has been touring around the world for months, Mark found the time to put another band together, which he takes very seriously: MAYAN. Mark founded MaYaN together with Jack Driessen (ex-AFTER FOREVER) and Frank Schiphorst, named after the wise and rich Mayan culture.

The release of the album will take place around May 2011 and the CD presentation will be @ Paradiso - Amsterdam! The music is a mixture of death, black and progressive metal combined with symphonic orchestral arrangements."

Jansen comments: "There was only one record label we wanted to sign with: Nuclear Blast, so we didn't even look for other companies to work with and we're very happy that this appreciation is mutual. The debut album will be recorded and mixed at the end of the year 2010 and the beginning of 2011 by Sascha Paeth (who produced the former Epica records as well). We're also stoked to announce that Jeroen Paul Thesseling (PESTILENCE, OBSCURA), known for his signature six-string fretless playing in progressive death metal, will join as permanent member on bass guitar. Isaac Delahaye and Arien van Weesenbeek (Epica) will complete the line up! We'll work with some very interesting guests and these will be announced very soon!"

Check out MaYaN's official MySpace page here. The first video trailer from the band is available below.

The following dates have been confirmed for the second European leg for Epica's Design Your Universe tour:

September

10 - Glav Club - Moscow, Russia
12 - Combo - Kaunas, Lithuania
24 - Nosturi - Helsinki, Finland
26 - Debaser Slussen - Stockholm, Sweden
27 - John Dee - Oslo, Norway
28 - Sticky Fingers - Gothenburg, Sweden
30 - Eskulap - Poznan, Poland

October

1 - Rialto - Katowice, Poland

2- Diesel - Budapest, Hungary

3 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
5 - New Age - Treviso, Italy
6 - Docks - Lausanne, Switzerland
7 - Backstage - Munich, Germany
9 - Colos-Saal - Aschaffenburg, Germany
10 - Tivoli - Bremen, Germany
16 - de Schakel - Reuver, The Netherlands
28 - Elysee Montmartre - Paris, France
29 - La Laiterie - Strasbourg, France
30 - Transbordeur - Lyon, France
31 - Autunno Nero Festival - Liguria, Italy

Epica's new video, for the track 'This Is The Time' can be seen below:. Singer Simone Simons filmed the video back in March, in Hilversum, The Netherlands. The song was written for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).