MAYAN, the new band launched by EPICA guitarist Mark Jansen, will release their debut death metal symphony, Quarterpast, on May 20th via Nuclear Blast Records.

On the band’s Facebook page, you can now listen to their new track, 'Celibate Aphrodite'. Check it out at this location.

Mark Jansen comments: "It is a cool headbang song. This song is one of the more progressive/complex songs. Much variety in music and vocalists. The lyrics are dealing about child abuse by priests.“

While Quarterpast is still waiting to be released, MaYaN are already working on the follow-up to the album.

In an interview recently conducted with EspyRock, Mark Jansen and guitarist Frank Schiphorst talk about their plans for 2011 with Epica and MaYaN now both full time bands.

Frank Schiphorst stated, “For MaYaN, first is our May club tour which is coming up and the album release party the 19th of May in Paradiso, Amsterdam. After this tour we’ll do the video and we’ve already started writing for the new album, so probably more of that too."

Read the interview here.

MaYaN recently uploaded a new studio trailer. Watch the band rehearse in the clip below:

MaYaN recently launched a new official website. Go to MayanOfficial to check it out.

As previously reported, MaYaN are offering the song 'Drown The Demon' - featuring vocalists Floor Jansen (ex-AFTER FOREVER) and Simone Simons (Epica) - for free download at this location.

Check out the audio sample below:

On May 19th, the band is playing as support to Epica at Paradiso in Amsterdam to release the album. For the moment, this will be the only show in which the guest musicians who contributed to the studio album will be on the stage: Floor Jansen (REVAMP, ex-AFTER FOREVER), Simone Simons (EPICA), Henning Basse (SONS OF SEASONS) and Laura Macri (of the biggest Italian opera talents).

Their schedule is now as follows:

May

19 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands
20 - Atak - Enschede - Netherlands
21 - Romein - Leeuwarden - Netherlands
25 - Café Nachtleben - Frankfurt, Germany
26 - Effenaar - Eindhoven, Netherlands
27 - Doornroosje - Nijmegen, Netherlands
28 - CCRM - Lessines, Belgium
31 - Backstage - Munich, Germany

July

16 - Zwarte Cross - Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands

Epica vocalist Simone Simons and SONS OF SEASONS singer Henning Basse will be fronting the band. Sons Of Seasons, featuring KAMELOT keyboardist Oliver Palotai, are on the bill as support.

MaYaN will release their debut album, Quarterpast, on May 20th. The seven singers on the album will be: Mark Jansen (Epica), Arien van Weesenbeek (Epica), Jack Driessen (ex-After Forever), Floor Jansen (REVAMP, ex-After Forever), Simone Simons (Epica), Henning Basse (Sons Of Seasons), and Italian opera singer Laura Macrì.