Midlands Rock recently conducted an interview with MAYAN founder Mark Jansen. In the interview Jansen talks about the creative urge behind the formation of his new band and the themes that tie the new album together. An excerpt from the interview is below:

Mark Jensen: “I strongly felt the urge of doing something new besides EPICA, a new challenge. Epica remains priority but we'll try to make as much touring as possible with Mayan. I'm used to compose all by myself, all alone during the night. This way of working has many advantages: I can do what I want and experiment without discussions. However, there are also some disadvantages [and] discussions about music don't need to be always negative. Especially when you work with people who are as open minded as you are yourself. The songs [on Quarterpast] are dealing about corruption, abuse of power, lies and deceit in all layers of society. In order to make the next step in our development we need to get rid of this disease which is called corruption. Quarterpast . . . needs many spins before it reveals all its layers.”

Read the entire interview here.

Mayan debut album Quarterpast features guest vocalists Epica’s Simone Simons, Floor Jansen (REVAMP, ex-AFTER FOREVER), Henning Basse (SONS OF SEASONS), and soprano Laura Macrì. The album also features Epica guitarist/composer Mark Jansen, Epica drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek, and Epica guitarist Isaac Delahaye. Video of each guest recording their parts for the album can be seen below:

Quarterpast was released May 20th via Nuclear Blast Records.

The tracks ‘Celibate Aphrodite’ and ‘Drown The Demon’ can be heard on the band’s on the band’s Facebook page.