Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA have checked in with the following update:

"Epica will tour next year all over the world to promote the brand new album. For the European tour we are currently booking the shows. We are curious to know which bands, you (as a fan), would like to see supporting Epica on that tour. Please maximum five (5) band names and be realistic. METALLICA won't be available ;-) Your preferences will be heard and we will use that information on our way to select the right bands for you."

Go to this location to submit your suggestions.

As previously reported, Epica recently announced they will celebrate the release of the upcoming album at 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands on March, 16th, 2012. They have since added two more dates to their schedule:

January

12 - Metropool - Hengelo, The Netherlands
13 - Limburgzaal - Heerlen, The Netherlands

March

16 - 013 -Tilburg, The Netherlands

Epica are currently in the studio working on the new album, which is slated to be released on March 9th, 2012, via Nuclear Blast Records. They recently issued the following update:

"The next couple of months Epica will spend their time in the studio to record the new album which will be released March 9th 2012. So, no opportunities to see Epica live anymore for this year, but some of our guys (Simone, Mark, Isaac and Arien) will do some shows with their other band: MAYAN. Come and see them at:

September

29 - Perron 55 - Venlo, Netherlands
30 - Tivoli - De Helling, Utrecht, Netherlands

October

1 - JOC Ieper - Ieper, Belgium
2 - Gigant - Apeldoorn, Netherlands

November

22 - Club Chocolate, Santiago (Chile)**
24 - Teatro Colegiales, Buenos Aires (Argentina)**
26 - Carloca Club, Sao Paulo (Brazil)**
27 - Fundicao Progresso, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)**
28 - Music Hall, Curitiba (Brazil)**

We had a firedance act in mind for the Dutch shows, but the rules and regulations of the venues do not allow us to use open fire unfortunately."

** MaYaN show + many additional extra tracks with all guest singers involved.

MaYan's debut album, Quarterpast, was released in North America on July 12th, and in Europe on May 20th via Nuclear Blast Records.

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

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.

(Live photo by Audrey Dujardin)