EPICA have released the following update:

“It is with sadness that we announce that Yves Huts and Epica have decided to part ways. Yves has been with us from the start and has been of great value to the band. We want to thank Yves for his contribution to Epica's success and wish him the very best in his future career, whether musically or in a different way. We will never forget the good times we shared together on the road!”

Huts released the following statement on the split:

“013 is the venue where we did our first show with Epica and, almost a decade later, also my last. I'm leaving the band because I have another career opportunity that is not combinable with the schedule of a world touring band. I've tried to live these two different lives simultaneously for as long as I could but in the end I just had to make a choice, one of the most difficult ones in my life. I look back to these 10 years in Epica satisfied and enriched with life experience. As a founding member I'm proud of what we've achieved so far and I'm sure the future has a lot more great things in store for the band.

I would like to thank the band, crew, fans and everybody else involved for the good times and I wish my successor good luck.

Those of you that might be interested in any possible future musical plans of mine can visit my artist page on Facebook.”

In the wake of Huts departure, the band has announced that Rob Van Der Loo (MAYAN, DELAIN) will take over bass duties.

Van Der Loo commented: “A few days ago I spoke to Yves and he brought back a memory from the time when Epica was still a support band for one of my former bands. At that time he would never have guessed that almost 10 years later I'd be his successor in Epica... Well, neither did I... but I'm damn proud of it! I've been sharing the stage with the people from Epica for almost ten years now, and becoming a member of MaYaN last year brought us even closer. So making the decision to join Epica feels pretty good. Therefore I want to show my gratitude to the band members (including Yves) and the crew for allowing me in the Epica family!

See you guys on the road! I won't let you down!”

Epica's new album, Requiem For The Indifferent, has achieved the following worldwide chart positions:

Holland - #12

Switzerland - #14

Deutschland - #26

Austria - #33

Portugal - #36

US - #104

UK - #112

The band’s upcoming European tour with XANDRIA and STREAM OF PASSION dates are as follows:

March

29 - Substage - Karlsruhe, Germany
30 - Juzz Live Club - Andernach, Germany
31 - Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany

April

13 - Transbordeur - Lyon, France
14 - Les Docks - Lausanne, Switzerland
16 - Orion - Rome, Italy
17 - Alcatraz - Milano, Italy
19 - Razzmatazz - Barcelona, Spain
20 - La Riviera - Madrid, Spain
21 - Incrivel Almadense - Lisbon, Portugal
22 - Hard Club - Porto, Portugal
24 - Bikini - Toulouse, France
25 - Theatre Barbey - Bordeaux, France
27 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
28 - Stadthalle - Langen, Germany
29 - Bataclan - Paris, France - SOLD OUT -

May

10 - Den Atelier - Luxembourg, Luxembourg
11 - Backstage - Munchen, Germany
12 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
13 - Club 202 - Budapest, Hungary
15 - Megaclub - Katowice, Poland
16 - Progresja - Warsaw, Poland
18 - Masters of Rock Cafe - Zlin, Czech Republic
19 - Kd Vltavska - Prague, Czech Republic
20 - Colombia Club - Berlin, Germany
23 - Paard van Troje - Den Haag, The Netherlands