Epica vocalist Simone Simons has checked in with the following update:

"The new Epica album is coming closer. Today we discussed the final details of the artwork. I can tell you that it will be amazing! Yesterday the final sessions for the backing vocals were wrapped. The mixing and mastering will slowly begin. So exciting!

Who would have thought 14 years ago, that I would still be singing on stages all over the world?! Still in high school, nervous and shy to stand in front of a crowd, I can still remember the small list of gigs that we had on our first website, the forum where we communicated with our fans. In between my lessons, I would go online in the computer room to refresh the forum site. Now we are all connected via the phones that are glued to our hands, or stuck in our pants (or in a toilet).

So much has happened since then. Uncountable things to be grateful for. 

Today, I had to go through all the shows of 2013 and 2014 for book keeping and I tried to remember all the shows. Boy, we have toured like crazy since the beginning! I feel very 'rich' when I think about all the great memories that I have created, the lessons that I have learned, the faces that I have seen singing Epica songs.

On to many more years filled with the good, the bad, and the Epic."

Epica recently issued the following announcement:

"On October 1st we will kick off our new album cycle at Epic Metal Fest at the 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands. We will perform with a number of our good friends in Katatonia, Textures, MaYaN and Myrath. Tickets and tickets and new album bundles are available at this location."

Epica recently updated their 2016 tour schedule. It is currently as follows:

June
4 - Re:Public - Minsk, Belarus
5 - MetalFest Open Air - Plzen, Czech Republic
7 - Majestic Music Club - Bratislava, Slovakia  
8 - Postepay Rock - Rome, Italy
10 - Sweden Rock Festival - Norje, Sweden
23 - Refshaleøen - Copenhagen, Denmark

July
23 - Corona Hell & Heaven Metal Fest - Iztacalco, Mexico

October
1 - Epic Metal  Fest - Tilburg, Netherlands

February
4 - Le Zénith - Paris, France