Simone Simons, vocalist for Dutch symphonic rockers Epica, is featured in a new interview with Metal Blast discussing the band's new album, The Quantum Enigma. An excerpt is available below:

MB: How did your life as a musician change now that you have a child?

Simone: "It’s going to be a challenge, but I always knew that I wanted to have a child. I’m in a metal band so while I was pregnant I prepared myself for the fact that was I going to be away once in a while. I’m also home a lot, so it's an exchange of extremes. I love being in a band and I love being a mom; I’ve got both, so I’m going to do my best to make it work. Luckily I have a family that can help out so… so far, so good!"

MB: I think I read that you were able to bring your son to some of the recording sessions, is that correct?

Simone: "Yes! He was on almost all the vocal recordings and in the studio with us, because back then I was still breastfeeding, so I had to take him with me since I was his milk supply (laughs)."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

The Quantum Enigma tracklist is as follows:

"Originem"
"The Second Stone"
"The Essence Of Silence"
"Victims Of Contingency"
"Sense Without Sanity (The Impervious Code)"
"Unchain Utopia"
"The Fifth Guardian" (Interlude) "Chemical Insomnia"
"Reverence (Living In The Heart)"
"Omen (The Ghoulish Malady)"
"Canvas Of Life"
"Natural Corruption"
"The Quantum Enigma (Kingdom Of Heaven Part II)"

Digipack additional track: "In All Conscience"

Earbook additional track: "Dreamscape"

Vinyl additional track: "Memento"

iTunes additional track: "Banish Your Illusion"

Disc 2 (Digipack and Earbook only):

"Canvas Of Life" (acoustic version)

"In All Conscience" (acoustic version)

"Dreamscape" (acoustic version)

"Natural Corruption" (acoustic version)

Disc 3 (Earbook Only):

"Originem" (instrumental)

"The Second Stone" (instrumental)

"The Essence Of Silence" (instrumental)

"Victims Of Contingency" (instrumental)

"Sense Without Sanity" (instrumental)

"Unchain Utopia" (instrumental)

"The Fifth Guardian" (instrumental)

"Chemical Insomnia" (instrumental)

"Reverence" (instrumental)

"Omen" (instrumental)

"Canvas Of Life" (instrumental)

"Natural Corruption" (instrumental)

"The Quantum Enigma" (instrumental)

Epica have released a lyric video for the track "Unchain Utopia", featured on the band's new album, The Quantum Enigma, released on May 6th.

Commented guitarist Mark Jansen: “The "Unchain Utopia" lyric video is one of the coolest lyric videos I have ever seen. The footage worked out very well for this approach. Images and words strengthen each other. Initially we had a normal video in mind but that didn't have the same impact. We hope you will enjoy "Unchain Utopia"!!!“

Bass and drum playthrough clips for "The Essence Of Silence" featuring Rob van der Loo and Arien van Weesenbeek respectively:

Epica recently checked in with the following update: "We are excited to announce that we will perform in Lebanon this summer. On August 2nd we will perform at the Byblos International festival in Jbeil-Byblos. We have had a lot of requests from Lebanese fans over the years to perform there. We are happy it will finally happen!"

Go to this location for event information.

Epica's schedule is now as follows:

June

7 - Landgraaf, The Netherlands - Pinkpop
14 - Nickelsdorf, Austria - Novarock
29 - Den Haag, The Netherlands - Parkpop

July

5 - Barcelona, Spain - Barcelona Rock Festival
11 - Vizovice, Czech Republic - Masters Of Rock
12 - Wegorzewo, Poland - Seven Festival

August

2 - Jbeil-Byblos, Lebanon - Byblos International Festival
8 - Vagos, Portugal - Vagos Open Air
10 - Montreal, Quebec - Heavy MTL
16 - Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop
17 - Saint Nolff, France - Motocultor Festival
21 - Bogotá Colombia - Metal Millenium 2014

November

20 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Kulturfabrik
21 - Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie
22 - Zurich, Switzerland - X-TRA
24 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
25 - Rome, Italy - Orion
26 - Marseille, France - Le Moulin
28 - Madrid, Spain - Shoko
29 - Lisbon, Portugal - Paradise Garage
30 - Porto, Portugal - Hard Club Porto Portugal

December

2 - Barcelona, Spain - Apolo
3 - Toulouse, France - Bikini
4 -Bordeaux, France - Rocher de Palmer
6 - London, UK - The Forum

January

15 - Paris, France - L’Olympia