Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA's sound engineer, Raymond, has posted a video recap of the second week of the band's current North American tour on his YouTube channel. Check it out below, go to this location for updates.

Guitarist Mark Jansen recently issued the following tour update:

February 1: Mod Club - Toronto

"Our second show in Canada. A smaller but cozy venue also packed till the roof. Again we had a great time on stage and the Canadian crowd is the way we like it, hot and steamy! The bus was parked like 30 seconds walk from the venue but as it's so cold these days it feels like a huge trip. In the backstage we had a fridge which was a 'bit' smelly. You can describe this smell as a mixture of dead hamster, piss and a unwashed armpit for about one week. So I didn't want to eat anything from that fridge.

Before the show we went out looking for a steakhouse. But everywhere we could see there were only Italian restaurants! Every time we thought there was a different kind of restaurant, it showed a sign: pizza and pasta etc. Finally we found a steakhouse (which apparently was the only one around) and got in. We met some fans in there who we saw earlier at the VIP meeting so that was a funny coincidence. We sat down with them and had dinner with them. Back at the club there were some fans (who were waiting in the line to get in) running towards us. When they grabbed us they asked us why they were the only ones running towards us 'Don't they recognise you???'. I responded, 'No, the reason is because we're in Canada and not in Mexico.' The answer of the guy was 'Yeah, we are actually Mexican' ;-) . During the VIP meeting there was a very funny moment when a guy showed up and got everyone's signature. At the end of the line he looked at Arien and asked 'And what are you doing here little fella?' So Arien told him that he is, since 3 years, the drummer of the band. The guy was a bit ashamed and he apologised but we laughed our asses of and tease Arien a bit. Since that day he's called 'lill' fella.'"

Go to this location for more.

Epica's tour schedule is now as follows:

February

11 - Warehouse - Calgary, AB
13 - Sugar Nightclub - Victoria, BC
14 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
15 - Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR
17 - Slims - San Francisco, CA
18 - The Key Club - Hollywood, CA
19 - U.B’s Bar - Mesa, AZ
20 - The Rock - Tucson, AZ
22 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
23 - Marquee - Tulsa, OK
24 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
25 - Scout Bar - San Antonio, TX
27 - Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC
28 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

BLACKGUARD and THREAT SIGNAL are on the bill as support for the duration of the tour