Mark Jansen, guitarist & songwriter for Holland’s symphonic metal band EPICA, checks in with a new album update plus a headlining North American 2010 tour announcement:

“It’s been a great time at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg [Germany] recording Design Your Universe. We worked with the same team [producer Sascha Paeth] and we worked for the first time together with our new guitar player Isaac Delahaye [formerly of God Dethroned]. This made a difference and made things very refreshing because we could add some new elements because of him. We have worked harder than ever on the details. We preferred to spend some extra money on great additions which brings our songs to a higher level instead of leaving things like they are. The result is that we worked so hard on this album that we hardly can listen to the album anymore. Now it’s time to let it go and release it to humanity. We were already very happy with The Divine Conspiracy but I’m sure this new album tops that one.

“The album title, Design Your Universe, deals with new breakthroughs in quantum physics. It proves that we are all connected to each other on subatomic level. Also, it shows that we can create or at least influence matter with our thoughts… a very interesting fact. Because it changes everything for us, our whole worldview collapses once you accept these facts and integrate them in your lives. So this had to become the new album title.

“We’ll be headlining a North American tour in 2010 featuring Daath and Blackguard. I can’t wait for this tour as it’s a strong package!”

About the band’s new material, EPICA singer Simone Simons has previously stated, “It is so exciting! I love the new songs and can’t wait to play them live.”

Confirmed tour dates are as follows:

01/26/2010

Jaxx Nightclub

West Springfield, VA

01/27/2010

Trocadero Theater

Philadelphia, PA

01/29/2010

The Blender Theatre at Gramercy

New York, NY

01/30/2010

The Palladium

Worcester, MA

01/31/2010

Club Soda

Montreal, QUEBEC - CANADA

02/01/2010

MOD Club

Toronto, ONTARIO - CANADA

02/03/2010

Peabody’s

Cleveland, OH

02/04/2010

The Pearl Room

Mokena IL

02/05/2010

The Rave

Milwaukee, VI

02/06/2010

Station 4

St. Paul, MN

02/08/2010

Royal Albert Arms

Winnipeg, MANITOBA - CANADA

02/10/2010

Starlite Room

Edmonton, ALBERTA - CANADA

02/11/2010

Warehouse

Calgary, ALBERTA - CANADA

02/13/2010

Sugar Nightclub

Victoria, B.C. - CANADA

02/14/2010

El Corazon

Seattle, WA

02/15/2010

Hawthorne Theater

Portland, OR

02/17/2010

Key Club

West Hollywood, CA

02/19/2010

U.B.’s Bar

Mesa, AZ

02/20/2010

The Rock - Tucson

Tucson, AZ

02/22/2010

Bluebird Theater

Denver, CO

02/23/2010

Marquee

Tulsa, OK

02/24/2010

Scout Bar

Houston, TX

02/25/2010

Scout Bar - San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

02/27/2010

Volume 11

Raleigh, NC

02/28/2010

The Masquerade

Atlanta, GA