Q&A: Epica’s Simone Simons — New Album, U.S. Tour Plans & Hobbies

**Symphonic metal titans Epica* — comprised of Mark Jansen, Coen Janssen, Simone Simons, Ariën van Weesenbeek, Isaac Delahaye and Rob van der Loo — formed close to 25 years ago in the early 2000s. The group’s studio albums have consistently charted well internationally, and 2021’s Omega* continued that trend with high chart positions achieved for the Dutch group within Europe, North America and Japan.

Epica recently announced that their ninth studio album, Aspiral, would be released on April 11, 2025 via Nuclear Blast Records. The album title was reportedly derived from the eponymous bronze sculpture made by Polish sculptor and painter Stanisław Szukalski back in 1965 and stands for renewal and inspiration — key words that define **Epica** in 2025. In Szukalski’s work, every detail is a piece of art on its own and there’s always more to the story than you initially think. The band saw this as the perfect analogy for the creation of this ninth album: Each song is aimed to stand on its own with a distinctive vibe and meaning, while together they enforce each other into a monumental effort.

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Recorded once again at Sandlane Studios and expertly mixed and produced by Joost van den Broek, Aspiral boasts 11 new tracks. The Aspiral album also notably features stunning cover artwork by Hedi Xandt (**Rammstein**, Ghost, Parkway Drive) is now available for pre-order. Its special editions include the following formats:

• Collector’s Box Set, including the 5-disc Earbook, exclusive picture disc 2LP vinyl and Epica coin — 5-disc Earbook, including the Aspiral CD + Instrumental CD, Live at The Symphonic Synergy Blu-ray + 2CD — 2-disc Digipak, Including the Aspiral CD and Live at The Symphonic Synergy Blu-ray -Jewelcase CD -2LP Gatefold vinyl in various exclusive colors

I had the pleasure of speaking with Epica frontwoman Simone Simons — who released a solo album in 2024 — via Zoom, as embedded above and set to air via *the Long Beach, New York-based Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz* series. More on Simons and Epica can be found [here](https://www.epica.nl/)**.

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