Camera and video editing by King Hazard.

We were lucky enough to sit down and talk about such things as the band’s evolution with frontwoman Simone Simons, who was ever so gracious with us. And her natural beauty and gentle, almost shy way, was a stark contrast to the catacombs, aka, dressing rooms, under the venue.

Among the other topics were Rob van der Loo’s contribution since joining the band, the significance of The Holographic Principle’s cover art, the theme of the album, the cinematic vibe, influences, and more.

Enjoy the video interview and…

Rock Hard \m/

Photos by King Hazard.

But first, let’s get warmed up with the opening bands.

Hitting the stage a few minutes late were hometown heroes The Agonist. Although we’ve seen the band several times, this was our first time seeing them with new frontwoman, Vicky Psarakis, who replaced Alissa White-Gluz in 2014. With only about 30 minutes to play, it was a mix of old and new songs, and while the old songs might not sound exactly the same as they once did, Vicky brings a refreshingly positive vibe to the stage for the band.

After The Agonist, it was time for some Italians to bring their brand of extreme symphonic metal to the stage. Fleshgod Apocalypse was interesting, but on a whole the sound was unpleasant because of the guys running the mixing board; everything seemed to be coming at us at the same volume and indistinguishable. To that end, when it was time for a solo, you could perceptively hear the levels being brought up. In addition, the piano was hardly ever audible.

While the sound needs to be ironed out, it was also disappointing to see how much playback Fleshgod was using. Seriously, you couldn’t have had an acoustic guitar on the stage and then switch to electric when the time came? Obviously it makes sense to have playback for the operatic and symphonic elements, so don’t get me wrong on my criticism.

Then it was time to wait some more like an old army moto.

But the time came and when the lights dimmed, the crowd roared. The stage was dark, illuminated only by rows of staggered purple lights as album opener “Eidola” filled the theater with its cinematic, atmosphere-building tones. Then Ariën van Weesenbeek came out and took his place behind the kit and the mix of traditional metallers and D&D types really got excited. However, as new track “Edge of the Blade” commenced, we were held in suspended anticipation for Simone Simons’ entrance. All of this is pare for the course at an Epica show, and as usual, when she does take the stage, there’s the sense that the party can now begin.

Of course, Simone was on point with her vocals and elegant as ever. And, as always with Epica, the sound was excellent and the performance impecable.

Beyond the first two songs of the set, four more were played from the new album, The Holographic Principle. Considering that the tour is named after the album, it was a little surprising that the title track wasn’t in the set list. However, the fantastically dark “Ascension” was! If you haven’t heard this album, you really should, especially if you’re an Epica fan or a fan of symphonic metal.

Epica Set List:

Eiodola
Edge of the Blade
A Phantasmic Parade
Sensorium
Universal Death Squad
Divide and Conquer
The Obsessive Devotion
Ascension – Dream State Armageddon
Dancing in a Hurricane
Quietus
Unchain Utopia
Design Your Universe
Encore:
Sancta Terra
Beyond the Matrix
Consign to Oblivion

Rock Hard \m/

But as incredible as the song is, someone needs to tell keyboardist Coen Janssen to stop making this face:

and to not point at his other hand as it plays the keyboard:

These are moves reserved for Gene Simmons and guitar virtuosos. Now, we’re all for having fun, but there are rules.

Guitarist/vocalist Mark Jansen commented on the track:

The first song we unleash upon you is ‘Universal Death Squad.’ This track is representative for The Holographic Principle, as it’s a heavy and melodic album. The lyrics are dealing about advanced robotic legions with a self-determination to kill. We have chosen for a different kind of lyric-video concept in which Epica plays the track in a rehearsal room. The song is very much fun to play and I expect this one will do very well on stage. Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did creating it!

The Holographic Principle will be released via Nuclear Blast on September 30th, but you can already pre-order your version here and choose from the different available formats — including many special bonus features for fans.

Epica Tour Dates:

w/ Fleshgod Apocolypse, Xandria, The Agonist
Nov. 4 + Imperial Theater + Quebec City, QC
Nov. 5 + Corona + Montreal, QC
Nov. 6 + Phoenix Concert Hall + Toronto, ON

w/ Fleshgod Apocolypse, Arkona, The Agonist
Nov. 8 + Concord Music Hall + Chicago, IL
Nov. 9 + Cabooze + Minneapolis, MN
Nov. 11 + Saskatoon Event Center + Saskatoon, SK
Nov. 12 + Marquee + Calgary, AB
Nov. 13 + The Ranch + Edmonton, AB
Nov. 15 + Vogue Theatre + Vancouver, BC
Nov. 16 + Studio 7 + Seattle, WA
Nov. 18 + Social Hall + San Francisco, CA
Nov. 19 + The Regent + Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 20 + Vinyl at Hard Rock Hotel + Las Vegas, NV
Nov. 22 + Summit Music Hall + Denver, CO
Nov. 23 + Granada Theater + Lawrence, KS
Nov. 25 + Gas Monkey Live + Dallas, TX
Nov. 26 + Empire Control Room + Austin, TX
Nov. 28 + State Theater + St Petersburg, FL
Nov. 29 + Masquerade + Atlanta, GA
Dec. 1 + Soundstage Baltimore, MD
Dec. 2 + Webster Hall + New York, NY
Dec. 3 + Palladium + Worcester, MA

Rock Hard \m/

The band commented:

Our highly anticipated seventh studio album is a fact. The Holographic Principle feels to us like a true treasure, created by us all with blood, sweat, and tears of joy. In the past year we have worked very hard to write and record this special album. We are all very eager to share it with you! Join us on our new musical journey.

To celebrate the release of Epica’s brand-new record, the band will be playing on their own Epic Metal Fest at the 013 in Tilburg, NL, on Saturday, October 1st. They invited Katatonia, their label mates Fleshgod Apocalypse, and (also landsmen) Textures to take part in this special event. Additionally, Stream of Passion, The Agonist, Mayan, Myrath, Evil Invaders, and, last but not least, Off the Cross will be attending Epica’s release show. On Saturday 15th October the Brazilian edition of Epic Metal Fest will take place in Sao Paulo. Paradise Lost, Fintroll, Xandria, and The Ocean will join Epica for this first edition.

More info & tickets: www.epicmetalfest.com

Epica Tour Dates:

04.06. BY Minsk – Re:public
05.06. CZ Plzen – Metalfest Open Air
07.06. SK Bratislava – Majestic Music Club
08.06. I Rome – Rock In Rome
10.06. S Sölvesborg – Sweden Rock Festival
24.06. DK Copenhagen – Copenhell
09.07. D Geiselwind – Out & Loud Festival
16.07. H Dunaujvaros – Rockmaraton Festival
23.07. MEX Mexico City – Heaven & Hell Festival
05./06.08. LT Zarasai City – Roko Naktys
01.10. NL Tilburg – Epic Metal Fest Netherlands
15.10. BR Sao Paulo – Epic Metal Fest Brazil

w/ Powerwolf
03.02. UK London – o2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
04.02. F Paris – Le Zénith

Rock Hard \m/

Photos by King Hazard.

The Agonist played a status quo set, and Eluveitie, who played for an hour and a half, put on one hell of a performance. What’s amazing about them is their ability to play folk metal, replete with traditional instruments, without it coming off as cheesy; it’s still very much metal, and it’s great.

Epica always puts on a fantastic show. They’re professional and care deeply about their craft, so it’s rare that they stumble during a live performance, if ever. But on this night, the band might have performed from a higher level due to some outside influences. Their performance was hard, heavy, powerful, perfect, and emotional.

The emotional deliver, in large part, is owed to frontwoman Simone Simons, who might have had the biggest reason to get lost in the music and exorcise some emotions. Although the band’s official statement (see below) only says that Simons had to leave the tour after Montreal to head home for a family situation, the rumor circulating within the audience that night was that her father passed away. Regardless of the reason, family is important and our thoughts and sympathies go out to Simons, her family, and to the band.

And, just as Eluveitie before them, Epica played for the better part of two hours, burning through new songs and fan favorites. See the set list just below. In addition to Epica’s performance, the sound and lights were masterful, filling up the venue with perfect levels and zero hiccups. Thank you sound guy.

Epica Set List:

1. The Second Stone
2. The Essence of Silence
3. Sensorium
4. Unleashed
5. Martyr of the Free World
6. Cry for the Moon
7. Drum Solo
8. Storm the Sorrow
9. The Obsessive Devotion
10. Victims of Contingency
11. The Phantom Agony
Encore:
12. Sancta Terra
13. Unchain Utopia
14. Consign to Oblivion

Epica’s Official Statement Regarding Simone Simon:

Dear North American fans,
Luck has not been on our side as of late and it is with heavy hearts we share some unfortunate news.

Take care,
Epica

Rock Hard \m/

Epica is symphonic metal royalty, and they’re finally making their return to North America for a co-headlining tour with Eluveitie. Joining the bill for the duration of the tour is Montreal’s The Agonist and Martina Edoff (from September 18th to October 3rd). See below for the list of dates.

Epica’s Simone Simons commented on the upcoming tour:

We are ecstatic to finally return to North America. It is time to nurture our long-distance relationship with our fans over in North America. We’ll have a wonderful time together and will perform songs spanning our entire discography. You guys better be ready for us.

This will be Epica’s first North American run in support of their highly acclaimed latest album, The Quantum Enigma, which hit the charts all over Europe and beyond. Watch Epica’s video for “Victims of Contingency.”

Epica and Eluveitie will both be offering VIP ticketing including meet & greets, exclusive merchandise, a Revolver Magazine subscription and the Epica VIP bundle also includes a live 7″. VIP Tickets are available through Soundrink.

Ticketing and VIP links: www.epica.nl and www.eluveitie.ch

2015 Epica & Eluveitie Revolver Tour:

w/ The Agonist and Martina Edoff
09/08/2015 – Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
09/09/2015 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
09/11/2015 – Corona Theatre – Montreal, QC CANADA
09/12/2015 – Imperial Theatre – Quebec City, QC CANADA
09/13/2015 – Phoenix Concert Theatre + Toronto, ON CANADA
09/15/2015 – House Of Blues – Chicago, IL
09/16/2015 – Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN
09/18/2015 – O’Brians Event Centre – Saskatoon, SK
09/19/2015 – Union Hall + Edmonton, AB
09/20/2015 – MacEwan Ballroom + Calgary, AB CANADA
09/22/2015 – Vogue Theatre + Vancouver, BC CANADA
09/23/2015 – Neumos + Seattle, WA
09/25/2015 – Regency Ballroom + San Francisco, CA
09/26/2015 – Fonda Theatre + Los Angeles, CA
09/28/2015 – Gothic Theatre + Denver, CO
09/29/2015 – Sokol Auditorium + Omaha, NE
10/01/2015 – Mercury Ballroom + Louisville, KY
10/02/2015 – Agora Ballroom + Cleveland, OH
10/03/2015 – Irving Plaza + New York, NY

Rock Hard \m/

Winter has hardly begun and the summer festivals are already lining up the acts. The other day we caught wind of the first bands announced to play the Vagos Open Air 2014 metal festival. The two vastly different metal bands that confirmed are Epica and Kreator.

Vagos Open Air is held annually in Calvão, Vagos, Portugal. The festival, originally called Rock in Ria, got its humble beginning back in 2009 with a bunch of Portugeuse acts and a few international bands (Epica being one of them, as well as Dark Tranquility, and Amon Amarth). Since then, Vagos has hosted some of the best names in metal, such as Carcass, Meshuggah, Amorphis, My Dying Bride, Morbid Angel, Opeth, Devin Townsend Project, Overkill, Arch Enemy, Testament, and Iced Earth — just to name a few.

The festival has also grown from a one day event to two days, starting in 2012. In 2014, Vagos will be held on August 8th and 9th.

Credit: Steve Ladanyi/Yell! Magazine

Just as we did for Black History Month in February with our article 11 Blacks Who Kill It in Heavy Metal & Hard Rock, we’re honoring women during Women’s History Month with our tribute to 11 Women in Heavy Metal & Hard Rock Who Matter.

One thing was certain when we set out to make this list: we didn’t want any label-produced, cotton-candy, pink-bunny-rabbit women in heavy metal. Yes, we’re talking to you, Black Veil Brides (oh, wait, you’re dudes). We wanted real modern women who take their craft seriously, who are influencing other young women, and who are making an impact on the metal scene.

It’s truly amazing to see how far women in heavy metal – hell, in music in general – have come since the days of Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Joan Jett, Vixen or Lita Ford. All of them are talented, but most assuredly exceptions to the conventions of their time. Truth be told, labels wanted hot chicks so that albums would sell. Just look what became of Heart when their label told Ann Wilson to lose weight. Perhaps due to the advent of the Internet and the digital era, women in heavy metal have more options to get heard than ever before.

Here is Yell! Magazine’s 11 Women in Heavy Metal & Hard Rock Who Matter:

No.11 Krysta Cameron

Iwrestledabearonce

Kicking the list off is Krysta Cameron of Iwrestledabearonce. The band is spastic, fast, heavy, creative, interesting, diverse, technical, chaotic, regulated, and led by Krysta Cameron on vocals. Her vocals masterfully range from death growls to metalcore screams to straight, Lisa Loeb-ish tones, but shush on that last point, since Krysta is actually influenced by Bjork, which you can hear as well.

If you’re one to judge looks, Iwrestledabearonce might at first appear to be some hipsters trying to be “ironic”; however, they’re just a bunch of nerds with too much talent having some fun, the kind of fun in which they interrupt a song to play the Inspector Gadget theme song.

Formed in 2007, Iwrestledabearonce has a self-titled EP (2007), and two albums on Century Media: It’s All Happening (2009) and Ruining it for Everyone (2011). Initially from Louisiana, the band now calls Alabama their home and has a big world to conquer. Let’s all give ‘em a big bear hug and wish ‘em well.

Stick around. We’ve barely begun this list of women in heavy metal and hard rock who matter…