Gelap Pekat

EPICA's October 17, 2009 headlining performance at the Metal Female Voices Fest VII at Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium will be filmed for a possible DVD release. The Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band states, "This is going to be a very special headliner show with many surprises and extras."

EPICA guitarist Mark Jansen revealed in a recent intervew that the band's next studio album will be called "Design Your Universe". The group entered Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany on March 2 with producer Sascha Paeth to begin recording the follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy", tentatively due in September/October via Nuclear Blast Records.

EPICA singer Simone Simons previously stated about the band's new material, "It is so exciting! I love the new songs and can't wait to play them live."

EPICA released a double live CD, titled "The Classical Conspiracy", on May 8 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded in Miskolc, Hungary, on June 14 2008 during the Miskolc International Opera Festival. The band performed a 45-minute set of metal adaptations of classical songs and movie soundtracks, accompanied by the orchestra and choir as well as symphonic versions of its own songs (including a few orchestral songs from singles and "The Score", which had never been played live before).