Gelap Pekat

Mark Jansen (EPICA, ex-AFTER FOREVER), Sander Gommans (HDK, ex-AFTER FOREVER) and Jack Driessen (ex-AFTER FOREVER) have joined forces in a brand new project which is currently writing material for what will eventually be released as the band's debut album.

Commented Gommans: "Having written songs together for AFTER FOREVER in the past, we feel that there is enough respect and creativity to work on new songs again. We're really happy with the material we've come up with so far, which made us decide to make our project public. This is a project that we'd like to do without any boundaries nor stress, we don't have a time schedule and we'd like to take the time for it."

EPICA's new album, "Design Your Universe", is due in Europe on October 16 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy" was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth.

EPICA will return to North America for a headlining tour in the beginning of 2010, with DAATH and BLACKGUARD as support.

The band released a double live CD, titled "The Classical Conspiracy", on May 8 through Nuclear Blast Records.

Gommans' HDK project (formerly HATE DEATH KILL) released its debut album, "System Overload", in February via France's Season of Mist.