EPICA’s Simone Simons to release debut solo album, first single, “Aeterna” out now

EPICA's Simone Simons to release debut solo album, first single, "Aeterna" out now

07-05-2024

EPICA singer Simone Simons will release her debut solo album, “Vermillion”, on August 23 on Nuclear Blast Records. The LP’s first single, “Aeterna”, which was co-written by Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer Arjen Lucassen (AYREON),will make its online debut on Tuesday, May 7 at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. (noon) EDT /18:00 CET.

Watch “Aeterna” below.

Simone took to her social media to share a teaser for the “Aeterna” music video, and she wrote in an accompanying message: “May 7th everything will turn RED. At 18.00 CEST my first single AETERNA will go live.

“@ayreon_official and I created some masterful melodies for you! We will go live on Instagram tomorrow at 18.30 to hang with you all and let you in on all the details of my solo album.”

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Een bericht gedeeld door Simone Simons (@simonesimons)

For more than 20 years, ever since she was a teenager, Simone has been spearheading the world of female fronted metal. As a lead singer, icon, and role model for a whole generation of female metalheads, the EPICA lead singer remains one of the most prominent key figures in all things metal. After eight albums and countless global tours with her band, Simons finally found the time to release her first solo album, “Vermillion”, showcasing her many different influences ranging from prog rock to film scores to metal to electronic elements.

Simone chose not to rush her solo project, opting instead to thoughtfully consider how she wanted to present herself. Enter stage right Arjen Lucassen. Her musical partner and longtime collaborator is no stranger to her soaring operatic voice. And while many would use their solo effort as a radical, even provocative departure from everything they stood for, Simone remains true to her love for epic melodies, huge choruses and monumental, intelligent music.

“Vermillion” track listing:
01. Aeterna
02. In Love We Rust
03. Cradle To The Grave (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
04. Fight Or Flight
05. Weight Of My World
06. Vermillion Dreams
07. The Core
08. Dystopia
09. R.E.D.
10. Dark Night Of The Soul

This past March, Simone told Mexico’s Summa Inferno that EPICA‘s follow-up to 2021’s “Omega” album will likely be released in 2025.

“I love the songs so far that we’ve written,” Simone said. “There’s more songs that have been written than fit on the album. So it’s gonna be cool. And we won’t tour that much this year. So we are focusing on the EPICA album and the ‘Symphonic Synergy’ shows where EPICA will play alongside an orchestra, which is a lot of work.”

EPICA announced in November 2023 that they will be playing two highly exclusive shows, in which they will bring along a choir and ochestra. The shows will take place in Amsterdam (Afas Live) on Friday, September 20th 2024 and Mexico City (Auditorio Nacional), on Saturday, December 7th. Ticket sales start on Friday, November 10th.

Says EPICA:

The time has come to write history once more. 15 years have passed since ‘The Classical Conspiracy’ and 10 years since we recorded another milestone in our career, ‘Retrospect’ – now, over a decade later, we are once again about to enter the stage with a full orchestra and choir. Under the title, ‘The Symphonic Synergy’, we will play two massive “Epica & Orchestra” shows. One in our home country, the Netherlands and another one in our second home, Mexico.
The first event takes place at Amsterdam’s Afas Live on September 20, 2024, while Mexico will see this highlight at one of Latin America’s most iconic venues, the 10.000-seat-capacity-hall, Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City on December 7, 2024.

EPICA fans however already have the opportunity to pre-order tickets, provided they are subscribed to the Epica Newsletter.

Finally, it is happening again! Epica playing together with a full orchestra and choir! And this time we are even taking the show to Mexico! To be playing these ‘Symphonic Synergy’ shows in these iconic venues is a dream come true and we’ll make both shows an experience you will never forget. You. Don’t. Want. To. Miss. This!!!
–COEN JANSSEN

Playing with an orchestra and choir is an absolute dream! I can’t wait for ‘The Symphonic Synergy’ to come alive and to share this unique experience with Epicans.
–SIMONE SIMONS

EPICA released their latest EP ‘Live at AFAS Live’ last October. Stream the full EP on all platforms now AT THIS LOCATION.

Guitarist Isaac Delahaye comments: “It’s always a pleasure to play this fan-favorite track, and to take the crowd with us while we build up to the massive groove and have a headbang party together. Enjoy listening & watching Code of Life as performed earlier this year in Amsterdam!”

Tour dates for 2023 & 2024
11.11.23 | Xpo Kortrijk | Kortrijk, BE
18.11.23 | Metal Hammer Paradise | Weißenhäuser Strand, DE

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