Simone Simons one of the most the influential vocalist of symphonic metal band Epica, is going into new territory with her upcoming solo album, “Vermillion.” The album, a collaboration with Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), is set to be released on August 23rd via Nuclear Blast Records.
Lucassen, known for his work with Ayreon, is familiar with Simons’ powerful vocals. The press release highlights their partnership, promising a sonically rich album that showcases Simons’ artistic range.
The lead single from the album, “Aeterna,” is accompanied by a music video offering a preview of the album’s direction.
The two comment by saying:
Aeterna is the big, epic opener of the album and it comes with this amazing video too, directed by Patric Ullaeus. It definitely sounds the closest to Epica and Ayreon, blending powerful Latin lyrics with a touch of an oriental feel. We’ve tried to strike a balance between the mighty, bombastic sounds and the more atmospheric parts. Since it’s the first track people will hear from this album, it’s super important to us and we’re really excited for people to hear it!
Aeterna takes the point of view of a star about to go supernova to explore how everything in the universe is interconnected, like a cosmic web made from stardust. It deals with our deep emotions, consciousness, and other mysteries of life that science still can’t fully explain. Essentially it’s a reflection on our place in the vast universe and the connections that bind us together, as we’re all, to quote Carl Sagan, “made of starstuff.