Symphonic metal icons Epica are ready to drop their highly anticipated ninth studio album, Aspiral, on April 11th, 2025, marking their first full-length studio effort since the critically acclaimed 2021 release, Omega. Omega didn’t just impress fans, it also landed atop our own Folk N Metal “Best Albums of 2021” list as ‘Album of the Year’. Even though four years have elapsed between studio recordings, Epica has consistently offered us a generous supply of content, making sure no void was ever deeply felt.
In this interlude between Epica records, frontwoman Simone Simons has ventured out on her own, releasing her debut solo effort just last year. Recently, I caught up with the iconic vocalist to dig a bit deeper into the band’s newest creation, Aspiral, an album that upholds and elevates the bands boundary-pushing artistry we’ve all comes to love.
Epica, as Simone emphasized during our conversation, has long been a band all about this complex dance across diverse musical worlds, maintaining their symphonic foundation while dabbling fluidly in everything from progressive, folk-infused styles and moments of intense heaviness, which you will find plenty of on the new record, as at times, it can go pretty hard. Many bands attempt this multifaceted approach, yet few succeed with the organic finesse they have consistently displayed over their career.
Simone shed some insight into Epica’s unique creative process, describing their writing camps not only as rigorous studio sessions, but rather as creatively enriching mini-vacations. Each member arrives armed with own perspectives and ideas, contributing to the elaborate layering and style that distinguishes Epica’s sound. Simone detailed how the seeds for Aspiral were sown during their extensive US tour with Sabaton back in 2022. It was there, where everything from the by the bronze sculptures of Polish artist Stanisław Szukalski—artwork powerful enough to ignite an entire album’s concept of rising from the ashes, and rebirth.
One aspect of our discussion that stood out was the band’s expanding discography and the challenges it brings. With a catalog packed with so many long-standing fan favorites, Simone acknowledged how crafting a setlist has become increasingly complex. This balancing act of satisfying long-time followers while integrating new tracks almost becomes an art in itself. She is also enthusiastic revealing her excitement about bringing Aspiral to life on stage during Epica’s upcoming European tour alongside powerhouse acts Amaranthe and Charlotte Wessels.
I personally find it brilliant the way they continually explore fresh artistic lanes without losing sight of the symphonic core that defines their identity. Whether you’re a long time follower or a curious newcomer to how much they put into their music, our full interview, now available on YouTube, offers a peek into the creativity and camaraderie fueling one of metal’s most enduring bands.
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