M.S: Hi guys! It’s a enormous pleasure to have an interview with you after
all! What’s going on?
Yves: Pretty busy with the new album!
M.S: Few months ago Epica signed a deal with Nuclear Blast. How was the
process? What do you think about Nuclear Blast?
Yves: We were in the final stages of negotiation with another record label
and we were about to sign when suddenly Nuclear Blast came to us with a very
good deal. We had sent them some of the recordings of the new album and they
had gotten very excited. After a little bit of negotiation we had signed a deal.
This all happened very fast. Some of my favourite bands are on Nuclear Blast
and they have done a good job for them, so I’m very excited to be a member of
the NB-family. I think they are one of the big players in the metal music-industry,
they have 20 years of experience so I really think they can help to bring Epica
to the next level.
M.S: Your new record «The Divine Conspiracy» is a conceptual album and you
said that it´s about that «theory that, as a test, God created all kinds of
different religions and released those upon humanity to see if they would be
able to find the true nature of them, realizing that in all religions it is
actually the same» . What can you tell us about it?
Yves:
Indigo: the prologue is dealing about a person who feels he is different
from other human beings since he was born. he’s the red line in the story. the
first part is dealing about the negative psyche of the human being. our main
character goes through all of this and learns from it.
The Obsessive Devotion: someone breaks up and the other person cannot
accept it and starts kind of stalking her.
Menace of Vanity: about an ego that gets too big and destroys friendships.
Chasing the Dragon: drug addiction
Never Enough: greed the second part deals about the main character
who starts travelling around the world and gets in touch with many cultures
and especially with many religions.
La fetach… means sin is crouching at your door, a Hebrew quote from
their bible.
Death of a Dream: about Islam women suppression.
Living a Lie: Christianity, people with an unborn child with a
terrible handicap (the child will die after giving birth) believe that god will
save their child and don’t accept the advices of the medical staff who tell
them their child is lost.
Fools of Damnation: Again Islam, be a slave to Allah and do whatever
is needed to please the god. Also if it seems incorrect and doubtful what others
tell you to do to please Allah. the last part is dealing about the knowledge
the main character has gained. He spreads the word about religions and tells
people about the good basics of the religions and about the dark sides.
Beyond belief: dealing about this (above) and natural disasters which
have been caused by mankind.
Safeguard to Paradise: the main character gets murdered because of his opinion
of religions. it’s dealing about freedom which is the highest good we have ever
had and should never get lost.
Sancta Terra, the main character in the afterlife.
The Divine Conspiracy: deals about the theory which the main character
has revealed: As a test, God created all kinds of different religions and released
those upon humanity to see if they would be able to find the true nature of
them, realizing that in all religions it is actually the same. Will humanity
see this or keep on killing people who finds out?
M.S: Also, you are going to conclude the «Embrace that smoothers» that started
in After Forever and continued on Epica. Please, tell us about this songs.
Yves: The songs are «living a lie», «Death of a Dream» and «Fools of Damnation».
What they are about you can find out in the previous answer.
M.S: Where do you think you are going to get the best feedback?
Yves: Without any doubt in Latin America. These people are very expressive
and passionate in their reactions.
M.S: In this album Sander Gommans has performanced, How was the expirience?
Yves: I was not in the studio when the recordings happened. But from what
I’ve heard everything went pretty smoothly. The end result is also very good,
so I think we made the right choice. And if there are still people who think
there’s a feud between Epica and After Forever, then this will prove that we
are on good terms with them.
M.S: «The Divine Conspiracy» it´s going to be released on September 7, 2007
but before that you have several gigs including Metale Female Voices Fest, Are
you going to play new songs from the album in those concerts?
Yves: Actually Metal Female Voices Fest is in October, so after the release.
Anyway we are already playing some new songs live, but we are going to wait
until the release before we play the other new songs live. Otherwise people
will know all the songs before the album is even released.
M.S: What do you think about Metale Female Voices Fest? This is not your
first year, tell us how was your experience in the past. How do you feel about
being one of the most important bands that are going to play?
Yves: From the very beginning of Epica the organiser of MFVF (Philty) has
been a good friend of us and he has helped and supported us on many occasions.
So far we’ve played on every edition except last year. So we’ve seen this festival
grow every year. We’re always very happy to play on the 
festival.
I don’t care too much where our place on the bill is, the most important thing
is that we give the people a good time.
M.S: When are you going to reveal the identity of the new drummer? Have
you already decide it? How would you describe the work of Ariën van Weesenbeek?
Yves: We still haven’t found a drummer that would be a suitable replacement
for Jeroen Simons. Currently we are doing concerts with 2 drummers: Koen Herfst
and Ariën Van Weesenbeek. Working with Ariën was really great. He did everything
we asked without problem and considering the fact that he only had 3 days to
prepare he recorded all drums very fast!
M.S: You have already shoot your new videoclip, Never Enough. What canyou
tells us about it? Why did you chose this song? When is it going to be released?
Yves: At the moment we haven’t seen any of the material yet, but I’m quite
convinced that this will be our best clip so far. The director and crew were
very professional. They guided us in every step of the shoot. The last videoclip
(Quietus) was already pretty good, but at last this will be the one we can all
be very proud of. I can’t wait to see it. We chose this song because it is one
of the shortest songs and because we believe it is the song that appeals to
the widest audience. I’m not sure when it will be released. Maybe somewhere
in July.
M.S: What did you think when there were several rumours about Simone in
Nightwish? Do think the press invent it all?
Yves: Yes, it was invented by a Finnish gossip Magazine. We got a lot of
mails about this.
M.S: You are going to tour with Sonata Arctica in the European Tour 2007.
What do you think about the band and their new album?
Yves: I don’t know them, but I hope they are nice guys. I don’t know their
last album. I listen to different music.
M.S: Epica is going to visit Spain in november. What do you think about
spanish fans? How do you feel playing here?
Yves: It’s always great to play in Spain! Just like latin people they are
a very good audience. I’m sure it will be a lot of fun.
M.S: Why did you chose that picture for your cover book?
Yves: We didn’t choose it. The record company did. I believe they chose
that one because they wanted a live picture with the whole band on it. I suppose
this was the best one.
M.S: Would you explain us why we should buy your new record?
Yves: You should first listen to it in the store and then decide for yourself
if you want to buy it. But I personally believe this is our best album so far.
It’s heavier, darker, faster, catchier, there are more choirs, more guitars,
more varied vocals…
M.S: Besides the tour, What are your future plans?
Yves: So far the plans are to get the album released and then we are going
to do a tour in the US with Visions of Atlantis and a tour in Europe with Sonata
Arctica. Before, between and after these tours we are going to do more shows.
M.S: Well, this is the end of the interview, it’s have been a pleasure,
is there something that you want to say our readers before finish? Congratulations
for this new album and good luck in the future.
Yves: Thanks! I hope to see you all in great numbers when we come to Spain!
Greetz
Irene Horna
Photos: Lluky
Gallery
LINKS:
Epica
: Consign to Oblivion // Transmission Records
Epica : The
Score // Transmission Records ( Mastertrax )
Epica + Oceans of
Sadness -31 octubre – Sala Caracol ( Madrid )
Interview with EPICA
about "Consign to oblivion" promo ( Spanish)
