Epica Release Epic ‘Cross The Divide’ Live Footage From Monumental Amsterdam Concert.
- Rock Metal Machine
- May 12
- 3 min read
EPICA
Having recently wrapped up their colossal Arcane Dimensions Tour with Amaranthe and Charlotte Wessels, symphonic metal titans EPICA have unveiled an exhilarating live version of their track 'Cross The Divide', taken from their critically acclaimed latest studio record Aspiral.
This action-packed version was recorded early this year at the band's biggest headline show to date - a sold-out night at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome in front of 10,000 fans.
About EPICA:
The journey of growth follows a spiral, continuously widening and deepening with every cycle.
By sticking to this spiritual principle, symphonic metal innovators EPICA have reinvented themselves on their ninth effort Aspiral, releasing a studio album that shows a band brimming with a newfound joy in their own skin – standing united as a team, where every band member brought inspiration, ideas and years of songwriting experience to the table.
Aspiral bears testimony to this unity, but the band’s steep ascent over the past few years was far from coincidental and required lots of hard work and a combination of things happening after the release of their latest album Omega, in the midst of a raging pandemic. After walking several steps off their usual path with their EP The Alchemy Project, which saw them collaborating with artists such as Myrkur, Fleshgod Apocalypse or Uriah Heep, the band played a massive world tour and got invited by a certain band called Metallica for several dates, and played 4 sold-out “Symphonic Synergy” shows with a massive orchestra and choir.
After diving deep into hypothetical theories, metaphysical mysticism and themes that were touching the fabric of our existence in the infinity of the universe, EPICA ’s 9th studio effort Aspiral centres on the work of sculptor Stanisław Szukalski. During the first Covid lockdown, bassist Rob van der Loo saw the documentary ‘Struggle – The Life And Lost Art Of Stanislav Szukalski’ and felt so inspired by his work that he wanted to write soundtracks for some of his sculptures, simply because each and every detail in his works are artworks on their own and their stories go very deep. And this is where the path started. Aspiral was born as an instrumental soundtrack to this world, an initially separate project that over time metamorphosed into the new EPICA record.
The title comes from a bronze statue Szukalski did in 1965. If you take a close look, you can see snails rebuilding elements out of the mud in cycles and this eventually leads to civilisation and a woman reaching out to the sun. It stands for renewal and inspiration – keywords that define EPICA now.
For more than 20 years now, EPICA have been standing tall. And while already their last efforts clearly showcased their commitment to the game, it is Aspiral that truly distils the very heart of their trademark sound.
Aspiral tracklisting:
01. Cross the Divide
02. Arcana
03. Darkness Dies in Light (A New Age Dawns, Part VII)
04. Obsidian Heart
05. Fight to Survive – The Overview Effect
06. Metanoia (A New Age Dawns, Part VIII)
07. T.I.M.E.
08. Apparition
09. Eye of the Storm
10. The Grand Saga of Existence (A New Age Dawns, Part IX)
11. Aspiral
EPICA - TOUR DATES
07.06.26 | Trondheim Rocks | Trondheim, NO
13.06.26 | Z! Live Rock | Zamora, ES
29.06.26 | Middenvijver Park | Antwerp, BE w/ Iron Maiden
17.07.26 | John Smith Rock Festival | Laukaa, FI
23.07.26 | Hills of Rock | Plovdiv, BG w/ Sabaton & Savatage
25.07.26 | Release Athens | Athens, GR w/ Sabaton & Savatage
14.09.26 | Liquidroom | Tokyo, JP
15.09.26 | Bigcat | Osaka, JP
17.09.26 | TBA | Shenzen, CN
18.09.26 | TBA | Guangzhou, CN
20.09.26 | TBA | Beijing, CN
22.09.26 | TBA | Shanghai, CN
29.01.27 | Royal Theatre Carré | Amsterdam, NL *SOLD OUT
30.01.27 | Royal Theatre Carré | Amsterdam, NL *SOLD OUT
31.01.27 | Royal Theatre Carré | Amsterdam, NL *SOLD OUT
Tickets and VIP upgrades are available from epica.nl/tour
Follow Epica:
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