The symphonic metal band Epica has announced the release of their new album , Aspiral , on April 11th via Nuclear Blast Records. The announcement was accompanied by the release of the single “Cross the Divide,” which opens the album.
The new track exemplifies the band's signature sound, combining riffs with keyboards and classical elements. Vocalist Simone Simons demonstrates versatility by portraying both the main character and the narrator in the song.
“Cross the Divide” is the second single from the album to be revealed, following the release of the track “Arcana” in 2024, which is also included on the tracklist. The work, composed of 11 songs, was recorded at Sandlane Studios with producer and mixing engineer Joost van den Broek , and features cover art by Hedi Xandt .
Listen to “Cross the Divide” at the link below:
References to 'Spiral'
The album title was inspired by a 1965 bronze sculpture by Polish sculptor and painter Stanisław Szukalski , which represents renewal and inspiration. The band saw in Szukalski's work an analogy for the album's creation process, highlighting that each song has its own identity and meaning, but that together they form a cohesive and grand whole.
Aspiral will be released in various vinyl and CD formats, including a special edition that will feature a Blu-ray of the band's complete performance in Amsterdam in 2024, with the participation of an orchestra and choir. Pre-orders for the album are now available through Nuclear Blast.
Tracklist:
01. Cross the Divide
02. Arcana
03. Darkness Dies in Light — A New Era Dawns Part VII
04. Obsidian Heart
05. Fight to Survive – The Overview Effect
06. Metanoia – A New Era Dawns Part VIII
07. TIME
08. Apparition
09. Eye of the Storm
10. The Grand Saga of Existence — A New Era Dawns Part IX
11. Aspiral
READ ALSO: Epica releases new single “Arcana”
