Mark Jansen , guitarist and vocalist of Epica After Forever reunion in an interview with FaceCulture [transcribed via Blabbermouth ]. The band will reunite for two special 25th-anniversary shows on October 4th and 5th, 2025, at the 013 Poppodium in Tilburg, Netherlands.
Regarding how the reunion came about, Mark explained: “Ego was involved in everything when I was kicked out of the band. My ego was hurt, but then we talked and came to the conclusion that everyone had egos that were too big. But it’s good to see that in yourself and realize that everyone has grown. Today we are different people, and now, when we work together, everyone wants to have fun. That’s why I’m in this. We want to have fun, play these old songs and just enjoy ourselves.”
Asked about the absence of the original vocalist, Floor Jansen , now in Nightwish , Mark was direct: “Of course we invited her, but she said: 'For me, it's a closed chapter'. We can only respect that.” Still, he admits that the band considered giving up: “We thought: 'Maybe we shouldn't do it'. But if we wait forever, maybe it will never happen. And that would be a shame.”
The lineup that will take the stage will feature original members Mark Jansen, Sander Gommans , Luuk van Gerven , and André Borgman , as well as Angel Wolf-Black from SheWolf on vocals, Bas Maas (After Forever, Doro ) on guitar, and Jeffrey Revet from Stream of Passion on keyboards.
Regarding his relationship with Sander Gommans, Mark said that the essence remains: “The humor is still the same, but everyone has evolved today. If that hadn't happened, the old conflicts would return.”
Despite the excitement, Mark emphasizes that the shows are planned as one-off events: “The plan is for it to be a single performance. But if it ends up leading to something more, we won't stop it. Epica remains my priority.”
Mark Jansen highlights the importance of After Forever's albums.
In a statement released in October 2024, Jansen highlighted the importance of After Forever's first two albums, Prison Of Desire (2000) and Decipher (2001), which helped shape modern symphonic metal. Now, fans will be able to relive the energy of these works in a historic celebration.
Even without Floor Jansen, who has stated that she was not happy with the band's end and that she "still listens with joy" to their old work, the reunion promises to be a tribute to the remarkable trajectory of After Forever, which ended its activities in 2009 after five studio albums.
Although she didn't participate in the reunion, Floor had already expressed affection for the band in a 2018 interview with FaceCulture: “It was a very special time. We made incredible music, which ended far too soon. I'm still sad that it didn't continue, but what we managed to do so young was wonderful. I still listen to our music with great joy and fond memories.”
In the same interview, she admitted that she thought the band could have gone further: “Yes, I think so. I wasn’t happy with the ending. I didn’t think it was a good idea. I think there was more for us to do.”
The band's last album, After Forever , was released in April 2007 by Nuclear Blast Records . The band officially ended its activities in 2009 after five albums that marked a generation.
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