Sheâs been fronting the symphonic metal band Epica for over two decades, but for Simone Simons, there has been a long, lingering desire to branch out with a solo album. A record 15 years in the making, Vermillion sees her operatic vocals stretch further beyond the realms of Epicaâs canon, with a stark industrial clangour, sweeping silverscreen chorals and progressive sideplots that showcase Simons in a bold new light. Sheâs teamed up with Ayreonâs multi-instrumentalist mastermind Arjen Lucassen to actualise her dream, providing a âfull circleâ moment for the singer, who âfell in loveâ with his music aged 16. âWho would have thought back then that little Simone would sing on an album like that one day?â she says.
They have proved a winning pairing across numerous collaborations, but these two âcrazy, in a good way, Dutchiesâ have never sounded quite like this before. Each of Vermillionâs tracks spins its own contemplative tale based on the colourâs symbolism and the emotions and fortunes it can convey. The vocalist sits down with Prog to discuss the albumâs origins and ambitions.
Vermillion has been a long time coming. Why release it now?
It was just a question of not having the time and not having the right person to work with. Iâve been almost constantly on the road or writing with Epica for the last 10 years and Iâm also a mother, so there arenât enough hours in the day. Some holes in mine and Arjenâs calendars opened up and we started working on the album last spring. We have a couple of bands that we both love, like Muse and Rammstein, so there was a good connection from the beginning. It came together very smoothly.
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JAKKO M JAKSZYK
King Crimson's vocalist and guitarist shares anecdotes from his revealing new autobiography, discusses his lost career as a footballer and reveals what he said when he met the former king of pop.
A Part & Yet Apart
Sheffield-based 80s proggers Haze have returned with a new studio album, The Water's Edge - their third since their 2013 comeback record, The Last Battle. Prog catches up with threequarters of the band to discuss Haze's DIY ethos, the curse of prog and playing to Cumbrian sheep farmers.
CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
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On The Wing
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Fourth Dimension
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Symphly The Best
In the 70s, Barclay James Harvest almost bankrupted themselves by performing with an orchestra, but, several decades on, theyâre celebrating last yearâs performance with the Slaithwaite Philharmonic, captured on their latest live record, Philharmonic! The Orchestral Concert. John Lees reminisces over the bandâs ambitious early years and bassist Craig Fletcher fills Prog in on JLBJHâs upcoming âprogtasticâ double album.
We've Not Been Expecting You
The unpredictable Frost* are back with Life In The Wires, a bold double concept album that revisits the mood of Milliontown. Bandleader Jem Godfrey tells Prog why he rolled out the solos on a record he describes as the most fun since their dazzling debut.
FAR HORIZONS AND PANORAMIC AMBITIONS
Dutch five-piece Lesoir have been steadily gathering momentum over the last 15 years, and they hope to build on that with their latest release, Push Back The Horizon. Vocalist/ instrumentalist Maartje Meessen and guitarist Ingo Dassen discuss the creation of their sixth album, working with Muse's production team, and their dream of bringing their intricate music to new audiences.
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Tony Banks reflects on his role as a 21st-century classical composer.
There Can Be Only One!
Never meet your heroes, or so the saying goes, but Opeth have had a blast working with Ian Anderson on their latest, The Last Will And Testament. Bandleader Mikael à kerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik à kesson discuss the band's proggiest album to date, the return of the growl and why blood isn't always thicker than water.