She’s been fronting symphonic metal band Epica for over two decades – but Simone Simons had held 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 Epica's canon, with a stark industrial clangour, sweeping silver screen choral and progressive side plots that showcase her in a bold new light.
Simons teamed up with Ayreon multi-instrumentalist mastermind Arjen Lucassen to realise her dream, providing a “full circle” moment for the singer, who fell in love with his music aged 16. “Who would have thought back then that little Simone would sing on an album like that one day?” she says.
