Mark Jansen
Mark Jansen (born 15 December 1978) is a Dutch guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. A prominent figure in the symphonic metal subgenre, he is known for his work with the bands After Forever (1995–2002), Epica (2002–present), and MaYaN (2010–present).
Mark Jansen | |
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![]() Mark Jansen playing at Wacken Open Air, in 2018. | |
Background information | |
Born | Reuver, Netherlands | 15 December 1978
Genres | Symphonic metal, progressive metal, death metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instruments | Guitar, vocals, keyboards |
Years active | 1995–present |
Associated acts | Epica, MaYaN, After Forever |
In both After Forever and Epica, he has performed growled vocals, complementing the vocals of, respectively, Floor Jansen (no relation) and Simone Simons.
Career
After Forever (1995–2002)
As guitarist, Jansen founded After Forever with Sander Gommans, and was one of the main songwriters for the band's first two albums, Prison of Desire and Decipher. During his time with After Forever, the band's music had been strongly influenced by Jansen's love for movie soundtracks and classical music,[1][2] with the albums' lyrics showcasing Jansen's interest for religious and moral themes, as demonstrated through The Embrace That Smothers and My Pledge of Allegiance.[3]
Jansen left After Forever in 2002 as a result of creative differences with the rest of the band.[4][5] Prior to his departure, he had intended to further explore complex interactions between classical instruments, choruses in Latin and death metal elements in the band's next album,[6][7] while Gommans and the others preferred a more direct and aggressive approach to music, retaining some elements that made the sound of the band recognizable, but expanding it in new and different directions.[5] These musical differences led to Mark Jansen leaving the band, in what he felt as an actual dismissal.[6][8] After his departure, the band took a new musical direction.
In a 2007 interview, Jansen described his departure from After Forever as coming as an unexpected shock to him at the time, with the news of his dismissal being delivered to him by fellow band members shortly before a band rehearsal. At the time of his dismissal, the band were preparing to participate in a series of major tours and concerts such as Pinkpop.[9]
Epica (2002–present)

After his departure from After Forever, began looking for musicians who would work towards a more classical/symphonic type of music project; this was initially named Sahara Dust.[10][11] In late 2002, the band courted Helena Michaelsen[11] (from Trail of Tears) as its frontwoman, but shortly after, she was replaced by the then unknown Simone Simons in 2003, who was Jansen's girlfriend at the time. The band's line-up was completed by guitarist Ad Sluijter, drummer Jeroen Simons, bassist Yves Huts, and keyboard player Coen Janssen. The name was later changed to Epica, inspired by Kamelot's album of the same name.
Through Epica, Jansen continued to further pursue the combination of symphonic metal with gothic metal elements, that had been present in After Forever's first two albums. Over time, the band began to incorporate strong death metal influences into their sound.[12][13][14] Starting from the third album, progressive metal influences have also become evident.[12][15][16] In addition, the band often uses thrash metal and groove metal riffs, black metal passages (mostly in the drum technique), power metal moments and references to Arabic music.[17][18][19][20][21] Some songs also have electronic shades, djent transitions and folk metal melodies derived from Middle Eastern, Chinese and Celtic traditions.[22] Epica is also known for the attention to the vocal lines that, in contrast to the heavy context, weave very catchy, easy to hold, sophisticated and emotional melodies.[23][24] The band's lyrics often deal with philosophical, psychological, spiritual, moral, scientific, environmental, socio-political, global and topical and personal themes, and the band is also known for their wide use of orchestra and opera choirs.
MaYaN (2010–present)
In 2010, Jansen announced that he and former After Forever keyboardist Jack Driessen have formed another band called MaYaN.[25] The name was chosen by Jansen out of his fascination for the ancient Maya civilization.[26] MaYaN's lyrical themes include religion, politics, and world events, as well as philosophy, meditation, existence, and inner struggles. The band has released three studio albums to date, Quarterpast in 2011, Antagonise in 2014 and Dhyana in 2018.
Unlike his other bands, Jansen sings but does not play guitar, with the band featuring many different vocalists (either full-time members or guests) in a mix of clean vocals, growled vocals, and screams, supported by an instrumentation combining both heavy metal and symphonic metal elements.
United Metal Minds (2018–present)
Recently, Jansen has launched the international musical project United Metal Minds.[27]
Private life
Jansen was born in Reuver, Netherlands, and has a master's degree in psychology.[28][29][30] In his adolescent years, Jansen originally wanted to become a cyclist; his interest in performing was sparked from attending a Gorefest show when he was 15 years old.[31]
Since 2011,[32] he has been in a relationship with Italian singer Laura Macrì.[33] In the past, he had a relationship with Simone Simons; the relationship ended in 2005, shortly after the release of Consign to Oblivion.[34] Jansen first met Simons in the chatroom on After Forever's website, when he was searching for a singer for a side project, with the then-16 year old Simons making a positive impression after singing to him over the phone during their first telephone conversation.[4]
Discography
Albums
- Prison of Desire (2000)
- Decipher (2001)
Singles
- "Follow in the Cry" (2000)
- "Emphasis/Who Wants to Live Forever" (2002)
- "Monolith of Doubt" (2002)
Albums
- The Phantom Agony (2003)
- Consign to Oblivion (2005)
- The Divine Conspiracy (2007)
- Design Your Universe (2009)
- Requiem for the Indifferent (2012)
- The Quantum Enigma (2014)
- The Holographic Principle (2016)
- Omega (2021)
Singles
- "The Phantom Agony" (2003)
- "Feint" (2004)
- "Cry for the Moon" (2004)
- "Solitary Ground" (2005)
- "Quietus (Silent Reverie)" (2005)
- "Never Enough" (2007)
- "Chasing the Dragon" (2008)
- "Unleashed" (2009)
- "Martyr of the Free Word" (2009)
- "This is the Time" (2010)
- "Storm the Sorrow" (2012)
- "Forevermore" (2012)
- "Essence of Silence" (2014)
- "Unchain Utopia" (2014)
- ”Universal Death Squad” (2016)
- ”Edge of the Blade” (2016)
- "The Solace System" (2017)
- "Crimson Bow and Arrow" (2018)
- "Abyss of Time - Countdown to Singularity" (2020)
- "Freedom - The Wolves Within" (2020)
- "Abyss o'Time" (2020)
DVDs
- We Will Take You with Us (2004)
- Retrospect (2013)
Other releases
- Cry for the Moon (demo, 2002)
- The Score – An Epic Journey (2005)
- The Road to Paradiso (book and compilation, 2006)
- The Classical Conspiracy (live, 2009)
Studio albums
- Quarterpast (2011)
- Antagonise (2014)
- Dhyana (2018)
Guest appearances
- Adyta – "The Cognition Concept" in Katarsis (EP) (2011)
- Diabulus in Musica – "Blazing a Trail" in The Wanderer (2012)
- ReVamp – "Misery's No Crime" in Wild Card (2013)
- AGES – "Heinous Nemesis" (2014)
- Countermove: The Power of Love (2014) Charity single for The Red Cross, originally by Frankie Goes to Hollywood – vocals
- Carthagods – "a last sigh" in Carthagods (2015)
- 3rd Machine – "Ultimate Intelligence" in Quantified Self (2016)
- AKHETH - "The Asylum" (2017)
- Dream Ocean - "Never Enough" in Lost Love Symphony (2018)
Notes and references
- "Mark Jansen profile". Epica Official Website. 12 April 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- Grant, Sam. "Epica Interview 2006". Sonic Cathedral WebZine. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- "Epica interview - Mark Jansen (part 4)". FaceCulture. YouTube. 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- Begai, Carl. "EPICA - THE ECSTASY OF AGONY". Bravewords. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- "Interview After Forever - Sander Gommans". FaceCulture. YouTube. 2005. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- "Interview with the Dutch gothic metal band Sahara Dust". Tartarean Desire Webzine. July 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- Elliot, Russell W. (2 March 2004). "Epica / The Phantom Agony". Musical Discoveries. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- "Epica interview - Mark Jansen (part 1)". FaceCulture. YouTube. 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- "Epica interview - Mark Jansen (part 1)". YouTube. FaceCulture. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- "Sahara Dust". Tartarean Desire Webzine. July 2002. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- "Epica – Metal Storm". Metalstorm.ee.
- Della Cioppa, Gianni (2010). Heavy metal: i contemporanei.
- "Crítica del CD de EPICA - The Quantum Enigma". Rafabasa.com. April 22, 2014.
- "Epica - The Quantum Enigma - Chronique - La Grosse Radio Metal - Ecouter du Metal - Webzine Metal". Lagrosseradio.com. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- "Epica The Divine Conspiracy Review and Interview at Musical Discoveries". Musicaldiscoveries.com. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- "Epica – The Quantum Enigma | Ashladan". Archived from the original on 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
- "Epica - The Quantum Enigma | ThisIsNotAScene". ThisIsNotAScene.com. March 12, 2014. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
- "Recensione di "Requiem for the Indifferent" su Metal Underground".
- MetalItalia.com, ed. (2016-07-28). "Epica: il nuovo album "The Holographic Principle" traccia per traccia e intervista a Simone Simons!".
- BMS Soc. coop., ed. (2016-07-08). "Epica: The Holographic Principle (listening session)". MyRock. p. 5.
- "Epica – The Holographic". 2016-08-10. Archived from the original on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
- TrueMetal.it, ed. (2014-05-27). "Epica (Mark Jansen & Simone Simons)".
- "Epica – Zuviel gibt es für Epica nicht: Die Listening-Session zu "The Holographic Principle"". Metal.de. 2016-08-07.
- Spark TV: Epica – interview with Mark Jansen about upcoming new album "The Holographic Principle" on YouTube
- "MaYaN Biography". mayanofficial.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
- Eck, Markus (2011). "Mayan – Enttarnung konspirativer Verbrechen". Sonic Seducer (in German). No. 6. Thomas Vogel Media.
- "United Metal Minds". unitedmetalminds.com. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
- "Members". Epica. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- "Facebook page". Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- "An Interview with Epica's Mark Jansen". Metal Underground. June 16, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- Van Dijk, Erwin. "An interview with Mark Jansen from Epica". Femme Metal Webzine. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- "❤️10 years of adventures always together, happy anniversary to us! ❤️". Instagram. Laura Macrí. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Epica interview - Mark Jansen (part 2)". YouTube. FaceCulture. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark Jansen. |
- Profile at the official Epica site
- Interview with Mark Jansen (October 2007)
- Mark Jansen introduces "Kingdom of Heaven" (part 1 of 2) on YouTube
- Mark Jansen introduces "Kingdom of Heaven" (part 2 of 2) on YouTube
- Mark Jansen interview – Getting Sander (After Forever) for The Divine Conspiracy on YouTube
- Mark Jansen interview – Relationship with Simone on YouTube