Singer Simone Simons of Dutch symphonic metallers Epica and her longtime boyfriend, keyboardist Oliver Palotai (Kamelot, Sons Of Seasons), are expecting their first child around the end of summer.

To ensure the best possible pregnancy and to protect Simone's and the baby's health, Epica has decided to take a break from all live activities starting on July 1. This means Epica will not play this year's Masters Of Rock festival in the Czech Republic.

According to a posting on Epica's official Facebook page, the band will spend the latter half of 2013 working on material for a new studio album, to be released in 2014. In addition, Epica will release a Dvd containing footage of the group's March 23 10th-anniversary concert, "Retrospect", in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, where they were joined on stage by a 70-piece symphonic orchestra and choir, making it the band's most ambitious project ever. People from over 45 countries attended the show, which was also broadcast live online in Hd quality via LiveMusicStage.

Says Epica: "We are looking forward to see you all at the remaining shows this year and will be back next year with a new Cd, stronger than ever!"

Epica's fifth full-length album, "Requiem For The Indifferent", sold 4,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 104 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Requiem For The Indifferent" was released on March 9, 2012 in Europe and four days later in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The Cd was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany under the watchful eye of Sascha Paeth.

Photo below courtesy of Simone Simons' official blog