Mayan (stylized as MaYaN) is a Dutch

symphonic death metal Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitar ...

band founded by vocalist

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� ...

, guitarist Frank Schiphorst, and keyboardist

Jack Driessen Jack Driessen (born 11 July 1980 in Roermond, Netherlands) is a Dutch keyboardist, songwriter and arranger. He is co-founder and former member of the Dutch symphonic death metal band MaYaN. Furthermore he is known as the first keyboardist of the ...

. The band features many different vocalists (either full-time members or guests) in a mix of clean vocals,

growled vocals A death growl, or simply growl, is an extended vocal technique usually employed in extreme styles of music, particularly in death metal and other extreme subgenres of heavy metal music. Death growl vocals are sometimes criticized for the ...

, and screams, supported by an

instrumentation Instrumentation a collective term for measuring instruments that are used for indicating, measuring and recording physical quantities. The term has its origins in the art and science of scientific instrument-making. Instrumentation can refer to ...

combining both heavy metal and

symphonic metal Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitar ...

elements. Created in 2010, the band has released three studio albums to date, ''

Quarterpast ''Quarterpast'' is the debut album by Dutch metal supergroup MaYaN. It was released on 20 May 2011 in Europe. The title ''Quarterpast'' was suggested by a fan as part of a competition to decide the band's name, but was eventually used as the album ...

'' in 2011, ''

Antagonise ''Antagonise'' is the second album by Dutch metal supergroup MaYaN. It was released on January 31, 2014. The 11-song CD, recorded at the Sandlane studio with producer Joost van den Broek, features guest appearances by Floor Jansen, and future ...

'' in 2014 and ''

Dhyana Dhyana may refer to: Meditative practices in Indian religions * Dhyana in Buddhism (Pāli: ''jhāna'') * Dhyana in Hinduism * Jain Dhyāna, see Jain meditation Other *''Dhyana'', a work by British composer John Tavener (1944-2013) * ''Dhyana'' ...

'' in 2018. The name was chosen by Jansen out of his fascination for the ancient

Maya civilization The Maya civilization () of the Mesoamerican people is known by its ancient temples and glyphs. Its Maya script is the most sophisticated and highly developed writing system in the pre-Columbian Americas. It is also noted for its art, archit ...

. Lyrical themes include religion, politics, and world events, as well as philosophy, meditation, existence, and inner struggles.

History

On 6 September 2013,

Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast is a record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label mov ...

released a press statement that confirmed that

Laura Macrì Laura Macrì (born 29 June 1990 in Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy) is an Italian soprano. Biography Macrì studied at the Vincenzo Bellini Music Conservatory in Caltanissetta with Tiziana Arena and graduated Latin honors, cum laude in vocal stu ...

and Henning Basse, who were guest and tour members for the first album, have become full-time members. In October 2013,

Isaac Delahaye Isaac Delahaye (born 9 January 1982) is a Belgian guitarist and composer, best known as the lead guitarist of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica since 2009. Prior to that he was lead guitarist in the Dutch death metal band God Dethroned. Dela ...

left Mayan to focus on other projects. On 16 December, the band announced

Merel Bechtold Merel Bechtold (born February 27, 1992) is a guitarist from the Netherlands. She was born in Blaricum. She started playing guitar in 2007 at the age of fifteen. Half a year later she founded the band Purest of Pain, in which she played lead guit ...

as Delahaye's successor for the upcoming two release shows of new album in late January 2014. After these shows, she was made a permanent member. In 2015, Rob van der Loo left the band to focus on Epica and an upcoming new project. Roel Käller took his place as the bassist. Next to that, George Oosthoek (ex-

Orphanage An orphanage is a Residential education, residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the Childcare, care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parent ...

) joined the band as growling vocalist. On 21 June 2017, it was announced that

Marcela Bovio Marcela Alejandra Bovio García (born October 17, 1979) is a Mexican singer and violinist who is currently a member of the Dutch symphonic death metal band MaYaN. In 1995, she joined Hydra, a Mexican metal band, singing and playing violin. In ...

, former singer of

Stream of Passion Stream of Passion is a Dutch progressive metal band with symphonic and gothic influences founded by guitarist and composer Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Mexican singer, violinist, and lyricist Marcela Bovio. They have released four studio albums. In ...

and a regular collaborator of the band since 2013, was now a full-time member. Vocalist Henning Basse departed the band on July 31, 2018, citing scheduling conflicts, while remaining a recurring guest. Adam Denlinger, who started touring with a band in 2017, became the new clean vocalist. On 27 July 2018, MaYaN announced the third album "Dhyana", which was released on 21 September 2018. On 16 July 2022, MaYaN announced their tenth anniversary show, which will take place on 8 September 2022 in

Eindhoven Eindhoven () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of North Brabant of which it is its largest. With a population of 238,326 on 1 January 2022,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� ...

– growled and screamed

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

(2010–present) *Frank Schiphorst –

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

s (2010–present) *

Ariën van Weesenbeek God Dethroned is a Dutch extreme metal band from Beilen, originally formed in 1990. Biography God Dethroned was formed in 1990 by singer and guitar player Henri Sattler, with Hans Leegstra (guitar) and Ard de Weerd. Sattler and Leegstra had pre ...

–

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, growled vocals (2010–present) *

– clean vocals (2013–present; session: 2011–2013) *

– guitars (2013–present) *George Oosthoek – growled vocals (2016–present) *Roel Käller –

fretless bass A fretless bass is a bass guitar whose neck does not have any frets. While the instrument is played in all styles of music, it is most common in pop, rock, and jazz. It first saw widespread use during the 1970s, although some players used them befo ...

(2016–present) *

– clean vocals (2017–present; session: 2013–2017) *Adam Denlinger – clean vocals (2018–present; session: 2017) *Roberto Macrì – keyboards (2019–present) ;Former members *

Sander Gommans Sander Gommans (born 15 August 1978) is a Dutch musician and songwriter. He founded the symphonic metal band Apocalypse with Mark Jansen in 1995, which later changed its name to After Forever. He played guitar and performed the vocal grunting p ...

– guitars (2010) *

Jeroen Paul Thesseling Jeroen Paul Thesseling (born 13 April 1971) is a Dutch fretless bass player, most famous for his work in the German progressive death metal band Obscura and the Dutch progressive death metal band Pestilence. Biography ;Early life Jeroen started ...

– fretless bass (2010–2011) *

– guitars (2010–2013) * Rob van der Loo – fretted bass (2011–2015) *

–

keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

, screamed vocals (2010–2019) ;Session members *

Floor Jansen Floor Jansen (; born 21 February 1981) is a Dutch singer and songwriter. She is the lead vocalist of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Jansen first became known as a member of symphonic metal band After Forever, standing as their lead vo ...

– clean vocals (2011–2014) *

Simone Simons Simone Johanna Maria Simons (born 17 January 1985) is a Dutch singer. She is best known for being the lead singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, which she joined at the age of seventeen, releasing eight studio albums and touring the world ...

– clean vocals (2011) *Henning Basse – clean vocals (2011–2013, 2018–present); full time member: 2013–2018) ;Touring members *Arjan Rijnen – guitars (2018–present)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

* ''

'' (2011) * ''

'' (2014) * ''Dhyana'' (2018)

EPs

* ''Undercurrent'' (EP, 2018) * ''Metal Night at the Opera'' (EP, 2018)

Singles

* ''The Rhythm of Freedom'' (single, 2018)

References

External links

*
Interview with Mark Jansen by Iain from CackBlabbath.co.uk
{{Authority control Dutch symphonic metal musical groups Dutch progressive metal musical groups Dutch death metal musical groups Musical groups established in 2010 2010 establishments in the Netherlands