MaYaN is a Dutch Melodic Death Metal band formed by Mark Jansen as a side project that uses symphonic elements and similar lyrical themes to his more popular projects After Forever (at least when he used to be there) and Epica. As a result, the band is often seen as a Darker and Edgier counterpart to especially the latter.
Members and session musicians
Current
- Mark Jansen – Harsh Vocals (2010-)
- Frank Schiphorst – guitars (2010-)
- Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums, Harsh Vocals (2010-)
- Jack Driessen – keyboards, Harsh Vocals (2010-)
- Laura Macrì - clean vocals (session 2011-2013, official 2013-)
- George Oosthoek - Harsh Vocals (2016–)
- Roel Käller - fretless bass (2016–)
- Marcela Bovio - clean vocals (session 2013-2017, official 2017-)
Former
- Sander Gommans - guitars (2010)
- Isaac Delahaye – guitars (2010-2013)
- Merel Bechtold - guitars (2013-2023)
- Jeroen Paul Thesseling - fretless bass (2010-2013)
- Rob van der Loo – fretted bass (2011-2015)
Session and guest musicians
- Henning Basse - clean vocals (2011-2013, 2018-, official vocalist 2013-2018)
- Floor Jansen - clean vocals (2011-2014)
- Simone Simons - clean vocals (2011)
Tour members
- Arjan Rijnen - guitars (2018-)
- Adam Denlinger - clean vocals (2018-)
Discography:
- Quarterpast (2011)
- Antagonise (2014)
- Dhyana (2018)
Tropes displayed by Mayan:
- Ascended Extra: Henning Basse and Laura Macrì became full-time members in 2013, after performing as guest vocalists for Quarterpast. Marcela Bovio is given the same treatment, even leading on the Title Track of Dhyana.
- Demoted to Extra: Simone and Floor were both session/live members here, while being the faces of their own bands.
- Caps Lock: Stylized as MaYaN.
- Darker and Edgier: Many see them as this to Epica.
- Eloquent in My Native Tongue: Laura.
- Epic Rocking: A hefty fraction of their discography loves this trope.
- Miniscule Rocking: "Quarterpast" and "Tithe" last below 2 minutes. "Dhyana", "Insano", and "Essenza di te", below 3.
- Longest Song Goes Last: Inverted in Quarterpast (the longest song is their opener "Symphony of Aggression" at 7:49), and played straight in Antagonise (the closing track "Faceless Spies" is 8:09).
- Melodic Death Metal: Combined sometimes with Symphonic Metal.
- Multilingual Song: "Dhyana" is in Spanish, Italian, and English.
- Rape as Drama: The music video for "War on Terror". Also counts as War Is Hell.
- Religion Rant Song: A common lyrical theme, alongside human greed and political stances.
- Sex Is Evil, and I Am Horny: Anviliciously, "Celibate Aphrodite".
- Soprano and Gravel: Hoo, boy. Mark dual-wields this trope but this band is chock-full of guys who add to the gravel part of the equation. The addition of literal sopranos like Simone, Floor, Laura, and Marcela play this trope even straighter.
- Spoken Word in Music: Often to embellish otherwise instrumental breaks.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song: Usually their Miniscule Rocking tracks.
- Symphonic Metal: Not quite as heavy as Septic Flesh or Fleshgod Apocalypse, but they're heavier than most.
- Word Salad Lyrics: Some of their lyrics suffer this, but "Essenza di te" takes the cake.
