Mark Jansen led a group of musicians in 2002 complete with a small string section made up of three violins two violas two cellos and an upright bass to record a two-song demo entitled “Cry for the Moon” in 2002. As a result of this, they were fortunately signed to Transmission Records. “The Phantom Agony” released on June 5th 2003, was the first full-length studio album by Epica. It went to number 8 in the Dutch Album Chart. Their following album “Consign to Oblivion” which was released on April 21st 2005 made it to number 12 in the Dutch Album Chart but also charted in Belgium and France. Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman were cited as major inspirations. Following the release of this album, Epica embarked on their first tour of North America with Kamelot.
Their third album, “The Divine Conspiracy” released on September 7th 2007 saw the band do their first headline tour of North America. The first single from the album “Never Enough” was released almost a month before on August 10th 2007. The album, again earned the band more chart success with the album now charting in Germany and Switzerland. They released a live album called “The Classical Conspiracy” on May 8th 2009, which charted in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Switzerland.
They returned to the studio in 2009 to work on their album “Design Tour Universe”. Upon release, it earned very similar acclaim to the previous record, of course is still an incredible achievement to maintain such a loyal fanbase. Three years later on March 9th 2012, Epica released “Requiem for the Indifferent” which charted in nine countries. All music stated that it is a “typically elaborate and ambitious affair, incorporating copious amounts of choral work and classical arrangements into the band’s neatly established blend of goth, progressive and symphonic metal.” For this album, the band did a world tour, this time, visiting South America.
It was “The Quantum Enigma” that proves that Epica are relentlessly sticking to their art and taking the world by storm with their music as it became their most successful record yet. Released on May 2nd 2014, it made it to number four in the Dutch Album Charts this time around, charting in the US and UK too
Metallica, Apolcalytica and now Epica. All cards on the table – their music is completely epic. Their title isn’t a lie! Hailing from the Netherlands, their career spanning twelve years thus far, Epica are really making a buzz in the metal scene with their huge symphonic metal. Huge chugging palm muted distorted guitar chords, fused with huge orchestral textures layered on top of what is going on. They of course have a secret weapon, in the form of Simon Simons, the soprano singer fronting the band, whose range is utterly stratospheric, her voice reaching extremely high notes, adorned by a classically trained falsetto.
“Unleashed” is the song that immediately sounds like something from Phantom of the Opera Simons, using her classically trained falsetto, alongside her belting range, which flows over the chorus of this compound time metal hit, which makes you want to stand on the top of a mountain in Middle Earth using your longbow against ring wraiths.
Who knows, maybe they will grace the BBC with the BBC Philharmonic, although, you’ve gotta hand it to keyboard player Coen Jansseen making it sound like a full orchestra is coming out of his keyboard! More Timps please!