Épica

With more than half a million albums sold and multiple triumphant tours across Europe, North America, South & Central America, Asia and Australia, EPICA has more than earned its reputation as one of Holland’s most popular musical exports…

Monumental isn’t even a word strong enough to describe the new Epica offering, Ωmega, the first collection of all-new material in five long years. On their eighth full-length, the Dutch symphonic metal titans go all cinemascope, in a stunt both effortlessly and cunningly unleashing their biggest, grandest, flashiest opus yet. Mind you, that’s not lightly said for a band like Epica. Formed by composer Mark Jansen after leaving After Forever back in 2002, they quickly gained attention outside their home country, taking big steps towards becoming the leading symphonic metal superpower they have long proven to be. After their ambitious debut The Phantom Agony (2002) and the surprisingly eclectic sophomore work, Consign To Oblivion (2005), the road took them to new heights via their first concept masterpiece, The Divine Conspiracy (2007) and their global breakthrough, Design Your Universe (2009).

Dutch symphonic metal band EPICA celebrated its 10th anniversary with a one-night-only event, dubbed "Retrospect", on March 23 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The band was accompanied by the seventy-piece Reményi Ede Chamber Orchestra and the Miskolc National Theatre Choir, playing an unforgettable three-hour best-of set…

(10 April 2013) The Phantom Agony marked the start of the now decade-long and world-wide career of the Dutch group Epica. The album was recorded at The Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany, under the leadership of the renowned producer and engineer Sacha Paeth (a.o. Aina, After Forever, Rhapsody, Kamelot) and at its release it was critically acclaimed to be one of the most impressive Dutch epic metal debut albums ever…

Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever.They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls, performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen respectively. All six members participate in composing their songs, whilst their lyrics are primarily written by Simons and Jansen. Their songs largely deal with philosophical topics, including science, religion, and world events.

Like the title suggests, the new Kamelot album is very epic - probably more than any other album I've heard, more orchestrated, more dramatic. And it totally destroys the entire Kamelot catalogue, taken together!…

After two albums of generally finely crafted symphonic metal, Dutch ensemble Epica decided to indulge their orchestral kinks to the fullest with 2005's metal-free The Score: An Epic Journey, but they are back to their usual, genre-meshing stomping grounds with 2007's The Divine Conspiracy, which many fans will likely consider their proper third opus…

Epica fans probably know that the band has a special liking for the atmosphere of certain symphonic soundtracks. Epica's founder Mark Jansen, for instance, is a huge fan of the compositions of Hans Zimmer, who is responsible for soundtracks like Gladiator and The last Samurai. Already a few years ago … Epica was pleasantly surprised by the request to compose music for a movie called Joyride
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