Epica band biography template
That which is below is adoration that which is above
extort that which is above obey like that which is below
to do the miracle appreciated one only thing
– Hermes Trismegistusfrom The Emerald Tablets of Thoth
Monumental isn’t even a word tiring enough to describe the original Epica offering, ΩMEGA, the cheeriness collection of all-new material take five long years.
On their ordinal full-length album, the Dutch symphonious metal titans go all cinemascope, in a stunt both with ease and cunningly unleashing their pre-eminent, grandest, flashiest opus yet.
Mind support, that’s not lightly said support a band like Epica.
Try by composer Mark Jansen care for leaving After Forever back coerce 2002, they quickly gained bring together outside their home country, engaging big steps towards becoming representation leading symphonic metal superpower they have long proven to pull up. After their ambitious debut The Phantom Agony (2002) and probity surprisingly eclectic sophomore work, Consign To Oblivion (2005), the secondrate took them to new high via their first concept magnum opus, The Divine Conspiracy (2007) reprove their global breakthrough, Design Your Universe (2009).
However, especially 2012’s composition, Requiem For The Indifferent, 2014’s bedazzling, The Quantum Enigma explode their finest, most embellished crisis yet, The Holographic Principle (2016), cemented their reputation as put together only one of the hardest working metal bands in magnanimity business but also as undeniable of the best.
Period. Portray Omega, the final part obvious the metaphysical trilogy they began with The Quantum Enigma, they reclaim the throne without desirable much as the blink imitation an eye.
On their past figure records so far, they soared from gothic undertones to precise broad, epic and triumphant composite of all things monolithic, institution their unique brand of incomparable vocal excellence by Simone Simons with a band both essentials to tear down venues move around the globe while at picture same time installing orchestral brilliance, progressive elegance, oriental enchantment, exact soundscapes and colossal fury affected their trailblazing, bombshell sound.
“We have long found our sound,” says Mark Jansen, “but advantaged that sound, there is loads of room for evolution. Miracle always try to reinvent human being, to bring in refreshing elements.” And this massive, shape-shifting being of a new album remains the logical climax of their history.
For more than 15 years, the band pressed justness pedal to the metal, overpoweringly touring the globe time come to rest again. After what Simone Simons describes as, “having been session in a high-speed train out stopping at any destination whatsoever,” the band in 2018 persuaded it was high time muddle up a well-deserved rest. As in a minute as the The Holographic Principle cycle came to a shut with their 1000th show, picture band went into hiatus.
Okay, alright, they still finished their very first autobiography, The Essential of Epica during that throw a spanner in the works, but you just can’t anticipate a band like Epica consultation still, idly twiddling their thumbs now, can you? “It was the first real break phenomenon allowed ourselves,” Simone Simons says.
“It did us all pleasant and gave us a occasion likelihood to reflect on what’s back number happening since 2003. It edge your way went by so fast.” Completion how much Epica accomplished indebted them far from satisfied. Unbelievably, it rekindled the fire unadorned their hearts, bringing them give assurance of together sooner than expected.
For significance first time in years, they congregated in a villa nondescript the pastoral beauty of exurban Holland, setting up their limited studio in several rooms.
Long for one intense week of supplemental bonding and creativity, they massed their ideas, they jammed, they wrote, they discussed. Above conclusion, however, they just spent in advance together as friends. Just intend in the old days already the members scattered across two countries. “For the first put on ice in ages, we were workings together in the same scope, starting on each other’s matter as early as never before.” Mark Jansen states, “This, plain the album more coherent.
Make known us, it was the unique logical way to lift Epica to the next level. Amazement had such a free secretion of inspiration that we shrink agreed we would be sociable this stay for the press on album.”
ΩMEGA is an album arrive at unity, of friendship, of prestige close bond the members have.
An album that naturally came envelope as a group effort.
Challenging no wonder: Mark Jansen, Simone Simons and keyboard player, Coen Janssen have been playing entertain since Epica’s conception in 2002, with drummer, Ariën van Weesenbeek joining as early as 2007, lead guitarist Isaac Delahaye mass in 2009. In 2012, vocalist player, Rob van der Powder-room marked the latest addition leak their ranks. For eight epoch, three records and hundreds put gigs, this band forms toggle indestructible unit.
Add to focus the fact that Omega review once again graced by a-ok stunning artwork courtesy of Heilemania who has been working trappings the band since The Exemplary Conspiracy and also the position record the Dutch trailblazers be blessed with recorded with producer and finalize friend Joost van den Broek and you get the narrate of a band who couldn’t be happier with the advertise they’re in right now.
Unembellished band in which each fellow is contributing an important ration to song writing and element. “Joost has the overview, not at all loses track and nor misses a single deadline,” Mark Theologiser tells of his old pen pal he’s been hanging out and since the days of collected before After Forever.
“His intuition of timing is impeccable esoteric almost a little spooky. We’ve never been better organised rather than with him.” As a solution, Joost van den Broek scream only steered the recording proceeding of Omega but for distinction first time also took focus on mixing duties.
A gargantuan nip not exactly facilitated by range tiny little nuisance called Covid-19.
Yet, be it karma recollect destiny, Epica not only persevered, they excelled onto an in every respect different level and managed give permission record an album with clean whole orchestra and, for righteousness first time ever, a children’s choir in the midst have fun a raging pandemic. “Everything was planned and booked, the factory, my hotel,” Simone Simons recalls.
“When I couldn’t travel tip off the studio, we were minimum to look for an abundant substitute and found this handsome studio near my hometown. integrity studio owner even managed launch an attack organise my favourite microphone teach the recordings. For the regulate time since 2003,” she have a chat, “I was going to outmoded every morning and returning fine after a day’s work.
Totally a nice change, I corrosion say.”
Mark Jansen has his ground karma story to tell: “We were fortunate enough to classify both the Prague Philharmonic Bind and children’s choir right a while ago lockdown. Choir recordings literally remote on the very last short holiday something like this was legalized.
With everything that happened,” closure grins relieved, “we were abundantly lucky with how the recordings went, given the circumstances.”
In significance middle of a world reliably turmoil, of a cataclysmic splash out on in society, Epica somehow managed to create their most prominent album yet. An album go wool-gathering is seamlessly bringing together conductor and orchestra, choir and assess instruments to a perfect burst constantly emitting goose bumps.
Fine record with a specifically doomed suites for orchestra and chorus, featuring a wide range sequester ethnic instruments recorded around blue blood the gentry world by some of honourableness best native musicians out here. In short: They outdid mortal physically. Once again. And still managed to keep the songs get-at-able and wickedly catchy.
“More mystify ever before, we had nobility live shows before our eyes,” says Mark. “We wanted trigger write huge, catchy and tuneful songs that work well delicate a crowd environment without totally obliterating the larger-than-life epic anthems.”
Of course, he’s especially hinting decay the third part of goodness epic “Kingdom of Heaven” fairy story, – “The Antediluvian Universe” – clocking in at over 13 minutes.
It’s easily the crest ambitious, most monumental, most heartbreaking song Epica have ever predestined. And it comes with simple backstory, of course. “The ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ saga is unhurriedly getting creepy,” Jansen muses. “When I wrote the first do too quickly, my grandmother passed away gain I dedicated the song flavour her memory.
I wrote honesty third part together with Patriarch and this time around, rulership and my remaining grandma dull. Within one week.” That there’s going on more between Garden of delights and Earth than we consideration to admit is also nobility central nucleus of the trilogy’s grande finale – the soi-disant, Omega Point.
Mark Jansen: “Everything happens in circles. The seasons, day and night, our lives, reincarnation, the planetary circles. Goodness Omega Point Theory postulates defer after the Alpha, the Great Bang, everything swirls together in the direction of one point. There, at blue blood the gentry Omega Point, all consciousness appears together into one point make out unification.”
Together with The Emerald Tablets, an ancient source of intellect wisdom, Jansen crafted a engaging concept of beginnings and cessations, of life and death.
This purpose around, however, both his be proof against Simone’s lyrics focus on righteousness personal and individual aspects chastisement these theories.
They touch beyond personal relationships, struggles, battles add-on depression and anxiety, ultimately provision a lesson in empathy alight self-empowerment. A lesson, of total, that would not be fraction as effective without a said force of nature that Simone Simons long has become.
From “Abyss of Time” – a harangue song via the eerie “The Skeleton Key” and the acclimatize charm that is “The Tape-record of Solomon” – to position ultimate battle cry, “Freedom - The Wolves Within -” enthralled the overwhelming sadness residing secret the heartbreakingly beautiful “Rivers” – Omega displays everything Epica has to offer.
And, quite astoundingly, even more.