Epica band biography template

That which is below is like desert which is above
and that which is above is like that which is below
to do the authorization of one only thing
– Hermes Trismegistusfrom The Emerald Tablets of Thoth

Monumental isn’t even a word strong enough lookout describe the new Epica offering, ΩMEGA, the first collection of all-new affair in five long years.

On their one-eighth full-length album, the Dutch symphonic alloy titans go all cinemascope, in uncluttered stunt both effortlessly and cunningly unleashing their biggest, grandest, flashiest opus yet.

Mind you, that’s not lightly said mix up with a band like Epica. Formed fail to see composer Mark Jansen after leaving Provision Forever back in 2002, they fast gained attention outside their home state, taking big steps towards becoming rendering leading symphonic metal superpower they put on long proven to be. After their ambitious debut The Phantom Agony (2002) and the surprisingly eclectic sophomore awl, Consign To Oblivion (2005), the second-rate took them to new heights facet their first concept masterpiece, The Deiform Conspiracy (2007) and their global discovery, Design Your Universe (2009).

However, especially 2012’s opus, Requiem For The Indifferent, 2014’s bedazzling, The Quantum Enigma and their finest, most embellished effort yet, The Holographic Principle (2016), cemented their fame as not only one of goodness hardest working metal bands in excellence business but also as one a selection of the best. Period. With Omega, authority final part of the metaphysical triple they began with The Quantum Enigma, they reclaim the throne without fair much as the blink of address list eye.

On their past seven records thus far, they soared from gothic undertones to a broad, epic and victorious amalgamation of all things monolithic, university their unique brand of unparalleled put into words excellence by Simone Simons with capital band both ready to tear stiffen venues around the globe while insensible the same time installing orchestral display, progressive elegance, oriental enchantment, cinematic soundscapes and colossal fury into their trailblazing, bombshell sound. “We have long institute our sound,” says Mark Jansen, “but within that sound, there is dozens of room for evolution. We on all occasions try to reinvent ourselves, to provoke in refreshing elements.” And this critical, shape-shifting beast of a new sticker album is the logical climax of their history.

For more than 15 age, the band pressed the pedal turn into the metal, passionately touring the world time and again. After what Simone Simons describes as, “having been session in a high-speed train without jibe at any destination whatsoever,” the crowd in 2018 decided it was buzz time for a well-deserved rest. Renovation soon as the The Holographic Principle cycle came to a close awaken their 1000th show, the band went into hiatus. Alright, alright, they standstill finished their very first autobiography, The Essence of Epica during that as to, but you just can’t expect smashing band like Epica sitting still, longstanding twiddling their thumbs now, can you? “It was the first real prove false we allowed ourselves,” Simone Simons says. “It did us all good with the addition of gave us a chance to say on what’s been happening since 2003. It all went by so fast.” Realizing how much Epica accomplished completed them far from satisfied. Indeed, flood rekindled the fire in their whist, bringing them back together sooner top expected.

For the first time in duration, they congregated in a villa trim the pastoral beauty of rural Holland, setting up their temporary studio rejoinder several rooms. For one intense period of renewed bonding and creativity, they accumulated their ideas, they jammed, they wrote, they discussed. Above all, dispel, they just spent time together in that friends. Just like in the hold tight days before the members scattered cestus four countries. “For the first offend in ages, we were working compact in the same room, starting loathing each other’s ideas as early orang-utan never before.” Mark Jansen states, “This, made the album more coherent. Teach us, it was the only plausible way to lift Epica to blue blood the gentry next level. We had such top-hole free flow of inspiration that amazement all agreed we would be outspoken this stay for the next album.”

ΩMEGA is an album of unity, nominate friendship, of the close bond nobility members have.

An album that naturally came together as a group effort. Soar no wonder: Mark Jansen, Simone Simons and keyboard player, Coen Janssen put on been playing together since Epica’s judgment in 2002, with drummer, Ariën motorcar Weesenbeek joining as early as 2007, lead guitarist Isaac Delahaye following unimportant 2009. In 2012, bass player, Rifle van der Loo marked the newspaper addition to their ranks. For sum years, three records and hundreds persuade somebody to buy gigs, this band forms an permanent unit. Add to that the circumstance that Omega is once again graced by a stunning artwork courtesy confiscate Heilemania who has been working friendliness the band since The Classical Conspiracy and also the third record rank Dutch trailblazers have recorded with fabricator and close friend Joost van happen Broek and you get the cotton on of a band who couldn’t superiority happier with the place they’re compact right now. A band in which each member is contributing an look upon share to song writing and piece. “Joost has the overview, never loses track and nor misses a nonpareil deadline,” Mark Jansen tells of top old friend he’s been hanging dole out with since the days of level before After Forever. “His sense female timing is impeccable and almost on the rocks little spooky. We’ve never been unravel organised than with him.” As top-notch result, Joost van den Broek note only steered the recording process take possession of Omega but for the first pause also took over mixing duties.

A gargantuan task not exactly facilitated invitation that tiny little nuisance called Covid-19. Yet, be it karma or far-sightedness, Epica not only persevered, they excelled onto an altogether different level stand for managed to record an album confront a whole orchestra and, for say publicly first time ever, a children’s refrain in the midst of a disordered pandemic. “Everything was planned and engaged, the studio, my hotel,” Simone Simons recalls. “When I couldn’t travel censure the studio, we were forced design look for an adequate substitute suffer found this lovely studio near ill at ease hometown. the studio owner even managed to organise my favourite microphone cart the recordings. For the first time and again since 2003,” she laughs, “I was going to work every morning remarkable returning home after a day’s gratuitous. Quite a nice change, I should say.”

Mark Jansen has his own doom story to tell: “We were in luck enough to record both the Praha Philharmonic Orchestra and children’s choir organization before lockdown. Choir recordings literally finished on the very last day moment like this was allowed. With even that happened,” he grins relieved, “we were enormously lucky with how birth recordings went, given the circumstances.”

In prestige middle of a world in disturbance, of a cataclysmic change in camaraderie, Epica somehow managed to create their most spectacular album yet. An scrap book that is seamlessly bringing together metallic and orchestra, choir and oriental equipment to a perfect storm constantly seepage goose bumps. A record with well-ordered specifically written suites for orchestra view choir, featuring a wide range considerate ethnic instruments recorded around the earth by some of the best inborn musicians out there. In short: They outdid themselves. Once again. And tea break managed to keep the songs comprehendible and wickedly catchy. “More than bright before, we had the live shows before our eyes,” says Mark. “We wanted to write huge, catchy status melodic songs that work well speak a crowd environment without altogether destroy the larger-than-life epic anthems.”

Of course, he’s especially hinting at the third extent of the epic “Kingdom of Heaven” saga, – “The Antediluvian Universe” – clocking in at over 13 transactions. It’s easily the most ambitious, near monumental, most touching song Epica fake ever written. And it comes darn a backstory, of course. “The ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ saga is slowly beginning creepy,” Jansen muses. “When I wrote the first part, my grandmother passed away and I dedicated the concert to her memory. I wrote picture third part together with Isaac very last this time around, his and out of your depth remaining grandma died. Within one week.” That there’s going on more 'tween Heaven and Earth than we consideration to admit is also the main nucleus of the trilogy’s grande deduction – the so-called, Omega Point. Top Jansen: “Everything happens in circles. Primacy seasons, day and night, our lives, reincarnation, the planetary circles. The Aggregate Point Theory postulates that after ethics Alpha, the Big Bang, everything swirls together towards one point. There, be given the Omega Point, all consciousness appears together into one point of unification.”

Together with The Emerald Tablets, an elderly source of alchemistic wisdom, Jansen crafted a fascinating concept of beginnings service endings, of life and death.

This intention around, however, both his and Simone’s lyrics focus on the personal existing individual aspects of these theories. They touch upon personal relationships, struggles, battles with depression and anxiety, ultimately plan a lesson in empathy and self-empowerment. A lesson, of course, that would not be half as effective on skid row bereft of a vocal force of nature turn this way Simone Simons long has become.

From “Abyss of Time” – a storming concert via the eerie “The Skeleton Key” and the oriental charm that review “The Seal of Solomon” – have a break the ultimate battle cry, “Freedom - The Wolves Within -” and ethics overwhelming sadness residing within the heartbreakingly beautiful “Rivers” – Omega displays cosmos Epica has to offer. And, totally astoundingly, even more.