Epica
Biography
Originally calling themselves Sahara Dust, Holland's Epica formed in early 2003 when After Forever guitarist Mark Jansen decided to break away from the group he had helped found in order to start an operatic metal project all his own. After drafting teenaged mezzo-soprano Simone Simons, guitarist Ad Sluijter, keyboardist Coen Jansen, bassist Yves Huts, and drummer Jeroen Simons, Epica entered Wolfsburg, Germany's Gate Studio with a classically trained choir and string section to lay down their ambitious debut, The Phantom Agony. Released by Transmission Records in late 2003, and licensed for American release by The End Records early the next year, the album spawned a number of singles and paved the way for 2005's sophomore LP, Consign to Oblivion. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
because for once, the guitars are impressive enough in DYD...
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I'm listening to the entire The Divine Conspiracy. Ignoring the usual complaint I share with Plague, I'm enjoying the album so far (I'm at "Beyond belief" now...).
I'm still too shocked to listen to all of Design Your Universe for now. I'll wait a bit. |
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"Unleashed" and "Design Your Own Universe" aren't bad, they're just very tipical of the material you would hear on TDC. "White Waters" is the only one that's just straight-up BAD.
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Me too. At least, everything except Unleashed, the title track, and White Waters. Those three songs are the disappointme n t s of the album.
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Yeah, it got leaked on youtube later in october. It's a good album. I recommend it.
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Make that "Design Your Universe." Sorry, guys.
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Did you guys know that Epica came out with another album on November 3rd? I think it's called, "Shape your Universe," or something like that. Saw it for pre-order on Amazon.com before then.
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I think I prefer Epica to After Forever. After Forever's riffs have been historically better, but the new guitarist in Epica has me really excited and looking forward to the future for the band. Plus I prefer Epica's orchestral arrangements .
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The only After Forever album I own is their last one, and since I have nothing but unmitigated praise for it that makes their break-up all the more irksome! I'll have to look up their earlier work to see how it compares.
Also I rather like Never Enough, it's catchy. |
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I would place them on a similar plane. I love listening to both. Usually the band playing is the one a prefer.
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I heard one song I think from After Forever. I can't judge too much, but Floor is amazing.
as for them next to Epica, I know for sure that AF's guitars are better. |
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Actually, if someone were to ask me, I would say I prefer After Forever over Epica. Though Epica is wonderful, it seems to be a band that relies a bit more on "hooks" then on ability and songwriting (*cough* Never Enough *cough*). AF was more complex. Admittedly Epica is more epic (I mean, it has epic in its name!), but in a race for my vote AF would win.
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Yes, Epica is talented in other areas than guitar, and are proficient enough in those areas that the guitars were always forgiveable, even if I do like to complain about it.
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Non-shreddin g guitars aside, I really enjoy the ambient, symphonic, and ethereal quality that Epica is so proficient at. I need to acquire more Epica and After Forever.
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Sancta Terra is one of my favorite songs on that album, with The Divine Conspiracy coming in second, and my third favorite would have to be The Menace of Vanity.
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Yeah, the title track does feel a little bit stretched.
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The title track off TDC is very nice as well, although I think they stretch out the quiet part in the middle a bit more than they should. I'm also very fond of Sancta Terra.
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TDC is a great album, Matthew. I listen to it quite often, and love it(except "Safeguard to Paradise" of course)! I would highly recommend buying it.
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I'd been debating picking that album up, but then I realized I already have live recordings of half of it's tracks thanks to owning The Classical Conspiracy. I still might get it eventually, but it's near the bottom of my overly large list of things I want (but am forcing myself to not buy immediately for the sake of personal finance).
It helps to know that the 'best' track isn't one I already have though, so thanks for that tidbit of info! |
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All that being said, I do own that album and do listen to it from beginning to end from time to time (sans "Safeguard.. . " and the interlude track) and do enjoy it. It isn't a mind-blowing album, but I think you nailed it when you say "it's very nice."
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@12nights: It's not a bad album, but as Fangirl pointed out, the guitars are far from impressive. "The Obsessive Devotion" is easily the best track on it, although I do have a soft spot for the title track as well. "Safeguard.. . " is profoundly dull, but this is coming from someone who refuses to listen to ballads, so my opinion of them might not hold much weight. "Never Enough" is okay. It's sub-par by Epica standards, but not so bad I won't listen to it.
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The Obsessive Devotion is great! but I share Plague's annoyance with the lethargic guitars of typical Epica. lol
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Okay, I want to talk about The Divine Conspiracy. (There hasn't been much talking here lately!) I got the album a while ago, and I think it's very nice. The Obsessive Devotion is without a doubt one of the greatest tracks ever made. The CD does have two "blemishes", though. Those are: Safeguard To Paradise and Never Enough. Neither catches my ears like the others on the album. STP because it's too boring. And Never Enough because, let's face it, it's totally poppy. Other than that TDC is great!
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I'm not the one who's so far away
When I feel the snake bite enter my veins. Never did I wanna be here again, And I don't remember why I came. Candles raise my desire, Why I'm so far away. No more meaning to my life, No more reason to stay. Freezing, feeling, Breathe in, breathe in... I'm coming back again... I'm not the one who's so far away When I feel the snake bite enter my veins. Never did I wanna be here again, And I don't remember why I came. |
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I'm not the one who's so far away
When I feel the snake bite enter my veins. Never did I wanna be here again, And I don't remember why I came. Candles raise my desire, Why I'm so far away. No more meaning to my life, No more reason to stay. Freezing, feeling, Breathe in, breathe in... I'm coming back again... I'm not the one who's so far away When I feel the snake bite enter my veins. Never did I wanna be here again, And I don't remember why I came. |
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"Thank You Pain" is pretty good. My personal favorites are "The Tempest" and "Globus Hystericus". . . a n d anything with a music video, because as I said, she's pretty cute.
Yeah, a lot of people draw that comparison. Thing about Angela is that she sounds like if you lifted up her skirt, she might have balls. Alyssa still sounds like a chick. XD |
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Oh, Plague, you reminded me. I listened to some stuff by The Agonist, and they're pretty good. It threw me off a little that the singer switched between clean and rough vocals, I usually prefer sticking to one style. I really liked the song Thank You Pain.
All that said, I still prefer Angela Gossow over their vocalist. :) Sorry! |
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I'm not the one who's so far away
When I feel the snake bite enter my veins. Never did I wanna be here again, And I don't remember why I came. Candles raise my desire, Why I'm so far away. No more meaning to my life, No more reason to stay. Freezing, feeling, Breathe in, breathe in... I'm coming back again... I'm not the one who's so far away When I feel the snake bite enter my veins. Never did I wanna be here again, And I don't remember why I came. |
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I shrug at Epica's way of promoting Simone since I've seen either worse or stranger things.
for example, a band I like had their lead singer (a guy as a note) who wore a fur coat and pink make-up during one of their album eras... that freaked me out, especially when I thought he was a girl... |
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Yeah, they are guilty of that. I don't really like it when band's do that either.
I have massive respect for The Agonist for that, because their singer is obscenely attractive, but she doesn't show up on any of their album art. |
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That's true. I don't mind however :). It doesn't affect how I perceive the music though.
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You know, as long as I've loved Epica, there's always been a little something nagging in the background, something about them that bugs me. I just realized what it is: Simone. The band promotes her image WAY too much. The pictures of her on the cover and booklet of TDC is flat-out trying too hard. A band should get recognition because of their talent, not because of their singer's looks. It just annoys me.
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"Unleashed" and "Design Your Own Universe" will too. They're the next lamest, and they're just typical Epica stuff.
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maybe "White Waters", the "worst track" as you say, might bring me back to my senses, lol.
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@12nights: Yeah, I agree, I especially like that Simone explores her vocal capabilities a bit on that one too. It's not your straightforw a r d operatic melody.
@LLM: Yeah, "White Waters" is by far the worst song on the album. |
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double standards-op i n i o n s only if we agree-fitter happier, more productive-o n l y our metal withstands heat-u are 2 abrassive-fi t t e r happier, more productive-b i l l of rights out the window-natio n under one ruler-cant say tr*e metal anymore-time for change- you are fitter, happier, more productive. Refuse you comments we have that right-contac t admins for help-erase that eye sore. fitter, happier..mor e govt.One nation, under Pres Obama.Russia . C h i n a . I r a n . l e a d us there. internet died.end tran
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I listened to DYU on Grooveshark. WOW!!!! Amazing! White Waters is crap though.
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