Epica
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Description
Epica performs a blend of progressive metal, gothic metal and symphonic metal.
Vocalist Simone Simons has expressed a preference for the group to be described as symphonic metal though the founder of the group, Mark Jansen, notes that they do not mind being called gothic metal either.
Announcements
Mark Jansen, the guitarist and co-vocalist of Dutch symphonic metal outfit Epica, has posted a message online in which he discusses the progress the band have made on their new studio album. His post reads as follows:
"The vocal recordings have started! Tonight I have recorded the grunts of the opening song of the upcoming album. After a travel of 4.5 hours Arien and I arrived in the studio at 22:00. We were still full of energy and decided to start recording already. Tomorrow, Simone will arrive as well so we'll continue with the vocal recordings.
"The recordings in general are going very well and the result sounds like we were hoping for. We know the pressure is quite high after Design Your Universe but we're confident that the new album will pay off the expectations."
"The new album will be released by Nuclear Blast on the March 9th, 2012. If you want to be the first to hear the new stuff be sure to get tickets to the release party in 013 (NL) on March 16th here."
Discussions
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Wall
Simone Simmons is arguably the hottest chick in metal. Yes?
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 18:13
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever.
In early 2002, Mark Jansen left After Forever over creative differences. He then began looking for musicians who would work towards a more classical/symphonic type of music project; this was initially named "Sahara Dust".
In late 2002, the band courted Helena Michaelsen (from Trail of Tears) as its frontwoman, but shortly after she was replaced by the then unknown mezzo-soprano Simone Simons, who was Jansen's girlfriend at the time. The band's line-up was completed by guitarist Ad Sluijter, drummer Jeroen Simons, bassist Yves Huts, and keyboard player Coen Janssen. The name was later changed to Epica, inspired by Kamelot’ss eponymous album.
Epica then assembled a choir (made up of two men and four women) and a string orchestra (three violins, two violas, two cellos and an upright bass) to play along with them. Still under the name Sahara Dust, they produced a two-song demo entitled Cry for the Moon in 2002. As a result, they were signed to Transmission Records.
On March 4, 2009, Epica announced their return to the studio where they would begin the recording process for a new album. In April 2009, it was revealed that the new album's title would be "Design Your Universe". It continued the A New Age Dawns saga which started on Consign to Oblivion.
The album was released on October 16, 2009. To promote this release, they performed in Amsterdam at Paradiso on October 10, 2009. This is the first Epica album to feature Isaac Delahaye.
The record also contains a guest appearance from Sonata Arctica vocalist Tony Kakko on the song "White Waters". The album debuted in #8 in the Dutch charts.
On December 31, 2009, it was announced through their website that a new single will be released. The song is called "This Is the Time" and all profit will go to World Wide Fund for Nature.
In September 2010, Simone once again contributed vocals to an album of Kamelot, this time on the tracks "House on a Hill", "Poetry For The Poisoned, Pt. II: So Long" and "Poetry For The Poisoned, Pt. III: All Is Over" on the album Poetry for the Poisoned.
In an interview in November 2010, Simone stated that the band is going to start writing music around February 2011 after their Latin American tour is over. She also stated that they are hoping for a release in the first quarter of 2012.
Epica performs a blend of progressive metal, gothic metal and symphonic metal.
Vocalist Simone Simons has expressed a preference for the group to be described as symphonic metal though the founder of the group Mark Jansen notes that they do not mind being called gothic metal.
The music of Epica is aggressive, bombastic and excessive with some songs being "epic, grand and majestic" and others "more subdued and introspective." The band is also known to have progressive tendencies while a gothic atmosphere and sentimentality is also present in their music.
Epica uses a "trademark of many symphonic and gothic metal bands" in contrasting "two extremes, death grunts and brutality on one side, airy female melodiousness on the other." Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic notes that the band's "attraction ultimately hinges on exploring the sonic contrasts of light and dark; the punishing intensity of those elephantine guitar riffs and hyperactive drumming cast against the soaring, layered sweetness of the orchestrated strings and keyboards."
Simone Simons delivers operatic vocals in a mezzo-soprano range though she has also been known to sometimes sing "with a clear alto voice that has a flawless tone and a lot of emotion." Mark Jansen delivers death grunts "that are secondary to Simons' singing, but very important in terms of balance and variety."
The group is also known to employ human choirs and orchestras with additional embellishments such as spoken word recitals and lyrics in Latin and Arabic.
Line-up
• Simone Simons – mezzo soprano vocals
• Mark Jansen – rhythm guitars, grunts, screams
• Isaac Delahaye – lead guitars, backing vocals
• Yves Huts – bass guitar
• Coen Janssen – synth, piano
• Arlen van Weesenbeek – drums, grunts, spoken word
In early 2002, Mark Jansen left After Forever over creative differences. He then began looking for musicians who would work towards a more classical/symphonic type of music project; this was initially named "Sahara Dust".
In late 2002, the band courted Helena Michaelsen (from Trail of Tears) as its frontwoman, but shortly after she was replaced by the then unknown mezzo-soprano Simone Simons, who was Jansen's girlfriend at the time. The band's line-up was completed by guitarist Ad Sluijter, drummer Jeroen Simons, bassist Yves Huts, and keyboard player Coen Janssen. The name was later changed to Epica, inspired by Kamelot’ss eponymous album.
Epica then assembled a choir (made up of two men and four women) and a string orchestra (three violins, two violas, two cellos and an upright bass) to play along with them. Still under the name Sahara Dust, they produced a two-song demo entitled Cry for the Moon in 2002. As a result, they were signed to Transmission Records.
On March 4, 2009, Epica announced their return to the studio where they would begin the recording process for a new album. In April 2009, it was revealed that the new album's title would be "Design Your Universe". It continued the A New Age Dawns saga which started on Consign to Oblivion.
The album was released on October 16, 2009. To promote this release, they performed in Amsterdam at Paradiso on October 10, 2009. This is the first Epica album to feature Isaac Delahaye.
The record also contains a guest appearance from Sonata Arctica vocalist Tony Kakko on the song "White Waters". The album debuted in #8 in the Dutch charts.
On December 31, 2009, it was announced through their website that a new single will be released. The song is called "This Is the Time" and all profit will go to World Wide Fund for Nature.
In September 2010, Simone once again contributed vocals to an album of Kamelot, this time on the tracks "House on a Hill", "Poetry For The Poisoned, Pt. II: So Long" and "Poetry For The Poisoned, Pt. III: All Is Over" on the album Poetry for the Poisoned.
In an interview in November 2010, Simone stated that the band is going to start writing music around February 2011 after their Latin American tour is over. She also stated that they are hoping for a release in the first quarter of 2012.
Epica performs a blend of progressive metal, gothic metal and symphonic metal.
Vocalist Simone Simons has expressed a preference for the group to be described as symphonic metal though the founder of the group Mark Jansen notes that they do not mind being called gothic metal.
The music of Epica is aggressive, bombastic and excessive with some songs being "epic, grand and majestic" and others "more subdued and introspective." The band is also known to have progressive tendencies while a gothic atmosphere and sentimentality is also present in their music.
Epica uses a "trademark of many symphonic and gothic metal bands" in contrasting "two extremes, death grunts and brutality on one side, airy female melodiousness on the other." Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic notes that the band's "attraction ultimately hinges on exploring the sonic contrasts of light and dark; the punishing intensity of those elephantine guitar riffs and hyperactive drumming cast against the soaring, layered sweetness of the orchestrated strings and keyboards."
Simone Simons delivers operatic vocals in a mezzo-soprano range though she has also been known to sometimes sing "with a clear alto voice that has a flawless tone and a lot of emotion." Mark Jansen delivers death grunts "that are secondary to Simons' singing, but very important in terms of balance and variety."
The group is also known to employ human choirs and orchestras with additional embellishments such as spoken word recitals and lyrics in Latin and Arabic.
Line-up
• Simone Simons – mezzo soprano vocals
• Mark Jansen – rhythm guitars, grunts, screams
• Isaac Delahaye – lead guitars, backing vocals
• Yves Huts – bass guitar
• Coen Janssen – synth, piano
• Arlen van Weesenbeek – drums, grunts, spoken word
Monday, 21 March 2011 12:15
