![]() ![]() Released on September 30th via Nuclear Blast, it marks the band’s seventh studio album. Now, how does one turn these perceptions, thoughts, and theories into Heavy Metal induced music? The ambitious Symphonic Metal act from the Netherlands, Epica, decided they were up for the challenge as they wrote and recorded their album, The Holographic Principle. Since then, films such as 2010’s Inception, 1999’s The Matrix, and 1985’s Back to the Future, as well as other Science Fiction films, have generated several questions on what the future holds that could include Holograms, Virtual Reality, Flying Cars, and parallel universes.Ĭurrently in 2016, one can theorize that the future is now, what was once considered fiction is turning into reality, and anything is possible. The movie, which turned into a franchise and an unforgettable classic, expanded many minds to fear the possibility of robots taking over. ![]() Instead, they continue to outdo themselves by taking their music even further with efforts like The Holographic Principle.ġ2.Once upon a time, in a not so distant past, the phrase “Rise of the machines” used to be considered as a fictional concept from the 1984 classic Sci-Fi film The Terminator. So, yeah, Epica are a long-time favorite of mine, but they don’t rely on past accomplishments to stay there. ![]() This is another astonishing album from Epica, which is among my top records of the year - no doubt. The 11-minute epic “The Holographic Principle – A Profound Understanding Of Reality” finishes things up by bringing every style back and mixing them up together once more. ![]() “Tear Down Your Walls” slows things down but only for a short time as it transforms into another full-on symphonic metal attack by the end. “Ascension – Dream State Armageddon” is slightly more gothic, and “Dancing In A Hurricane” mixes some middle eastern and folk elements for good measure. “Beyond The Matrix” mixes it up with some had rock elements and then comes the violin and strings on “Once Upon A Nightmare” but that doesn’t last as the band quickly cranks things back up to full intensity with “The Cosmic Algorithm.” “Divide And Conquer” is one of the heaviest songs on the album and features some great back-and-forth between Simons and Jansen. The album moves on to the single, the Terminator/ Skynet inspired “Universal Death Squad” which is a track that captures the essence of what Epica is all about - a full-frontal symphonic metal attack with manic drums, thrashy guitars, and booming bass alongside orchestral elements with over-the-top choral vocals. Vibrant vocals, virtuoso musicianship, maximum energy and, symphonic, classical, orchestral, operatic, and almost every other kind of metal genre you can think of, they all come into play at some point or another during The Holographic Principle.īut on to the music now! The album opens with “Eidola” - a sort of intro that warms things up for the slightly poppy and upbeat “Edge Of The Blade” and the dynamic “A Phantasmic Parade” which both feature Simone’s great range, from her soft and crisp singing to her full on operatic power, while Jansen’s trademark death metal-style guttural growls provide a counterpoint. It’s an interesting subject if you care to take a look.Īs it has become their trademark, Epica‘s approach to their music continues using the principle that bigger is better, and they keep throwing every element into their music. There’re quite a few supporters of this theory out there. Whit this album, Epica continue their scientific approach to lyrics, this time exploring the holographic principle, which basically states that the universe that surrounds us is not real, that we all live in a gigantic computer simulation, in an experiment. Mark Jansen’s guttural growls and the fabulous playing from the rest of the band provide the perfect melodic counterpoint. She’s one of the key elements of Epica and I don’t even want to think about what would happen if she ever leaves the band. Her powerful yet sweet classical singing voice can easily supersede the music, even when it gets heavy and fast. She’s got the looks and a shitload of talent, to the point that she has become a paragon of lead female vocalists in symphonic heavy metal. Of course, having Simone Simons as a singer doesn’t hurt. Yes, they have maintained a similar path since Design Your Universe, but there’s no other band out there doing this kind of music with so much sonic tapestry, and The Holographic Principle is further proof of that. I’ve heard some criticism about them for falling into a formula for their albums but, as truthful as this statement may be, what’s there to say when that formula is unique and of their own making. Initial disclaimer - I like Epica, A LOT. Released on Septem(Nuclear Blast Records) ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |