Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

These guys are much better live than on album, but their studio sound is slowly catching up.



Edit: Also carrying this forward from previous page --



I just got my pre-order, and saw another reason this album might be so different. Just saw Rob (their bass player) wrote alot of the songs and pretty much most the poppy, simplistic, songs. He's brining that simple Delain shit to Epica ;)

History lesson boys and girls... On The Quantum Enigma, he didn't write any songs. On The Holographic Principle he wrote "Ascension - Dream State Armageddon" (one song out of twelve). It's good, but one of the weaker songs on the album. On Omega he was up to two songs (out of twelve): "The Skeleton Key" and "Rivers". Skeleton is one of the poppier songs on the album and Rivers is the ballad (a good ballad, but still the ballad). On this one he is responsible for four (out of eleven songs). He wrote both ballads ("Obsidian Heart" and "Aspiral"), "Cross the Divide" (Easily the poppiest song on the album), and "Arcana" (another poppy song until basically the end).

is that good

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

Arcana and Obsidian Heart (both he wrote) are my two favorite songs on the album, so not bad. It just partially explains why this album has a different feel. He always did the more streamlined songs (and ballads), but before this it was one song on an album and then two songs on an album. This time it's four songs. So even if the rest of the songs had been 'normal' Epica, the album would have had a different feel. The Mark and Isaac tracks (the four longer songs) are basically standard Epica, but a little less chaotic. The final three kind of straddle the line between both sides.



Anyway, my main point was that his style has never been the Epic songs, and now he has four that he wrote entirely on his own, so his songs make up a majority of the album (by songwriting credit). That definitely changes the dynamic of the album. Only Issaac has any other songs just written by him (two songs). The other five are collaborative (four of them are the longest songs).

sounds like fun! >:]

edit: and genuinely love the detective work and noticing how these things affect the sound of each album >:]

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

Thank you. I might overthink my favorite bands a little bit.

Album Rating: 4.5

Well Delain also borrowed heavily from Epica on their apocalypse and chill album.

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

That might be why it's one of their highest rated albums.

"I might overthink my favorite bands a little bit."

disagree - love seeing people go so in-depth! it paints a vivid image of the process of making an album

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

Just watched the Symphonic Synergy Blu-Ray. It's one of the coolest concerts I've seen. Excellent sound, great visuals, surprises, good track list.

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

Epica did a video where they listened to each song and discussed the background for each. A couple of things stood out. Issac and Mark (guitars) mentioned quite a few times about things being cut from their songs to make them simpler and less orchestral and progressive. On the other hand, Rob spoke a lot about making things simpler and how earlier albums were too busy and complicated, and making things more open for Simone.

It really seems like there were two camps, Mark and Issac (Guitars) on one side trying to keep the epic in Epica and Simone and Rob (bass) on the other side trying to open everything up and simplify it. The drummer barely spoke at all, and the keyboardist stuck to discussing keyboards and stayed out of that bigger discussion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YHoQ5iAz54&t=999s

I side with Simone on this one.

Album Rating: 4.5

Poor Mark, fighting Epica's Delainization, while at the same time reliving his last days with After Forever once again. That's got to be hard on him.



On to the album now, Obsidian Heart is indeed a great song. Still trying to understand if I like the whole thing or not.

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

I side with Mark and Issac. One of the draws of this band... one of the biggest, really... is the heaviness and progressive elements that help it to not be another Delain or Xandria (for real). On the other hand, this is still my third favorite Epica album. Mark and Issac had enough wins that it didn't feel too simplified, and ironically, my two favorite songs were simple ones written by Rob (Arcana and Obsidian Heart). Obsidian Heart has an awesome and new sound for the band.

"Delainization"... I like that word. I should squeeze it into the review somewhere.

Album Rating: 3.5

Dang, I actually really like this. Not as good as Quantum and Holographic but better than Omega.

Album Rating: 4.5

@Wilie.Be my guest.



Well I think change is always good as it helps to prevent stagnation. Not sure if this is the right path but we'll see. I believe the band has enough charisma and character to not become just another generic symphonic band, even if they soften their sound.

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

@PortalofPerfection: I prefer Omega, but only by 0.1 of a point. Whatever the hell that actually means.

@Dreamflight: Change is good. I was just bitching about The Birthday Massacre being too predictable on that review thread, so.... Anyway, I don't think Epica will ever go full generic; not as long as they have Issac and Mark in the band. If they lose Issac, I could see Mark being out-voted (for the second band in a row).

Album Rating: 4.5

I have to say, once you accept this for what it is it does sound pretty great. Even Fight to Survive, which I thought was pretty bland at first, is turning out to be quite enjoyable.

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

That is true, for sure. This has definitely grown on me.

Album Rating: 4.5

And it's just like you said Willie. It feels that part of the band indeed wants to take the more accessible route while the other is still struggling to maintain their roots. Considering that Mark has finished his A New Age Dawns saga I wonder if the next album will have even less input from him and Isaac.



The production is also an interesting aspect. Even though it sounds as modern as it gets somehow it doesn't annoy me as much as most metal releases nowadays. Wonder if it has a good dynamic range.

Album Rating: 3.6 | Sound Off

Did you watch the Epica 'reaction' video to their new album? It's totally apparent from their comments during the video that part of the band wants more accessibility and the other part wants business as usual (and the drummer just wants to sit in silence). I could be wrong because I am not the creative entity they are, but I don't think I would be too happy if they took the accessibility further. They're right on the line right now, IMO.



The production is definitely more slick and mainstream, but that doesn't bother me much. It lacks a little power because of it, but it's not a deal breaker.