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| Artist: Epica
Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
List Price: $15.98
Buy New: $7.99
You Save: $7.99 (50%)
New (41) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $7.99
Rating:  38 reviews
Sales Rank: 2285
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 11956
UPC: 727361195625
EAN: 0727361195625
ASIN: B000TGQDZQ
Release Date: August 28, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new, factory sealed. Fast shipping!
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 38
 So long Gothic Metal Hello Symphonic black prog metal August 31, 2007
D. McShane (Washington Township, MI United States)
9 out of 14 found this review helpful
Epica took the best of TPA and the best of CtO. The Black Metal parts come in from Mark and drums. The Symphonic parts come from Simone and choir. The Prog parts well just listen to the songs.
Epica has really found there sound here and it's not simple Gothic metal oh no it's beyond what you would find in Gothic Metal bands. They took a big risk here with this CD and in my view it has paid off big time. They can no longer be place in the the same catagore as Within Temptation, Sirenia, and other bands like them. Gone are in of the ways to make them seem like Evanescence.
Just any exmpale of how different they are from those other bands listen to Death of a Dream. They asked Sander Gommans to help out with this song. He had Mark go right to the heart of Black and Death Metal. Sander using the Death grunts Mark using the Black metal screams. If not for Simone and the chior this would have be falt out Black/Death Metal. Yeah it's that heavy.
Then there is there 14 minute long song The Divine Conspiracy. It's very different for Epica because it changes so many times in the song and not something you would really ever see out side of Prog metal. The only other femme metal band that will have a song this long is Nightwish.
So if you want a band that is playing by there rules pick up Epica's Divine Conspiarcy.
Epica: The Art of Music February 22, 2008
D-Man (Your Bathroom)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Ok, you have to keep in mind that this kind of music is not going to be for everybody. It is very different, and in my mind, it is an acquired taste. You're not going to hear it on the radio, or on MTV, because it is music as an art form. It is not adulterated by commercialism due to the monetary interests of a record company's desire to attract that "younger" brainless audience so they can cash in and run happily to the bank. This is ARTWORK.
With that in mind, Epica is simple an amazing band. I was disappointed for a very long time because I thought that good music had died back in the mid 90's. It took me a while to come across it again, but I found it! Yay! Their music is well orchestrated, and Simone Simons voice is incredibly beautiful. I find myself listening to this album whenever I am feeling frustrated or bummed out, because the music really helps to remember that regardless the darkness that comes around from time to time, life is truly beautiful. That is what music is supposed to do, and this is why Epica is an incredibly talented band. They create beautiful works of art.
Stunning Symphonic Metal Perfection August 30, 2007
Joss Carter (Providence, RI USA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
The first time I heard this album, I was completely blown away. The second, third, and now tenth time I have heard this album, I'm still blown away. This is symphonic rock/metal taken to astronomical heights, complete with superbly composed music, incredible production quality, and what is now one of the most gorgeous, refined voices in the genre. Simone Simons sings like a siren on this CD, and your jaw will be dropped by how good she sounds. There are also grunts performed by Mark Jansen, which are entirely effective and add that special edge to the music. The chorus is spectacular, as is the orchestra, here utilized to perfection. The whole album clocks at a healthy 75 minutes, and not a second is wasted.
1. Indigo (5/5) The best introduction Epica has ever done. A haunting, strings-driven choral piece, it perfectly sets up the tone for the rest of the album.
2. The Obsessive Devotion (5/5) This one plain-old rocks. Grunts and guitars drive it for an adrenaline-packed seven minutes, and Simone is heard for the first time. And boy, does she sound good.
3. Menace Of Vanity (4/5) A little generic and a bit similar to the previous track, but it's still quite good.
4. Chasing the Dragon (6/5) I think this might be my favorite. It maintains a spellbinding beauty for all of its seven and a half minutes, and you never do want it to end. Simone has never sounded better than she does here, with a huge range of the utmost purity and sweetness in her voice. The climax here also rocks, just for the record.
5. Never Enough (4.5/5) The first single off of the album (and if you want to check out the video, make sure that you see the vastly superior extended version). Though it's probably the most commercial song here, it lacks not in quality or catchiness. A passionately sung, vengeful piece of music, it features some fantastic Arabic flourishes and a concluding note by Simone that packs more power than a steamroller.
6. La'fetach Chataz Rovetz (4.5/5) A rare instrumental piece, and quite a nice break. It is tranquil yet engaging, exotic yet very pleasing to hear.
7. Death of a Dream (5/5) A harrowing, ferociously beautiful song. And surprise surprise, Simone sounds incredible.
8. Living a Lie (5/5) Another great one, featuring Latin and Gregorian-sounding chanting to add to the effect.
9. Fools of Damnation (6/5) I don't think Epica songs get better than this song. It's incredible, with savage grunts, heavy Arabic influences, some wicked cool organ playing, and blindingly captivating singing.
10. Beyond Belief (4.5/5) Some particularly good singing and guitar here, though the voices in the middle are a tad out of place.
11. Safeguard To Paradise (5/5) A lovely ballad, almost dripping with the beauty of Simone pouring her heart out against the strings section.
12. Sancta Terra (5/5) More Arabic influences here, with exceptional harmonies between Simone and the choir (and the men in the choir sound especially good).
13. The Divine Conspiracy (5.5/5) The title song puts the "epic" in "Epica." Yes, it's 14 minutes, which might be a little daunting, but how could it claim to be epic if it wasn't? An orchestral intro and outro frame this masterpiece, which itself is everything you could ever hope for. I'll leave it at that.
If you want to buy this CD just because Simone is au naturel on the cover, go right ahead. But I promise that you will be in for much more of a treat than just that.
 Still trying to like this album.... October 3, 2007
C. Steele (Seattle, WA)
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
Wow...I hate to be the only naysayer in the group, but....
Production-wise, I found this album to be top-notch. The orchestrations were done very well. However, I found the majority of the songs on this album to be....well....forgettable. None of the songs really stood out to me like they did on Epica's "Consigned To Oblivion" album.
As for Simone Simons' beautiful voice...the more I hear it, the more I become convinced that she's in the wrong band. The songwriting just doesn't utilize Ms. Simons' amazing vocals enough, in my opinion. It's almost as if the band is competing with itself. While I appreciate growly vocals as much as the next sweaty headbanger, they just turned me off on this album.
All in all, I just did not find this album as memorable and accessible as their previous offering. I hope their next is better.
Why? WHY? WHY!!!? November 18, 2007
Wulfie (Somewhere Out West)
7 out of 13 found this review helpful
Does anyone actually LIKE death growls? Is this some sort of male domination thing? I mean, Epica has one of the most beautiful voices in all of rock to front them, and anyone with any sense would give the microphone to her and let her rip! Death growls always sound the same.
Figure it out, Epica! Geez.
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