Epica Design Your Universe
by Joe Mis
Staff Writer
Design Your Universe is the latest release from veteran Dutch rockers Epica. Founded in 2002, this female-fronted symphonic/orchestral/progressive/death/gothic metal group continues to refine and perfect its somewhat over-the-top sound in what is the band’s 5th release. While similar in style to Nightwish, Epica blends in a bit more of the darker side of metal and thus comes across a little “heavier.”
Guitarist/vocalist Mark Jansen began to put the core pieces of Epica together in 2002. Joining Jansen are original band members Simone Simons (lead vocalist – and fine mezzo-soprano), Coen Janssen (keyboards), Yves Huts (bass), and newer musicians Isaac Delahaye (guitar) and Ariën van Weesenbeek (drums).
Simone Simons has a truly amazing voice. She combines the operatic ability of Tarja Turunen (Nightwish) with the power and flow of Amy Lee (Evanescence), and uses her voice and versatility throughout the album. She seems to flow effortlessly from soft and soothing to powerful and dark to full on opera without a breath in between. Besides playing a fine guitar, Mark Jansen is the second vocalist – not just a back up singer. He handles the death metal grunts, groans and growls, and does it well. His voice contrasts nicely with Simons’ smooth flow, and makes the dual vocals the real keystone of Epica’s sound. This theme of contrasts is further displayed in the band’s overall sound – rough and aggressive rhythms and power chords layered over classical orchestral pieces. The remaining members of the band are all decent musicians fully capable of handling the over-the-top bombastic style and contrasts of Epica’s music.
It seems that Epica wants to be extreme. Their lyrics are melodramatic (and sometimes a little cheesy), their musical arrangement complex and technical. The band is intense and aggressive while the orchestra is soft and quiet, then the orchestra goes nuts while the band is relaxed and smooth. Lyrically it is dark and moody, covering the typical “blacker” metal topics – war, death, lack of freedom, pollution, environmental decay – all the things that make modern life so cheerful. The penchant for extremism occurs over and over – even to the appearance one one track of what is apparently the “Voice Of God.” The contrasts of fast/slow, light/dark and rough/smooth are the real key to Epica’s music.
Musical highlights include the epic and sweeping “Unleashed,” the hard rocking “Martyr Of The Free World,” the amazing keyboard driven “Tides Of Time” and the hauntingly ethereal “White Waters” (with Sonata Arctica’s vocalist Tony Kakko),
Each track is layered with complex arrangements of standard rock instruments, orchestra instruments, choir vocals – everything but the kitchen sink. Despite the many elements mixed together the whole thing comes out well balanced, with no particular aspect of the music dominating the album. The production and engineering are excellent, as one comes to expect from a power metal recording.
Epica’s Design Your Universe is a very good album. Musically it is a bit over the top as the band seemed to have no self-restraint and wanted to throw as much into the music as they could ever imagine. There isn’t anything overly original or groundbreaking on this recording, but what is here is done very well and with much enthusiasm. Fans of orchestral metal, power metal or strong female vocalists will enjoy this release.
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Web: http://www.epica.nl , http://www.myspace.com/epica http://store.nuclearblastusa.com/Artist/Epica/53542
Track Listing:
01 – Samadhi ~ Prelude
02 – Resign to Surrender ~ A New Age Dawns – part IV
03 – Unleashed
04 – Martyr of the Free Word
05 – Our Destiny
06 – Kingdom of Heaven ~ A New Age Dawns – part V
07 – The Price of Freedom ~ Interlude
08 – Burn to a Cinder
09 – Tides of Time
10 – Deconstruct
11 – Semblance of Liberty
12 – White Waters
13 – Design Your Universe ~ A New Age Dawns – part VI
HRH Rating: 8/10