{"id":19202,"date":"2012-03-13T15:47:20","date_gmt":"2012-03-13T20:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=19202"},"modified":"2013-01-29T10:06:28","modified_gmt":"2013-01-29T15:06:28","slug":"epica-requiem-for-the-indifferent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2012\/epica-requiem-for-the-indifferent\/","title":{"rendered":"Epica | Requiem For The Indifferent<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Joe Mis<\/span>
\nStaff Writer —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"Requiem For The Indifferent<\/em> 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\u2019s 6th release. Epica normally blends in a bit more of the darker side of metal and thus comes across a little \u201cheavier,\u201d but this new album is a bit different in tone and style. <\/p>\n

Epica\u2019s lineup remains unchanged, featuring guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen, Simone Simons (lead vocalist – and fine mezzo-soprano), Coen Janssen (keyboards), Yves Huts (bass), Isaac Delahaye (guitar), and Ari\u00ebn van Weesenbeek (drums). The stability of the core lineup only adds to the performances of the band, as their teamwork is outstanding throughout. Simone Simons has an amazing voice that combines the operatic ability of Tarja Turunen (Nightwish) with the power and flow of Amy Lee (Evanescence). Requiem For The Indifferent<\/em> allows her to sing in a more conventional style, forsaking some of the operatic power, although she calls upon it on many occasions. Mark Jansen is the second vocalist as usual, handling all the death metal grunts, groans and growls. His voice contrasts nicely with Simons\u2019 smooth flow, and keeps the dual vocals the real keystone of Epica\u2019s sound \u2013 although on this release they are perhaps more akin to the \u201cbeauty and the beast\u201d style, rather than that operatic metal \/ death metal. The remaining members of the band are all excellent musicians fully capable of handling the over-the-top bombastic style and contrasts of Epica\u2019s music, although the tone of Requiem is a bit softer and calmer than their previous CDs.<\/p>\n

Fans of Epica\u2019s last release Design Your Universe<\/em> may be a bit surprised by the change in tone. Design<\/em> was intense and almost brutal, in-your-face and totally over the top. Requiem<\/em> is a much more controlled album, featuring many more symphonic passages, vocal subtleties – more orchestral elements overall. Their musical arrangement continues to be complex and technical, but the tone is much more introspective, almost a redefinition of Epica\u2019s sound. However, the contrasts of fast\/slow, light\/dark and rough\/smooth continue to be the real keys to Epica’s music. The progressive traditions of tempo changes, intense riffs and instrumental passages are there, but they now tend more towards the softer end more than the super-heavy.<\/p>\n

The first three songs (\u201cKarma,\u201d \u201dMonopoly On Truth\u201d and \u201cStorm The Sorrow\u201d) have more of the old school Epica sound, although the vocal balance change is apparent. Simone\u2019s sings more often away from her operatic style, and there is a greater emphasis on choral vocals. The band is tight, with the dual voices of Simons and Jansen leading the rest of the band through its paces. The guitar lines are strong and intricate, the bass line wonderfully complex, keys and synths are lush, and the drums manic but appropriate. Of particular note are Simone\u2019s outstanding vocals and the great drum work on \u201cStorm The Sorrow.\u201d The first major departure from Epica\u2019s core sound is the beautiful ballad \u201cDelirium.\u201d The track opens in epic style with some choral humming, fades into some superb keyboard work by Coen Janssen and amazing soft and sweet lead vocals \u2013 an excellent song from every aspect. Normal intensity returns on \u201cInternal Warfare\u201d along with some excellent death vocals by Mark Jansen, while Middle Eastern tones, many prog tempo changes, and tight guitar riffs permeate the epic title track \u201cRequiem for the Indifferent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The quick keyboard \u201cAnima\u201d leads into the darker \u201cGuilty Demeanor\u201d \u2013 a more conventional symphonic \/ progressive track with a driving rhythm line. A mellow orchestral opening and moody lyrics makes the fluid \u201cDeep Water Horizon\u201d an interesting and powerful song that builds in intensity until it reaches a huge booming finish \u2013 symphonic at its best. \u201cStay the Course\u201d is the heaviest track with more emphasis on Epica\u2019s death metal roots thanks to Jansen\u2019s lead vocals-grunts-roars. \u201cDeter The Tyrant\u201d has a very choppy guitar line and tidy drums, and \u201cAvalanche\u201d seems to be a soft and peaceful ballad until Jansen\u2019s roars kick in at mid-point – another vocal masterpiece. The album closes on a high with the epic \u201cSerenade Of Self-Destruction.\u201d This one track embodies all of Epica\u2019s trademarks and continues their \u201cover-the-top-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink\u201d style \u2013 quiet then roaring, slow than fast, clean then death, keys, guitars, orchestra, bass, chugging riffs, blast beats, opera\u2026Whew!<\/p>\n

Each track is layered with complex arrangements of standard rock instruments, orchestra instruments, choir vocals; everything that should be in symphonic metal and then some. As usual for Epica, this m\u00e9lange somehow 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 symphonic metal recording.<\/p>\n

Epica\u2019s new sound might take some of their fans by surprise, but the change only further separates them from the pack of imitators. Epica has proven that they are maturing in tone and skills while continually exploring (and pushing) the boundaries of the genre they helped to create. Fans of orchestral or progressive metal will enjoy this release. Requiem For The Indifferent<\/em> is an excellent album, and a fine example of pure symphonic metal.<\/p>\n

Genre: Symphonic Metal<\/p>\n

Band:
\nSimone Simons (vocals)
\nMark Jansen (guitars, grunts & screams)
\nIsaac Delahaye (guitars)
\nCoen Janssen (keyboards)
\nYves Huts (bass)
\nAri\u00ebn van Weesenbeek (drums)<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1.\tKarma
\n2.\tMonopoly On Truth
\n3.\tStorm The Sorrow
\n4.\tDelirium
\n5.\tInternal Warfare
\n6.\tRequiem For The Indifferent
\n7.\tAnima
\n8.\tGuilty Demeanor
\n9.\tDeep Water Horizon
\n10.\tStay The Course
\n11.\tDeter The Tyrant
\n12.\tAvalanche
\n13.\tSerenade Of Self-Destruction<\/p>\n

Label: Nuclear Blast<\/p>\n

Website: http:\/\/www.epica.nl\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 9\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Joe Mis Staff Writer — Requiem For The Indifferent 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 […]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6772],"tags":[2317,1656,339,1100],"class_list":{"0":"post-19202","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-arcrvws2012","7":"tag-cd-review","8":"tag-epica","9":"tag-nuclear-blast","10":"tag-symphonic-metal"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19202"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19202\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}