Еpica - The Phantom Agony 2003

Genre: symphonic metal
Format: flac + cue + log
Released: 2003
Label: The End Records

1. Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)

2. Sensorium

3. Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 4)

4. Feint

5. Illusive Consensus

6. Facade of Reality (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 5)

7. Run for a Fall

8. Seif al Din (The Embrace That Smothers, Pt. 6)

9. Phantom Agony

Simone Simons

-- mezzo-soprano

Mark Jansen

-- guitars, grunts, screams, orchestral arrangements

Ad Sluijter

-- guitars

Coen Janssen

-- synths & piano, orchestral and choir arrangements

Yves Huts

-- bass guitar

Jeroen Simons

-- drums

Epica Orchestra:

Thomas Glöckner - violin

Andreas Pfaff - violin

Tobias Rempe - violin

Marie-Theres Stumpf - viola

David Schlage - viola

Jörn Kellermann - cello

Cordula Rhode - cello

Andrè Neygenfind - contrabass

Epica Choir:

Melvin Edmonsen - bass

Previn Moore - tenor

Bridget Fogle - alto

Cinzia Rizzo - alto

Annie Goeble - soprano

Amanda Somerville - soprano, vocal coach

Additional musicians

Olaf Reitmeier - acoustic guitars on "Feint" and "Run for a Fall", engineer

Annette Berryman - flute on "Run for a Fall"

Marcel, ProgPower Online, 7/03

"A new chapter in the successful book of Gothic Metal is written by guitarist and composer Mark Jansen (ex-After Forever), so forget everything you have heard so far and prepare yourself for the awesome beauty of Epica. Inspired by the Arab culture, Epica brings a unique blend of classical orchestra and choir, brutal grunts and screams and the exquisite mezzo soprano vocals of Simone Simons. (...) From the moment you hear the first notes of ‘Adyta’, you are captured by the beautiful and mysterious atmosphere of 'The Phantom Agony', where Arab and Latin influences are mixed with powerful drums and shredding guitars and garnished with grunts and screams by Mark Jansen. Vocalist Simone Simons is a true revelation, as she seemed to have walked right out of an opera, straight into Epica, and it is a pure delight to hear her sing. The use of a real choir as well as choir samples add to the atmosphere in the songs. (...) Of course, if you listen to The Phantom Agony, you hear a sound which is very similar to After Forever, no surprise as mark Jansen was one of the main songwriters in After Forever. However, do not make the mistake to view Epica as just a clone of After Forever! Epica is an entirely separate band with their own sound, that differs enough from After Forever, as it is less metal and more classical influences...."