New concepts explored.....Epica - The Quantum Enigma - 2014

After the Retrospect show which was held in Eindhoven in March 2013, celebrating their 10 years in the metalscene, Epica went on to record their 6th studio record to date. In the meantime the lead singer Simone Simons had her little baby and the band went on to explore new ways of making their fans happy: with The Quantum Enigma!

This album was released on 2 May 2014, and the fans already had a preview of it at the release show in Tilburg on 30 April 2014. The next day the band was both at a record store in Utrecht and in Amsterdam to have a signging session and a small performance. Unfortunately I could not go to any of those events but I have listened to the newest Epica album, The Quantum Enigma.

This album is a huge step forward after Requiem For The Indifferent, which was a good album but for some
reason did not have the Epica feel like The Divine Conspiracy or The Phantom Agony. The Quantum Enigma however has all we so love about Epica: Lots of grunts from Mark Janssen, mezzo sopranic singing from Simone Simons, bombastic blastbeats and powerful riffs, with choir singing from a choir consisting of 15 people, powerful lyrics, again with actual themes and the subject of quantum physics.... What more can we ask for....?

The powerful tracks alternate with beautiful intermezzo's and also beautiful singing of Simone Simons, in the beautiful balad Canvas Of Life for example.

If you love female fronted metal, and you already know the other music of Epica this new album is definitely a must-hear record. All the classic Epica ingredients are here and Simone Simons sounds like she is well in place with the lyrics and the composing of these songs.

Epica will grace us with a tour again to celebrate this album with their fans. All published tour dates can be found here.

The 3 disc edition includes:

Disc I
01. Originem
02. The Second Stone
03. The Essence Of Silence
04. Victims Of Contingency
05. Sense Without Sanity - The Impervious Code
06. Unchain Utopia
07. The Fifth Guardian (interlude)
08. Chemical Insomnia
09. Reverence - Living In The Heart
10. Omen - The Ghoulish Malady
11. Canvas Of Life
12. Natural Corruption
13. The Quantum Enigma - Kingdom Of Heaven Part II
14. In All Conscience [Digipack bonus]
15. Dreamscape [Earbook bonus]
16. Memento [Vinyl bonus]
17. Banish Your Illusion [iTunes bonus]

Disc II [Digipack/Earbook bonus]
01. Canvas of Life [acoustic cover]
02. In All Conscience [acoustic cover]
03. Dreamscape [acoustic cover]
04. Natural Corruption [acoustic cover]

Disc III [Earbook bonus]
01. Originem [instrumental version]
02. The Second Stone [instrumental version]
03. The Essence Of Silence [instrumental version]
04. Victims Of Contingency v: [instrumental]
05. Sense Without Sanity [instrumental version]
06. Unchain Utopia [instrumental version]
07. The Fifth Guardian [instrumental version]
08. Chemical Insomnia [instrumental version]
09. Reverence [instrumental version]
10. Omen [instrumental version]
11. Canvas Of Life [instrumental version]
12. Natural Corruption [instrumental version]
13. The Quantum Enigma [instrumental version]

Epica's The Quantum Enigma can be ordered via http://www.epicawebshop.com, www.amazon.com, www.bol.com, www.large.nl and other retailers for music.