Epica - The Quantum Enigma (2014)

Only two years from their previous Requiem for the Indifferent, Epica is back with their sixth studio album, The Quantum Enigma. It's definitely a time they spend well, because The Quantum Enigma is just mind blowing, a massive comeback from Epica. Considered the front line female symphonic / gothic metal in the world, they are ready for a new symphonic metal landmark. If Requeim for .... already seems like the top of the world, The Quantum.. is the tall tree on the peak.

As with other Epica's works, songs are serious in nature. This transpose into long and intense instrumentation, complex choirs layers. I would like to recommends some highlights of the album. The prelude instrumental is worth the time to listen.  It is just like the sky drum being orchestrated and their sounds surround the Earth to marked the beginning of the creation. Originem is not your cliche overture for sure. It is part of the album respectively. The Second Stone is best described just like the beginning of the life. Where every waves are still without directions, as the drums brutally mimic this situation. The Essence Of Silence on contrary is just their inverse situation. The song gives the feeling that there is a strong order challenging what happened in the first song. This song is having the best riffs on the album. Let's jump to the other highlight, Unchain Utopia is for melodic and minimalist song. Simone Simons is still on her supreme control , playing the rule of soloist of this metal choir. The album break into the second phase, The Fifth Guardian - Interluding these two phases. Enjoy that pentatonic oriental scale in this instrumental track. Then we repeat the loop again with Chemical Insomnia, only the loop got heavier of course. Even so,  ballad are found here. Canvas Of Life is a melodic ballad with sweet piano and guitar rendition.

It is the combination of Simone Simons, unparalleled choirs, masculine growling vocals and stormy symphonic metal instrumentation, that all make this album once again shinning over this genre. The behind story is, the band take full pause of stage performance. This to made Simone available on her maturity duties, giving birth etc. Meaning the band took this opportunity to fully concentrate to write. The Quantum Enigma really re-energized Epica. The band was almost slipped out of the mainstream when they begin to elaborate more technical stuffs, such as in their past album. Fans of Epica should rejoice, as well new fans looking for a solid female voicing symphonic metal.

Favorite tracks: Originem, The Essence Of Silence, Unchain Utopia, Canvas of Life

Metal Harem: ********* nine stars out of ten

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Epica - The Quantum Enigma (2014) 

Digital Limited Edition:
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. Banish Your Illusion (Bonus Track)

CD 2: (Acoustic CD)
01. Canvas Of Life
02. In All Conscience
03. Dreamscape
04. Natural Corruption

Simone Simons – Lead Vocals
Mark Jansen – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals (growls)
Isaac Delahaye – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Coen Janssen – keyboards
Rob Van Der Loo – Bass
Arien Van Wessenbeek – Drums, Voices