Aspiring to ever greater heights.
As surely as the sun rising in the East, the prospect of a new studio offering from Dutch symphonic metal titans Epica will carry the promise of a deep and thought-provoking experience. But for their 9th studio LP Aspiral, named after a bronze sculpture by acclaimed Polish painter and sculptor Stanisław Szukalski and embodying the concepts of inspiration and renewal, the usual result of lofty symphonic odes with a real world lyrical bent has come with a heightened sense of unity and camaraderie among the band’s collective membership.
A series of secluded writing camps where the six individuals responsible for making up the core of Epica’s sound can be counted among the measures taken to arrive at the highly multifaceted yet unified stylistic expression that culminates in just over an hour of cinematic splendor minus the literal theater. But for all the extravagant bells and whistles that have gone into this endeavor, not the least of which being another stellar orchestral accompaniment courtesy of the Prague Symphonic Orchestra, Aspiral emerges as one of the most straightforward albums in Epica’s discography.
Arguably, the most distinctive aspect of this latest studio excursion is the sum being equal to its parts, as each of this fold’s highly competent instrumentalists brings their distinctive craft to the fore.
Founder, guitarist and de facto mastermind Mark Jansen proves his usual credentials as a thrash-leaning riff creator with an eye for aggression and power that is mirrored in his occasional harsh vocal contributions, which continually reminisce upon the guttural 90s death/doom groan typical to some of Epica’s influences such as Tristania and Theater Of Tragedy.
Longtime lead guitarist Issac Delahaye offers up several technically charged solos to complement the wide arrangement during several select songs, and brings a few isolated progressive metal episodes into the rhythm work as a foil to Jansen’s more symmetrical riffs.
Keyboardist Coen Janssen provides some acoustic and synthetic textures to further complement the bombast and serenity of the accompanying orchestra, while the steady foundation of drummer Arien van Weesenbeek and bassist Rob van der Loo provides the depth and drive to turn an already mighty golem of sound into a towering colossus. Soaring high above the fray of pomp and rage is Simone Simons’ angelic mezzo soprano, walking its usual dual path of operatic flamboyance and measured smoothness to bring it all home, proving equally as impassioned as versatile in the process.
All of the noted elements at play are somehow translated into an album that proves far more streamlined and accessible than anything in Epica’s recent past. The usual orchestral overture gracing the beginning has been switched out for a standard up tempo banger in “Cross The Divide” that wastes little time in getting the story going, placing the emphasis on infectious hooks and heavy-hitting guitars that run parallel to what Nightwish often brought to the table on their 2004 commercial breakthrough album Once.
Other brilliant ear worm entries that keep things concise while still throwing a lot against the wall includes the punchy mid-tempo march of “Apparition” and the ultra-heavy, almost djenting stomp of “Obsidian Heart”, the latter showcasing Delahaye’s unique approach to down-tuned riffing while the former features one of his most explosive guitar solos.
The dynamic thrasher with a lofty anthemic chorus hook “Eye Of The Storm” brilliantly showcases the duality of Simons’ soaring voice and Jansen’s raw and technical rhythm work in a reasonably concise context, while the fits and starts of shorter and down tempo dramatic entry “T.I.M.E.” offers up a clear example of Epica’s theatricality and pizzazz standing high above the fray.
Naturally, this fold hasn’t made a complete break with the more elaborate character of their past, and has even gone so far as to bring it back in its most primordial form in recent memory at times. The somewhat Danny Elfman-like playful orchestrations mixed with death metal-like fury of “Arcana” definitely draws close to where things were for Epica circa the mid-2000s, while the more drawn out and proggy musings of “Fight To Survive – The Overview Effect” comes with several odd twists and turns between the extremes of overt balladry and metallic mayhem that typified Dalehaye’s 2009 entry into the fold, underscored by yet another shred happy lead display amid a lot of moving parts.
But where the early days of Epica come raging back like a torrent of bygone memories is the return of the song cycle “A New Age Dawns”, not seen since the 2009 LP Design Your Universe, in 3 amazing parts. Choosing which of this trifecta of grandiose compositions is the most glorious is no easy task, though those craving complexity and high speed metallic fervor might choose “Darkness Dies In Light”, while those seeking sheer dynamic contrast and aggression would opt for “Metanoia” and the crowd hungering for brilliant melodies and power balladry will gravitate towards this series’ concluding chapter “The Grand Saga Of Existence”.
If there is any final takeaway from Epica’s 9th studio offering, apart from the peculiar synchronicity between complexity and simplicity that it manages to establish, it is that a pivotal transition point has been hit. With the return of the noted “A New Age Dawns” saga has also come its conclusion, and with it an era of this fold’s creative output that has been long deferred.
It has been thusly accompanied by a newer approach to things where elaborate schemes have been simplified for a more accessible version of things, which is underscored by the serene ballad and denouement ending of this album and title entry “Aspiral”, which comes with arguably the most passion-steeped and beautiful performance out of Simone Simons in her 23 years fronting Epica.
The aftermath of it all is a band at a crossroads, one that may see a more stripped-down version or one that sees a new lofty saga coming into being to replace the old. Such a disposition is the mark of greatness, and fans of Epica, young and old, will find no shortage of it here.
Musicians:
- Mark Jansen / Rhythm guitar, harsh vocals
- Coen Janssen / Keyboards, synthesizers, piano
- Simone Simons / Lead vocals
- Ariën van Weesenbeek / Drums
- Isaac Delahaye / Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Rob van der Loo / Bass
Aspiral Track-list:
- Cross the Divide
- Arcana
- Darkness Dies in Light – A New Age Dawns Part VII –
- Obsidian Heart
- Fight to Survive – The Overview Effect –
- Metanoia – A New Age Dawns Part VIII –
- T.I.M.E.
- Apparition
- Eye of the Storm
- The Grand Saga of Existence – A New Age Dawns Part IX –
- Aspiral
Order Aspiral here
Aspiral finds Epica striking an impressive balance between their trademark symphonic grandeur and a more streamlined, hook‑driven approach, resulting in an album that’s immediately engaging yet still richly layered and cinematic. Anchored by cohesive songwriting and Simone Simons’ most passionate performance to date, the album points the band toward an exciting new creative chapter
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