As one of the premier symphonic metal acts to explode onto the scene in Europe during the early 2000s, Epica has made their mark through a unique blend of melodic and extreme metal influences, alongside a more socially conscious and real world-based lyrical bent.
Drawing upon a hybrid of classical, Arabic and thrash metal musical stylings and a harsh vocal style that mirrors the death/doom craze of the 90s that arguably paved the way for the symphonic wave that soon followed, band founder and guitarist Mark Jansen basically brought every strong point of his former outfit After Forever in tow to forge the unique yet highly familiar sound that has since become synonymous with the Epica name. But as with any band that has made a substantial impact in the musical realm, the credit is shared with numerous fellow contributors, both past and present.
Of no lesser importance is the highly charismatic and versatile voice of frontwoman Simone Simons, whose powerful mezzo-soprano has been a constant linchpin in Epica’s signature sound since the very beginning. Her entry into the fold would also mark her earliest and, to date, exclusive foray into the metal scene following her time in school, moving from the status of aspiring amateur to seasoned professional in short order.
Per her own recollection, the earliest incarnation of the band amounted to a brief stint in 2002 under the moniker of Sahara Dust that culminated in the 2-song Cry For The Moon demo and a single live performance, after which a joint decision to rebrand under the name of Epica was soon made to reflect the totality of the band’s sound, which carried a sizable Arabic influence but was by no means limited to it.
Frequent comparisons to other big names in the symphonic scene such as Nightwish, Within Temptation, Tristania and Lacuna Coil have dogged Epica throughout their more than 2 decades long career, which Simone herself takes as complementary.
However, she is quick to note her own background in music as being a mixture of numerous influences from pop and rock to classical, resulting in a more nuanced presentation than the operatic bombast frequently associated with Tarja Turunen’s signature sound and the melancholic gothic expression of Cristina Scabbia. When brought into a lofty symphonic context that frequently features conceptual song cycles and lyrically involved anthems about world issues, Epica becomes a band that is undoubtedly accessible to fans of the other aforementioned outfits but would never be mistaken for any one of them.
Over the years, Epica has refined their creative process to account not only for the extensive body of work at their backs but also the necessity of reconciling schedules between musicians who live in different parts of western Europe as their 9th and upcoming studio album Aspiral was brought to life.
Jonathan Smith discusses the creation process with Simone Simons in a recent interview; including the band getting together for 3 songwriting camps to streamline the creative progress, the greater emphasis on more melodic and accessible songs, and the reprisal and conclusion of their conceptual song cycle “A New Age Dawns”, which was last encountered on their 2009 album Design Your Universe and will consist of 3 new chapters.
Simons would also note a few of her favorite songs that made it onto the new album, the broad range of topics covered, and how her travels with the band have given her a balanced perspective on the state of the world. Aspiral is an album that reflects a group of musicians that sees both tragedy and hope in the world around them, and it translates that duality of experience into a sonic journey that will greet the world on April 11, 2025 and remind it of why Epica’s music is as grand as the band’s name suggests.
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