After the somewhat lackluster album that was 2012’s “Requiem for the Indifferent,” Dutch symphonic metal band EPICA reaffirmed its position as a leading force of the genre with “The Quantum Enigma.” Released on May 2nd, 2014, via Nuclear Blast, the album is not only a great return to form for the band but also a step up in terms of songwriting, arrangements, and execution. Ten years after its release, it is still considered one of their best and it also happens to be my favorite EPICA record to date (followed closely by “Omega”).
The strong melodies, the excellent guitar work, the spotlight on Simone Simons’ vocals, and the well-placed symphonic embellishments and choirs make this album a worthy addition to the genre’s catalog. As such, the eleven tracks (not counting the intro and the interlude) stand incredibly well on their own, with each one claiming its spot on the tracklist with well-defined personalities and engaging soundscapes. This is something that only carefully constructed albums have in common, being a wonderful example of the ‘only killer, no filler’ approach. Consequently, anyone would be hard-pressed to find a subpar track on this album and make a compelling case against it.
The first two proper tracks that follow cinematic intro “Origimen” are like two sides of the same coin – “The Second Stone” is more melodic and even melancholy in its vocal delivery and lyrics with gorgeous choirs adorning the chorus while “The Essence of Silence” is among their heaviest pieces to date with Mark Jansen taking the lead and creating a nice contrast with the operatic parts and the catchy chorus. They know how to play around with melodic juxtapositions so as to get the best out of their sound, and tracks that are equal parts heavy and orchestral like “Victims of Contingency” and Unchained Utopia” (or even the longer numbers like “The Quantum Enigma – Kingdom of Heaven, pt. II” and “Sense Without Sanity – The Impervious Code”) showcase their songwriting flexibility pretty well.
Granted, symphonic metal in itself is quite malleable as a genre, reason why we have such a great variety of bands that have made this style their sonic home. Just consider the albums that came out in 2014 – WITHIN TEMPATION’s “Hydra,” DELAIN’s “The Human Contradiction,” XANDRIA’s “Sacrificium,” and EPICA’s “The Quantum Enigma” – as representing various facets of it, different as these records may be. However, EPICA has always been in a league of their own, refining their brand of symphonic metal complete with death metal elements and orchestral arrangements with each new album. This seamless blend of two apparently different soundscapes is still the main appeal of the band and many of the songs from “The Quantum Enigma” are perfectly balanced between all the band’s trademark elements even if we get fewer grunts from Mark on this one.
For instance, the majestic choirs and arrangements on “Chemical Insomnia” only work to enhance the melodic line even more while the double bass drumming on “Reverence – Living in the Heart” adds heaviness and a sense of darkness that contrasts with the sweeping orchestrations. The build-up of “Omen – The Ghoulish Malady” is expertly done and the melodies in the chorus are top-notch whereas “Natural Corruption” soars high on Simone Simons’ classical singing and wonderful guitar melodies. Their songs have a great built-in dynamic and energy that make them work so well live, reason why many tracks from this album are still on their setlist (the Latin American fans can confirm this as earlier this year EPICA played five tracks from this record while touring the continent).
To conclude, “The Quantum Enigma” sees the band at their best since 2009’s “Design Your Universe” with a collection of songs that are epic and bombastic without feeling overblown and a soundscape that is well anchored by the tight melodies and elevated by the smart use of the choirs all the while being firmly grounded in heaviness and orchestral arrangements. EPICA have always been a heavy band (way heavier than other bands in the genre) and their reliance on guitar and drum work as well as a focused emphasis on melody really elevated this record. So, the main merit of “The Quantum Enigma” is that it showcased EPICA’s true potential for memorable songs without getting tangled up in the usual trapping of symphonic metal. This, in turn, makes it a consistent and well-paced record that is still a refreshing listen ten years after its release.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- Originem
- The Second Stone
- The Essence of Silence
- Victims of Contingency
- Sense without Sanity – The Impervious Code
- Unchain Utopia
- The Fifth Guardian (Interlude)
- Chemical Insomnia
- Reverence – Living in the Heart
- Omen – The Ghoulish Malady
- Canvas of Life
- Natural Corruption
- The Quantum Enigma – Kingdom of Heaven, Part II
Lineup
- Simone Simons – lead and backing vocals
- Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, grunts
- Isaac Delahaye – lead guitar, classical guitar, acoustic guitar
- Coen Janssen – synthesizers, piano
- Rob van der Loo – bass
- Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums, grunts, spoken word
Label
Nuclear Blast
