“Shine through the sky / Beyond the matrix” is the chorus with which EPICA has electrified the stages and engaged the audiences for the past ten years. It was released as a single from their seventh studio album, “The Holographic Principle,” and has faithfully served as a live anthem ever since. As for the album itself, it was released on September 30th, 2016, and, in true EPICA fashion, it is deeply philosophical as it revolves around the idea that the universe we are inhabiting (and thus our own lives) might be some sort of digitally-created hologram. Let’s see how the ideas and the music hold up a decade later.
EPICA was never one to do things by half, and this album is no exception to the rule. It’s bombastic, grand, and symphonic to the core, with Simone Simons’s voice front and center, backed by layers of choirs and/or arrangements. They dish out the usual fare that more than satisfies the need for over-the-top music, though the guitars aren’t as biting and crunchy as expected (probably because this is the only album to feature just Isaac Delahaye on guitars). Moreover, there are several songs that deviate slightly from the norm and thus make this album feel diverse and even adventurous at times. Case in point: I remember how underwhelmed I was when “Universal Death Squad” was released as the first single from this album in the summer of 2016 and how it felt somewhat at odds with what I had expected from EPICA, as it’s a less dramatic and more subdued number, even though many of the trademark elements are well accounted for. Conversely, the second single, “Edge of the Blade,” felt way more in line with what the band usually delivers with their songs.
I had the same experience with “Beyond the Matrix,” as I perceived it as a lighthearted and fun song capped off by a very hooky chorus, even if lyrically it is about realizing we are, in fact, living in the matrix (no, not the movie) and, therefore, we should find ways to break free of this makeshift reality. And honestly, the lyrics, themes, and ideas are the strong points of this album, while the rest, from Simone’s angelic voice and Mark’s growls to the instrumentals and the arrangements, are pretty much as expected from a band of this caliber (less so the guitars). However, there were a few standouts, and chief among them (still) is the black metal-tinged “Ascension – Dream State Armageddon.” It’s a dark and ominous number about how everything would implode the moment we realize we have been living in a hologram. Simone’s high notes on this one are truly impressive, even if they are in the background. Another standout banger is “A Phantasmic Parade,” which impresses with its larger-than-life soundscape and layered vocals, not to mention its wonderful chorus built around EPICA’s favorite embellishment – operatic vocals. It is not that far-fetched to say that this was pretty much EPICA at its best (before something like “Abyss of Time” or “The Grand Saga of Existence” saw the band perfecting their craft even further).
When it comes to the lyrics, “Universal Death Squad” couldn’t be more relevant to today’s status quo regarding the development of various AIs who learn to think for themselves and who might decide to kill us (in war or otherwise) in the near future… if Anthropic whistleblower Jacob Coxon is to be believed, that is. The hard-hitting anthem “Divide and Conquer,” I think will always be a relevant song, as its main topic is mass-media bias, only showing parts of the story and leaving out other details. More specifically, the lyrics were written about the war in the Middle East and how it brought democracy but also destruction and a fight over natural resources. The other side of the coin is the oriental-tinged “Dancing in a Hurricane,” a heartfelt piece about the safety and well-being of children that are forced to live their childhood in war-torn countries. Musically, it impresses through its orchestral arrangements, delicate vocals, and excellent build-up. Speaking of orchestra, the opening sequence of the ballad “Once Upon a Nightmare,” with that melancholy vibe and mournful-sounding violin, and the way it builds and expands as the song grows and develops, is among the best things on this album. Needless to say, Simone’s wonderful delivery is on par with the orchestral elements and the song’s darker atmosphere, though when it comes to ballads, “Rivers” takes the cake in my book.
The album comes with some bonus tracks (under the title “The Acoustic Principle”) that are nothing more than reimagined versions of album tracks and, honestly, these versions are simply delightful. As such, “Beyond the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” “The Funky Algorithm,” and “Dancing in a Gypsy Camp” are such dance-friendly tracks driven by Latino rhythms, Spanish guitars, or pop melodies; the acoustic version of “Immortal Melancholy” (whose full band version would appear on the 2017 EP, “The Solace System”) is a piano and vocal affair that showcases the synergy between Simone and Coen Janssen, while “Universal Love Squad” is a stripped down number that carries the ominous message of the original track on acoustic guitar lines and soft percussion. If somehow you’ve missed these tracks, do yourself a favor and check them out because this carefree side of EPICA is a real delight.
All things considered, “The Holographic Principle” is like a double-edged sword – musically it caters to a wide variety of tastes, being quite a diverse offering, while the themes and ideas ground it in philosophy that makes you double-think this reality. The lengthy title track, “The Cosmic Algorithm” (about the man behind the hologram), or “Beyond the Matrix” are especially poignant in this respect. Therefore, we can say that the album’s biggest merit is that it marries such a difficult concept with engaging songs and well-written lyrics, making such theories easier to digest, which is not an easy feat to achieve so smoothly. It also further cemented EPICA’s status as a strong presence on the international metal scene and as a unique voice in the symphonic metal pantheon.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- Eidola
- Edge of the Blade
- A Phantasmic Parade
- Universal Death Squad
- Divide and Conquer
- Beyond the Matrix
- Once Upon a Nightmare
- The Cosmic Algorithm
- Ascension – Dream State Armageddon
- Dancing in a Hurricane
- Tear Down Your Walls
- The Holographic Principle – A Profound Understanding of Reality
Lineup
- Simone Simons – lead and backing vocals
- Mark Jansen – growled vocals
- Isaac Delahaye – guitars, acoustic guitar
- Rob van der Loo – bass
- Coen Janssen – keyboards, grand piano, synthesizer
- Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums
Label
Nuclear Blast
