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Rating: It has unfortunately been some time now since all the fans of this band received news that has caused immense sadness. Simone Simons, the undisputed and captivating leader of the Dutch symphonic metal band, has had to deal with serious health problems since last year, specifically after concluding the recording of the latest album. Rightly, the band found themselves forced to miss much of the tour which, after an album of this caliber, would almost certainly have paved the way for them to glory.
And so what mainly disappointed fans was not having had the chance to personally witness the compositional and technical maturity they managed to achieve, which critics, during that period, kept reiterating in their reviews. It may seem strange, but unlike many other symphonic albums I had the chance to listen to between 2006 and 2008, this one, despite being overlooked by many, held something in store that we definitely would not have expected from this band. The Dutch symphonic metal they have relied on over the years has at least allowed them to create decent works for which, let's not forget, they have distinguished themselves wonderfully in their spirited live performances (similar if not even better than the new Nightwish).
Instead, with this work, we are faced with an unexpected and unprecedented originality that stems, all the more reason, from the technical/compositional improvement of each individual member of the band, starting with Simone herself who in "Chasing the dragon" showcases, especially in some specific parts, vocal qualities that are out of the ordinary and which she was able to achieve thanks to the help of the musicians themselves and above all thanks to her many years of hard work and constant commitment (she remains, without a doubt, one of the best female voices in the entire metal scene). The keyboards with now dark, now relaxing symphonies, the sharp riffs of epic guitars, and the subsequent "timely" basses that contributed to the inclusion of refined refrains with very elegant and suggestive contours have been fundamental. We must always attribute to them another merit of which they can boast without too much reserve. They, instead of dwelling on the predefined and obligatory criteria of symphonic metal, have managed to ignite and subsequently add in some songs, as in "The obsessive devotion," apocalyptic blends of power and symphonic which have only made everything so exciting and enjoyable. I may seem biased, but I am not, as I appreciate this band that has always set aside factors such as egocentricity and modesty, which only serve to make a particular group or work commercial in every respect. With songs like "Death of a dream," "Never Enough," "The divine conspiracy," which were so wonderfully conceived and included in the latest album, Epica has made their mark with a good dose of ease and experimental flexibility in the vast metal world.
The only immense disappointment comes from the fact that the Dutch, after producing a work of this level, could have done exceptionally well in concert. However, Epica, after these efforts which unfortunately in 2007 couldn't be showcased live, can be satisfied with a piece of news that has reached them and their fans recently: Simone Simons is well and will soon be able to perform again. Now it will be up to the band to take appropriate measures to finally show people their sweet compositional potential. Without Simons, Epica, in my view, should have taken a single sacred decision: to change the band’s name without too many second thoughts or to disband altogether. The epic nature of this band is precisely owed to her, to Simons, the delightful Dutch mezzo-soprano who, through her energy and refinement, has currently made her band one of the most important entities, internationally, in the wonderful and vast metal panorama.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
05 Never Enough (04:47)
Can't you hear me screaming, once again?
(Voices you can't hear)
Because you are consumed and incontent
With everlasting greed
Don't you see me on my hands and knees?
(Begging and bleeding)
You're smiling as you bite the hand that feeds
But will you never see?
Always wanting what your eyes can't see
(Needing what your arms can't reach)
Thinking you are in need
Always hearing what your ears can't hear
(Feeling what your hands can't touch)
Thinking you're incomplete
((Enough))
It was,
Never enough that I gave to you
All of the horror that you've put me through
((Never enough))
How can I make up my mind this time?
This is where I will draw the line
Sacrificed my life to be with you
(Why did you leave me?)
There's nothing more from me you can consume
Cause you are incomplete
Always wanting what your eyes can't see
(Needing what your arms can't reach)
Thinking you are in need
Always hearing what your ears can't hear
(Feeling what your hands can't touch)
Thinking you're incomplete
((Enough))
It was,
Never enough that I gave to you
All of the horror that you've put me through
((Never enough))
How can I make up my mind this time?
This is where I will draw the line
Everlasting need
Would you please?
Answer me and
Make me complete
Everlasting greed
Would you please?
Set me free
Fulfill all my needs and make me complete
((Enough))
It was,
Never enough that I gave to you
All of the horror that you've put me through
((Never enough))
How can I make up my mind this time?
This is where I will draw the line
Never again will I be with you
No promise eternal carrying us through
I finally made up my mind this time
This is the end, I've drawn the line
Never enough to devour your greed
13 The Divine Conspiracy (13:56)
Quaestio nostra est aeterna
Ultima requies fons vitae
Sed eam ut novam ducemus
We'll never know all possibilities to predict what is to come
And so we have illusions to think freely
Once we have been
Rich from within
Did not try to reach
What we couldn't achieve
Because once we have been
Able to win
From the need to succeed
We need to be innocent to live the life we've lived for so long
We need to be blind enough to live the life we live right now
Who possesses your time also possesses your mind
Once we have been
Rich from within
Did not try to reach
What we couldn't achieve
Because once we have been
Able to win
From the need to succeed
We need to be innocent to live the life we've lived for so long
We need to be deaf enough to live the life we live right now
Reach out, touch infinity
Life is just a memory
Time is not the entity
Like it used to be
The Divine Conspiracy
Opens up the reality
Time is not the entity
Like it claims had to be
Once we have been
Rich from within
Did not try to reach
What we couldn't achieve
Because once we have been
Able to win
From the need to succeed
We need to be innocent to live the life we've lived for so long
We need to be insensitive to live and so ignore it all
Who possesses your time, also possesses your mind
Who possesses your time,
- Mislead us all, we are not in control
Also possesses your mind
- There is no trace that will lead to this place
Reach out, touch infinity
Life is just a memory
Time is not the entity
Like it used to be
The Divine Conspiracy
Opens up the reality
Time is not the entity
Like it claims had to be
Desperately we all
Clutch at the last straw
We stumble and fall
Countdown to die out
To heal it all
We will never reach
Our capacities, no more
We cannot expand
Our boundaries
Once we have been
Rich from within
Did not try to reach
What we couldn't achieve
Because once we have been
Able to win
From the need to succeed
We need to be innocent to live the life we've lived for so long
We need to insensitive to breath so we can take it all for granted
Reach out, touch infinity
Life is just a memory
Time is not the entity
Like it used to be
The Divine Conspiracy
Opens up the reality
Time is not the entity
Like it claims had to be
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