Epica
The Divine Conspiracy

THE REVIEW

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.