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Rating: The Epica are certainly not newcomers to episodes like this. To bridge the gap between albums and keep their numerous fans (gained with the release of two symphonic metal masterpieces named "The Phantom Agony" and "Consign to Oblivion") engaged, Mark Jansen and the band have always had little gems up their sleeves to release at just the right moment. Thus, during the numerous downtimes, the splendid DVD "We Will Take You with Us," various singles (among which I must mention "Feint," containing a beautiful piano version of the title track), and the long-awaited soundtrack "The Score - An Epic Journey," already in the works since the early months of the Dutch group's existence, saw the light. In short, since their debut in 2004, the band has never been away from the scene for more than a few months.
In 2006, it's the turn of "The Road to Paradiso," a meticulously curated book (especially regarding the photographic section, enriched with photos sent directly by fans) that tells the story of the band's birth, development, and the subsequent epic feats achieved in recent years, such as conquering South American stages or the unforgettable performance at the Paradiso, a sort of mecca for many Dutch rock bands. The whole is accompanied by a CD to listen to simultaneously with reading the book. The idea of a photo-sound book might be nice, but it reminds me a lot of Disney fairy tales accompanied by a cassette with the soundtrack that I used to buy as a child in a newsstand. The question is this: why, in our technological era where DVDs are so successful, not try to publish the same product in video format? Perhaps Epica, anchored in their music to a medieval and pre-Columbian imagination, wanted to promote the rediscovery of the charm and importance of reading. The problem is that the book can be read in just under a quarter of an hour, and the joy a fan feels when purchasing this beautiful box set completely vanishes when listening to the accompanying disc.
We are introduced to the musical journey between the band's past and present with "Caught in a Web," a commendable symphonic track however already heard in "The Score - An Epic Journey." The comments from various musicians about the demo or live versions of some songs take up almost half of the tracklist; I find this choice nothing short of shameful. The rest of the album unfolds between the demo versions of "Adyta," "Cry for the Moon," and "Quietus," lacking the enchanting vocal melodies of Simone Simons and therefore scarcely appealing, as well as some live extracts ("Solitary Ground" in a beautiful piano version, "Blank Infinity" and "Mother of Light") ruined by really poor recording quality that highlights Simone's excellent voice at the expense of the instruments. In the middle of the album, we are forced to listen once more to the same version of "Quietus (Silent Reverie)." Even in this context, no one felt the need. Other features offered are "The Fallacy," a poor experimental mix of Hilary Duff-style pop music and operatic, the dull and harmless orchestral cover of Death's "Crystal Mountain," the new but unexciting film-score track "Purushayita," and the masterpiece "Linger," a piano ballad with its romantic, melancholic, autumnal mood that is enough to prove that Epica can do better and that this release is somewhat pointless on all analyzable fronts.
Useless for a non-enthusiast, but of little interest, and perhaps irritating, even for any fan expecting an impromptu but interesting musical product from the band.
Tracklist and Lyrics
09 The Fallacy (03:25)
I can't stand the way you've forsaken me
I see through the wicked games you've played with me
Do you feel the suspicion stirring up?
Can't you see that they long to give you up?
Can't you come lie with me?
Forget about your fallacy
Seduce me with your fantasies
Of passion and obscurity
I see that you can't get away with this
You can't wave aside your lies with one more kiss
Do you feel the suspicion stirring up?
Can't you see that they long to give you up?
Can't you come lie with me?
Forget about your fallacy
Seduce me with your fantasies
Of passion and obscurity
I foresee that you'll be with me
You have seen that I took you back to me
Play with me as I do...
I do with you
I can't stand the way you have forsaken me
I see through the reason of this fallacy
Can't you come lie with me?
Forget about your fallacy
Seduce me with your fantasies
Of passion and obscurity
Why can't you come lie with me?
Forget about your fallacy
Seduce me in your wildest dreams
Of passion and conspiracy
15 Crystal Mountain (orchestral version) (05:04)
Built from blind faith
Passed down from self-induced fantasy
Turn a page to justify
(Conjuring power)
Conjuring power, it opens wide
(Your seventh day)
On your seventh day
Is that how it's done?
Twisting your eyes to percieve
All that you want
(To assume)
To assume from ignorance
(From ignorance)
Inflicting wounds with your cross-turned dagger
Inside crystal mountain
Evil takes its form
Inside crystal mountain
Commandments are reborn
All the traps are set to confine
All who get int he way of the divine
In sight and in mind of the hypocrite
A slave to the curse forever confined
(guitar solo)
Shatter the myth
Don't cut yourself
On your words against dreams made of steel
(Stronger than any)
Stronger than any faith
(Pain and fear)
That inflicts pain and fear
Is that how it's done?
Twisting your eyes to percieve
All that you want
(To assume)
To assume from ignorance
(From ignorance)
Inflicting wounds with your cross-turned dagger
Inside crystal mountain
Evil takes its form
Inside crystal mountain
Commandments are reborn
(orchestral outro)
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