Nuclear Blast
2009
1.Samadhi (Prelude)
2.Resign To Surrender (A New Age Dawns - Part IV)
3.Unleashed
4.Martyr Of The Free Word
5.Our Destiny
6.Kingdom Of Heaven (A New Age Dawns - Part V)
7.The Price Of Freedom (Interlude)
8.Burn To A Cinder
9.Tides Of Time
10.Deconstruct
11.Semblance Of Liberty
12.White Waters
13.Design Your Universe (A New Age Dawns - Part VI)
Design Your Universe marks the fourth album from this band formed by Mark Jansen after leaving After Forever. Up to this point I've liked their albums, but loved their singer (and no not just because she is amazingly hot). Simone Simon has pretty much been my attraction to Epica to this point as her pipes alone are worth the price of admission.
On the last album, The Divine Conspiracy, the band seemed to lean a bit away from the vocal centerpiece sort of songs that relied on Simone's beautiful singing which was somewhat of a turn off to me with this band. I've always enjoyed their songs like Quietus which were more in the melodic vein and had a melodic flow to them. Being that I am not much of a death metal fan, when that starts to take over the music I generally start to tune out. I also found that Simone Simons often seemed buried in the other operatic singing.
On this release however the band seems to have struck an excellent balance that brings together both what they did on their earlier albums and what they tried to do on the last one. This album seems huge, operatic, and very heavy but at the same time Simone Simons kicks back into full gear and soars above it with the whole soundscape coming together beautifully. This has got to be one of the most devastatingly heavy operatic/symphonic releases I have heard. This is pretty far from the light hearted fantasy cheese sorta symphonic metal. I am reminded of Therion at times with the huge operatic sounds, but really this packs more punch.
Simply put, Design Your Universe is the finest thing the band has done to date and the sound is massive. This is such a dark, powerful, and heavy release with a great complete sound. Epica have put together one fine release with great songwriting and it was pretty difficult picking my favorites from this list of songs. Design Your Universe makes you want to bang your head off while hitting you with lots of atmosphere and great singing which makes for an excellent total package. If you like your musical theatrical and dark then this is a release you should listen to.
Highlights: Our Destiny, Kingdom Of Heaven, Burn To A Cinder, Unleashed
Rating - 4.0/5
2.Resign To Surrender (A New Age Dawns - Part IV)
3.Unleashed
4.Martyr Of The Free Word
5.Our Destiny
6.Kingdom Of Heaven (A New Age Dawns - Part V)
7.The Price Of Freedom (Interlude)
8.Burn To A Cinder
9.Tides Of Time
10.Deconstruct
11.Semblance Of Liberty
12.White Waters
13.Design Your Universe (A New Age Dawns - Part VI)
Design Your Universe marks the fourth album from this band formed by Mark Jansen after leaving After Forever. Up to this point I've liked their albums, but loved their singer (and no not just because she is amazingly hot). Simone Simon has pretty much been my attraction to Epica to this point as her pipes alone are worth the price of admission.
On the last album, The Divine Conspiracy, the band seemed to lean a bit away from the vocal centerpiece sort of songs that relied on Simone's beautiful singing which was somewhat of a turn off to me with this band. I've always enjoyed their songs like Quietus which were more in the melodic vein and had a melodic flow to them. Being that I am not much of a death metal fan, when that starts to take over the music I generally start to tune out. I also found that Simone Simons often seemed buried in the other operatic singing.
On this release however the band seems to have struck an excellent balance that brings together both what they did on their earlier albums and what they tried to do on the last one. This album seems huge, operatic, and very heavy but at the same time Simone Simons kicks back into full gear and soars above it with the whole soundscape coming together beautifully. This has got to be one of the most devastatingly heavy operatic/symphonic releases I have heard. This is pretty far from the light hearted fantasy cheese sorta symphonic metal. I am reminded of Therion at times with the huge operatic sounds, but really this packs more punch.
Simply put, Design Your Universe is the finest thing the band has done to date and the sound is massive. This is such a dark, powerful, and heavy release with a great complete sound. Epica have put together one fine release with great songwriting and it was pretty difficult picking my favorites from this list of songs. Design Your Universe makes you want to bang your head off while hitting you with lots of atmosphere and great singing which makes for an excellent total package. If you like your musical theatrical and dark then this is a release you should listen to.
Highlights: Our Destiny, Kingdom Of Heaven, Burn To A Cinder, Unleashed
Rating - 4.0/5
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