EPICA
Design Your Universe NUCLEAR BLAST
Dutch symphonic metallers’ Mayan philosophy and quantum physics-inspired opus.
Ten years ago, Epica released the album that would change their career. Design Your Universe was a voyage of self-discovery inspired by Mayan philosophy and quantum physics that was written as the band emerged from a difficult period. The departure of co-founder Ad Sluijter, a family bereavement, and singer Simone Simons’ own health battles – she had suffered from recurrent MRSA infections ahead of their tour with Symphony X – threw Epica’s future into doubt. Yet the Dutch six-piece pulled out all the stops with a recording that scored their first No. 1 in the Dutch Alternative Top 30 and further raised their profile.
From the Hans Zimmer-esque orchestration of dual openers Samadhi – Prelude and Resign To Surrender, it was clear everything was turned up to 11. They’d long received comparisons to Nightwish and Within Temptation, but where their 2003 debut The Phantom Agony was derivative of the early
00s symphonic metal movement, the grandiose Design Your Universe saw them harness a much bolder and more unique sound. They built on the classical structure of their previous releases with bigger strings and more prominent chorale sections – including a burst of Gregorian chanting on Martyr Of The Free Word – that contrasted beautifully with their trademark washes of progressive, power and death metal. There are gothic elements reminiscent of leader Mark Jansen’s work with Floor Jansen on After Forever (Burn To A Cinder), and a sultry duet with Sonata Arctica’s Tony Kakko (White Waters) that really highlights Simons’ reinvigorated vocals – she’d been working with coach Amanda Somerville who also sings harmonies here.
Expanded from a 13-track album to a whopping 19 tracks, the gold edition has more space and brightness thanks to new mixes by The Gentle Storm’s Joost van den Broek. Five newly-recorded acoustic reworkings bring Epica’s progressive aspects forward with touches of flamenco, jazz and musical theatre. It’s hard to disagree with Simons when she sings, ‘We’re so much stronger than before.’