Epica have just celebrated their 20year anniversary with an epic show in the Netherlands last year. They were their own support act under their old name and then played an entire set as Epica. I was there and had an amazing time!
As far as I know, Simone and Floor are friends and Floor has performed with Epica and Simone on various occasions. Check out Epica’s live performance of Sancta Terra featuring Floor Jansen.
Hi Chris, Sam, here is a song which captures EPICA's symphonic metal sound, and you get to hear Simone sing in her regular voice which is incredible! this is a live performance from earlier this year in Amsterdam: EPICA - Unleashed (Live At The AFAS Live)
And if you didn't notice it at 6:08, that's a 7 string Les Paul, and a 7 string Ibanez too. Or the keyboards playing a couple of bars of La Marseillaise, which is appropriate for that venue.
Simone was 17 years of age at the beginning of EPICA in 2002, she was starting with what she knew, which was from her classical training, so the first album and to a lesser degree the second album she sang a lot in that classical operatic style, over the last 20 years her voice developed from a young teenagers voice to a powerful full voice and it is glorious
Coen's keyboard is locked into a track which run across the stage. The harsh vocals are by Mark Jansen who founded Floor Jansen's first band After Forever which she joined aged 16. Mark left before AF broke up and founded Epica. Simone was just 17 when she joined so it is hardly surprising that her voice has changed over the 20 years of the band's existence.
But Cohens keyboards sometimes go off the rails before he reaches the other side! It’s quite obvious when he and his bandmates just raise there shoulders and go “WTF?”
That is Mark with the harsh vocals. Their mix of clean and harsh is sometimes referred to as Beauty and the Beast. A lot of songs have that mix, but some are all clean including some beautiful ballads. Simone's voice has change somewhat over the years, she was only 17 in 2002, this show is 2017. She had switched from pop to this style, in training , after hearing Tarja with Nightwish. Yes, Coen Janssen's keyboard is wireless and mobile and spins, I believe on a track here, but today has wheels. Isaac Delahaye on guitar, Rob van der Loo on bass, and drummer Arien van Weesenbeek complete the current lineup. The song is the title track to the 2nd album in 2005, and is one of their heavier ones. It is often used as the set closer, and is still played today. They have 8 albums currently, and several EP's. Mark had co-founded After Forever, which was the first band Floor joined at age 16. Mark and Floor are not related. For more I suggest The Skeleton Key or Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 from the 2021 Omega Alive virtual show. Design Your Universe or Sancta Terra (feat. Floor) at the Retrospect 10th anniversary show in 2013. Or Beyond the Matrix at this same show. For a ballad ,try Rivers at either Omega Alive (acapella), live in Chile, or live at AFAS in The Netherlands (feat. Apocalyptica).
Hey guys! Thank you for your detailed review of this wonderful performance. You are absolutely right, this band is not just a bunch of session members who just came out to play on stage. This group is a real team and each of its members really enjoys the performance and they constantly interact with each other, have fun and put on a show, and not just stand on the stage. As for the song itself, they have closed every concert with this song for many years. The song is rather complex, it has not a typical structure, there are many changes in tempo. She is quite heavy, but no, there are no hints of black metal in it, Epica has songs where there are really black metal passages, there is a real flurry of drums, even stronger than here, at such moments the vocals also change, you just need to hear it. The band had an anniversary concert with a full orchestra and a choir on stage (by the way, the choir is a regular part of their music), so this amazing concert has a song that starts as a calm ballad, and then goes into a black metal break. And in this song, Simone's vocals are also beautifully revealed, he is charmingly beautiful and there she sings more in a pop voice than goes into an operatic style. Here is the performance: Epica - Chasing the dragon (live retrospect) - I remind you that this is a performance with a full orchestra and choir on stage th-cam.com/video/Dx-FsHAQHp8/w-d-xo.html
Hi guys, great reaction. Epica have many many great songs. A few suggestions for next Epica songs: - Sancta Terra, live at the Retrospect show with full orchestra and choir + Floor Jansen as a guest singer - Unleashed, live at the Retrospect, also with full orchestra and choir . - Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 (Omega alive)
Great reaction guys. This is one of their heaviest if not the heaviest song that they have. Also unusual in that Simone kind of disappears for the last half of the song. The comments regarding the change in Simone's voice is in her singing style moving from a mezzo soprano range to a straight up soprano. When she first started singing with Epica her vocal coaches told her she was a mezzo and tried to mold her voice to fit in that range. As she gained experience and confidence in her voice she decided that her tessitura was that of a soprano and changed her tone. In fact Simone has said she doesn't like listening to her earlier stuff because her voice sounds weird. I think it all sounds great but to hear the difference you can checkout Cry For The Moon from their first big TV performance from the early 2000's, th-cam.com/video/9x1AzOA3G2I/w-d-xo.html vs their performance from Omega Alive in 2021 th-cam.com/video/z8DWFOk5EwE/w-d-xo.html. Epica is the heavier darker cousin of Nightwish and I love both of them. Simone has an ethereal beautiful voice that can also be powerful. They do make extensive use of choirs in their songs. A lot of their lyrics are about independent thinking and self empowerment. If you want to stay on the heavier side then Essence of Silence live from Brussels would be my recommendation. For something more middle of the road, Skelton Key (music video or the Omega Live performance) or Unleashed, live from their 10th anniversary Retrospect show (full orchestra and choir on stage). They also have a bunch of beautiful ballads. Rivers is a good one and several good videos to choose from (Live in Chile is my favorite but the music video, Omega Alive (acapella), and live with Apocalyptica are good too). One of my other favorites is Sirens - of Blood and Water with Charlotte Wessels (Ex Delain) and Myrkur.
I really love it when this band gets picked up by smart guys like you who can really see all the hard work that this band does on their shows. The work of this group is quite diverse. From soft minimalist ballads and acoustic songs to heavy and fast melodic death metal songs and complex and long progressive masterpieces. Many songs do have Arabic and Celtic motifs. Epica is generally more complex than Nightwish and noticeably heavier. In addition, they have their own signature epic sound. In short, this is not a Nightwish clone at all.
There are a couple where Floor is a guest and duets with Simone. They friends and fellow Dutchies. All well worth your time. Though I'd like to see you do the 1 (single) shot version of Rivers for a complete Epica contrast. They also do a wicked version with Apocalyptica as guests
Yes, there ARE three voices in Epica. Simone, the lead soprano, Mark on harsh vocals and choir, which can be considered the third voice, with their own lyrics (sometimes in Latin) and melodies. It's not an effect! Epica use a real choir, which you can also see in some of their videos. In live performances, the lead guitarist Isaac sometimes helps out Mark with growls, which is what also happened here, if you pay close attention. Btw "Consign to Oblivion" is one of the heaviest growliest songs by Epica. Most other songs have much more Simone and choir in them, and less Mark's vocals. A minority of Epica songs have no harsh vocals at all, for example "Unleashed" which I suggested in my other post.
Several people here have mentioned Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 from the Omega Alive concert. That is their Magnum Opus. You may want to save that for later in your journey. Given your past videos, I think a great next listen would be Design Your Universe and Unleashed from the Retrospect 10th anniversary show. They performed with a full orchestra and choir at this 3-hour show. This is also the show with Sancta Terra and Sabat Mater Dolorosa with Floor. Those two songs are not typical Epica however, but well worth a listen.
So, back in 2013 when Floor Jansen was being introduced to the Wakken crowd as the new singer for Nightwish, Epica were performing there 10th anniversary concert, sharing the stage with a full Symphony Orchestra and a female choir and a dude choir. So check out that concert for your next reaction. So many good songs, you wont regret it 🔥🤘
A bit of context regarding Simone and her evolving vocal style. Mark first asked her to be the lead vocalist when he was putting the band together, she was 16 at the time and Mark’s girlfriend. Initially she turned him down. They tried out another singer but that didn’t work out so he asked Simone again and she said yes, she was by then 17 years old. She started classical training at age 15 and continued for about 6 years so effectively she was learning on the job. If you listen to some of their earlier stuff she often mixed her style a lot more, often switching in and out of her operatic style in mid phrase. Sometimes it worked, other times not so much (in my view). I believe it took her a few years to get comfortable with her non-operatic style and develop it into something unique to her. Now she tends to use the operatic style in contrast to Mark’s growls, whilst switching to her mix voice for the verses. I recommend doing a comparison between the following performances. Sensorium in a live studio session from 2004… th-cam.com/video/GECJPWF4IKU/w-d-xo.html You can hear that her style sticks mostly to her operatic style. Then listen to Dancing in a Hurricane, live at the Zenith (same concert as Consign to Oblivion) in 2017… th-cam.com/video/ENT-EsMyEDg/w-d-xo.html You will see that Simone now has a very distinctive non-operatic style for most of the song. Only in the breakdown when Mark comes in does she switch to her operatic style. Also, Dancing in a Hurricane gives you a glimpse of their use of Middle Eastern scales.
So great reaction ! Thanks ! I use to say you can't have a reaction channel and avoid Epica, and this one from this particuliar gig is one of the best to react to !
I love the contrasts in symphonic metal. It's what makes it so theatrical/dramatic. Being a Dutchie myself, I love seeing people from around the world discover Dutch artists. Floor from Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation, Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering) and even Focus! Makes me proud to be Dutch, seeing all the appreciation on reaction channels.
Epica is easily my favorite band right now. I'm not normally a fan of harsh vocals, but the contrast between the voices and with the music is just so amazing! The drummer's nickname is Beast, very fitting.
Welcome to the phantasmic parade! Epica is musical majesty! Their whole discography is worth exploring. Every song from lyrics to musicality has something rewarding to offer! A great contrast to this track would be the melodic splendor of Unchain Utopia: th-cam.com/video/c8XdrOhEZl0/w-d-xo.html Or if you want more chunky heaviness, try a face-melting track called Victims of Contingency from their spectacular Omega Livestream show: th-cam.com/video/aT1JsH2_97c/w-d-xo.html
If you want another long epic masterpiece by Epica, with more Gregorian-like choir, here it is: The Holographic Principle - A Profound Understanding of Reality th-cam.com/video/CYlQJ_t2iks/w-d-xo.html
Great reaction. I'd recommend reacting to Simone Simons performing with Apocalyptica, too. For example, this live performance is pretty cool: Apocalyptica feat. Simone Simons - Rise Again (Live in London) th-cam.com/video/dCplcb8NaJA/w-d-xo.html
My favorite live vibe is when the band looks like they would do this same performance, at this intensity, and enjoy it almost as much...if no one was even there...
Been lucky enough to see Epica live twice, and they goof around onstage but it's kind of choreographed little routines, but they make it so much fun. They've been playing for 20 years and they still look like they're have a blast. The keyboard player is bonkers in the best way.
Hey guys, 3 out of 3 from my top 3 favorite bands: Nightwish, The Warning and Epica. Common to all 3 bands: Great music and lyrics, fantastic live performances no matter whether they are performing at a festival, Stadion or small venue - I have seen all 3 bands, 4-5 times each, within the last year. Here are some fun facts about bands you already or will, maybe, react to (I apologize if I already have spammed you with them): 1. Floor Jansen and Mark Jansen (no family relation) were co-members in their first band “After Forever” 2. Mark Jansen left “After Forever” and founded “Sahara Dust” and asked, then 17 years old girlfriend, Simone Simons to be the front woman and lead singer of the band 3. Simone Simons became interested in Symphonic Metal and Classical style singing after listening to Nightwish’s Oceanborn. 4. Mark Jansen changed the name of his band “Sahara Dust” to “Epica” that is the name of one of “Kamelot”’s album, a band they were touring with. 5. Simone Simons has been featured on more “Kamelot” songs - recommendation for a good live version of “The Haunting”: th-cam.com/video/RsMXxxDMFYY/w-d-xo.html 6. Simone Simons is the long-time partner of the Kamelot’s keyboard player: Oliver Palotal - they have a son together 7. During their US tour in 2012, Nightwish asked Floor Jansen to join the band as a replacement vocalist after Anette Olzon’s exit. This was the result of the so-called Denver Debacle where Nightwish had the difficult task of choosing between cancelling the gig and going ahead with support band Kamelot’s backing vocalists Elize Ryd (now Amaranthe) and Alissa White-Gluz (The Agonist, now Arch Enemy) in Olzon’s place. With the audience’s blessing they chose the latter, resulting an unforgettable and historic show. Elize, Alissa and Nightwish were applauded for their efforts by seemingly everyone except Olzon, who made her rather ungrateful opinions known the next day via an online post. A few days later - October 1st, 2012 - Olzon was officially given the boot and the tour continued with ReVamp / ex-After Forever singer Floor Jansen fronting the band. 8. Elisa Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz are still appearing now and then in Kamelot live performance or albums. Here is a recommendation: Sacrimony th-cam.com/video/1WvWbUgCcJw/w-d-xo.html 9. Kamelot’s current lead singer: Tommy Karevik and Simone Simons both have prominent parts in Arjen Anthony Lucassen project, Ayreon. Many great musicians and vocalist participate to this project. As an introduction to Ayreon, check “The Day That The World Breaks Down” th-cam.com/video/oFuMKdrzPqU/w-d-xo.html 10. ARjen Anthony Lucassen - helped young Floor improve her vocal abilities by constantly challenging her, especially with regards to lower tones and harmonies. 11. Gjalt Lucassen, Arjen Anthony Lucassen's brother, is a latin teacher and write the latin lyrics you hear in Epica's song. 12. Floor Jansen is married to Sabaton drummer, Hannes Van Dahl. As an introduction to Sabaton, check Ghost Division (the drummer in this video is NOT Hannes van Dahl - but it’s a great intro anyway): th-cam.com/video/9FkYxnm70vg/w-d-xo.html 13. Sabaton has been touring with Amaranthe (Eliza Ryd) last year. Amaranthe has made it a cover in homage for their touring partner, 82nd all the way th-cam.com/video/56MaYg-LNXM/w-d-xo.html - they perform it together live here: th-cam.com/video/56MaYg-LNXM/w-d-xo.html 14. Intro to Arch Enemy and Alissa White-Gluz - Nemesis live @Wacken: th-cam.com/video/UNPKGyYzPCo/w-d-xo.html Recommendations for Epica: Epica - Cry for the moon - Simone is 19 years old: th-cam.com/video/Dys1_TuUmI4/w-d-xo.html EPICA - Run for a Fall (We Will Take You With Us) (OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO): th-cam.com/video/qU1q7uOFXUI/w-d-xo.html And why not combined with Floor: EPICA - Sancta Terra feat Floor Jansen) Live Retrospect show: th-cam.com/video/cx22Yuj2nzg/w-d-xo.html EPICA - Stabat Mater Dolorosa feat. Floor Jansen Live Retrospect show: th-cam.com/video/nhtOORYTGx8/w-d-xo.html FROM Omega Alive - 2021 EPICA - The SKELETON KEY - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO) EPICA - UNCHAIN UTOPIA - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO) EPICA - VICTIMS OF CONTINGENCY - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO) EPICA - KINGDOM OF HEAVEN PT 3 - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO) From 2023: Apocalyptica feat. Simone Simons - Rise Again (Live in London))ndon): th-cam.com/video/dCplcb8NaJA/w-d-xo.html Apocalyptica & Epica - Rise Again (Official Video): th-cam.com/video/cEgsUUhqdlg/w-d-xo.html
I just came home after having to cancel a 2 week contract out of town due to forest fires and smoke, taking a loss, poured a glass of wine, loaded up TH-cam and what do I see….. OffSet Era is reacting to Epica? Consign to oblivion? At Zenith? Wait, hold my wine glass while I top it up!! Don’t disappoint me boys! I’ve had a shitty week!! 😂
Hey Guys, Thank you for the reaction you Guys are amazing and welcome to the world of Epica. Next up please do "Unleashed & Storm The Sorrow Live Masters of Rock (2014)" which showcases almost all the elements to Simone's Diverse voice
great reaction guys! i would never do this song first because some reactors dropped out after this song because simone sings very high in this song and because there are a lot of growls in it, this song is more for people who have heard more of epica, but I'm glad you liked it if you loved this it will only get better because this was one of their heavyst songs, a lot of nightwish fans will say do Sancta Terra because floor sings in it but I hope you dont because they have so many more beautiful songs than thet song, here's a beautiful song with a surprise, don't forget to watch the song until the end!! Epica - Design Your Universe (Retrospect) th-cam.com/video/9nlPx-HEpCU/w-d-xo.html dont forget to do the retrospect live
You should now try Within Temptation. Songs like faster or shot in the dark. They also have two collabs out. One with Tarja (ex Nightwish) called paradise and one highly recommended with Xzibit called and we run
Epica use a lot of choirs as well as strings, brass etc. they use real choirs and orchestral musicians recorded in the studio for both their studio recordings and their live performances.
🇫🇮❤your reactions & would like to watch you react to this live performance by Epica featuring Apocalyptica from my home country: " EPICA feat. APOCALYPTICA - Rivers (Live At The AFAS LIVE) "
Awesome reaction guys, keep on with Epica, you can't go wrong whatever song you choose, plus the amount of reactors that say 'cosign' instead of 'consign'
Great review. I'm grateful that you did a little research to learn some band member names before the review. I wish more reviewers did that. This band is awesome. Some of my favs that I recommend you review: Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 - Omega Alive performance - which was a virtual concert during the lockdowns. Design Your Universe - beautifully crafted tune from their Retrospect concert. Don't be too quick to stop listening [hint] Rivers featuring Apocolyptica. And last but not least: Sancta Terra - Retrospect concert where Simone is joined by Floor Jansen - vocal bliss.
Hi! If you are curious about the change in Simone's vocals, you picked one of the "worst" songs here, since it has very little Simone in it and it's not her best performance of this song either. You need to start with their earliest music. You should be able to notice that young Simone's operatic head voice was different. Some say it was an "immature" or "undeveloped soprano" but on the other hand, many many fans, myself included, are forever in love with that young Simone unique voice, it was very warm and ethereal. Yes, as a teen girl she was inspired by Tarja from Nightwish and she tried to sing in the same way but she definitely had her own gorgeous vocal timbre. No other singer sounds like Simone did back then. To understand what I'm talking about, watch these early performances and listen carefully to her stunning voice: 2004 - EPICA - Cry For the Moon - th-cam.com/video/9x1AzOA3G2I/w-d-xo.html 2006 - EPICA - Sensorium - th-cam.com/video/RD4eHNSl4yM/w-d-xo.html And here, already sounding different: 2013 - EPICA - Unleashed - th-cam.com/video/rxd6sxLxdys/w-d-xo.html And same song 10 years later: 2023 - EPICA - Unleashed - th-cam.com/video/OV7KcV0VZmw/w-d-xo.html
epica is definitely always fun. no egos, being a bit silly, while playing rock hard metal. Simone went to get ppl beers one time when the power went out, while the band just played acoustic. and..... continued the While set after the power was back on. definitely my favorite band.
Great reaction guys! Haven't listened to a lot of Epica, but what I have heard is very good. Floor appeared with Epica on a couple of songs in one of their shows. I can't remember which show but the vocals with Simone and Floor were amazing!
Vibeke Stene and the band Tristania. Another one of the best (largely unknown) female vocalists of all times. Nightwish and Tristania is where all this started to make waves in the music industry. Those two bands together was an unbelievable show. People don't mention Tristania enough, imo. If you like this, I'm sure you'll find something you'll enjoy with Tristania. Two of there albums are still in my top three. Ashes, and Vibeke Stene last album with them Illumination.
You might check out Epica - Sancta Terra (feat Floor Jansen) Live Retrospect show. Its not their best song, however, the listening to Simone & Floor singing together is beyond surreal.
Nice reaction and insights. Epica is just a hugely talented group. The band are all really talented musicians, and Simone is a great vocalist. As you now understand, Epica is one of the best bands out there with changing dynamics (to use your descriptions) and switching clean/harsh vocals. Yes to more Epica reactions, my suggestion would be for one of their newer songs called "Abyss of Time" as it's one of my favorites of theirs. And since you were commenting on how good the drummer in Epica is, I'll drop a suggestion for another band with an insanely talented drummer (and both guitarists...and the bassist). Check out the metal band Trivium as they are another band that does the heavy/melodic combo really well. I'll suggest the official live version of their song "Like A Sword Over Damocles" th-cam.com/video/sRlv7m6RrFo/w-d-xo.html
offset... is also printingpress operation... other then letterpress, printinpress ( offset printingpress) operator and metalhead, and awesome band, great reaction
Well worth following up with something from the Retrospect concert where they played with a full orchestra and a huge choir. As you already know Floor then maybe do ‘Sancta Terra’ on which she guests and listen to the two Dutch goddesses sing together. They are also good friends.
Hey Guys. Here are a few more Songs for you to check out: Kingdom of Heaven (Omega Alive) Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 (Omega Alive) Design your Universe (Retrospect) The Essence of Silence (Retrospect) Sancta Terra feat. Floor Jansen (Retrospect)
Have you guys done Wintersun, Sons of Winter And Stars? It’s this and another level of blast beat you may have never seen before! Two now members of Nightwish.
Epica has two stars, Simone and the drummer, whose name escapes me. The rest seems a fight for attention between the others. You should take a look at "Sancta Terra" that they did with Floor.
Abyss of Time th-cam.com/video/sTbk3SfUq9Q/w-d-xo.html Beyond the Matrix th-cam.com/video/ix_PpfputKY/w-d-xo.html Rivers ft Apocalyptica th-cam.com/video/7imPLmvLyQA/w-d-xo.html are on heavy rotation in my playlist. I hope you will enjoy them too.
Mark's gutteral vocals are usually used for like negative aspects, like from the aspect of a demon, or the 7 Deadly Sins etc. I don't think thats necessarily the case in Nightwish. The first thing you hear Mark say in this song for example is " The only thing that counts is the prosperity of today Most important to us is that our bills get paid Our good intentions have always been delayed" So, he's portraying Greed. That being said, Epica isn't a religious band.
Suggest “Beyond the Matrix” from the same concert. th-cam.com/video/ix_PpfputKY/w-d-xo.html Plus, the whole 3-hour “Live Retrospect 2013” 10th band anniversary show is, imho, the best symphonic metal concert of all times. A level even beyond Nightwish’s incredible Wacken Open Air 2013 gig… th-cam.com/video/vXYkEGCjgm0/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/DwMsaFfgWKw/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/q9eKLPCciWw/w-d-xo.html Enjoy!
I know you guys have heard Floor in Nightwish but have you heard her in her earlier band ReVamp she sing very differently in this song "Disdain" th-cam.com/video/iNSf64M9uA0/w-d-xo.html
No disrespect to American fans, or reactors, but almost everyone seems to miss the respect they pay to La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, done buy the band in their final concert of this tour, in Paris.
0:32 "co-sign to oblivion" 🤣 No criticism, just a cultural observation, but I've noticed several times that people from the US don't pick up on the word "consign" being what it is, an actual normal English word, so they say "co-sign" instead. I don't know what's up with that, but maybe the American psyche is too jittery to stop and think about which word they're actually looking at and if they might already know the word somewhere at the back of their heads. In any case, "consign to oblivion" is not a phrase that Epica came up with, but is in fact a set phrase that you can find in some thesauri. I heard it a few weeks ago on BBC radio, where the presenter used it between segments. I forget what the context was.
Mark Jansen (no family) has the best growl in the metal scene: fat, mean and a bit satanic❤ And drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek is as always stealing the show! Enjoy his drumming and pedal work in “Sancta Terra”, featuring Floor Jansen (no family 😂) Simone and Floor are long time friends: th-cam.com/video/slgVNyk6ckE/w-d-xo.html
better talk separately while music stop. Snce both of you did't listen and react spontaneously if talking in the middle of music. Bad reaction video....
Epica - Essence of Silence (OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO) is a real banger.
Another one would be Epica - Universal Death Squad for sure
Epica have just celebrated their 20year anniversary with an epic show in the Netherlands last year. They were their own support act under their old name and then played an entire set as Epica. I was there and had an amazing time!
As far as I know, Simone and Floor are friends and Floor has performed with Epica and Simone on various occasions. Check out Epica’s live performance of Sancta Terra featuring Floor Jansen.
+1
“I can’t believe that was 10 minutes”. European Symphonic Metal.
Hi Chris, Sam, here is a song which captures EPICA's symphonic metal sound, and you get to hear Simone sing in her regular voice which
is incredible! this is a live performance from earlier this year in Amsterdam:
EPICA - Unleashed (Live At The AFAS Live)
And if you didn't notice it at 6:08, that's a 7 string Les Paul, and a 7 string Ibanez too. Or the keyboards playing a couple of bars of La Marseillaise, which is appropriate for that venue.
This song is so much fun😀😃. The whole band killed it🤘💥💯❤. The song RIVERS at the AFAS with APOCALYPTICA is a great one, but totally different
Funny thing is that everybody thinks the keyboardist actually screams. That is Mark you're hearing. They do that just for fun.
Simone was 17 years of age at the beginning of EPICA in 2002, she was starting with what she knew, which was from her classical training, so the first album and to a lesser degree the second album she sang a lot in that classical operatic style, over the last 20 years her voice developed from a young teenagers voice to a powerful full voice and it is glorious
Glorious yes!
Coen's keyboard is locked into a track which run across the stage. The harsh vocals are by Mark Jansen who founded Floor Jansen's first band After Forever which she joined aged 16. Mark left before AF broke up and founded Epica. Simone was just 17 when she joined so it is hardly surprising that her voice has changed over the 20 years of the band's existence.
But Cohens keyboards sometimes go off the rails before he reaches the other side! It’s quite obvious when he and his bandmates just raise there shoulders and go “WTF?”
That is Mark with the harsh vocals. Their mix of clean and harsh is sometimes referred to as Beauty and the Beast. A lot of songs have that mix, but some are all clean including some beautiful ballads. Simone's voice has change somewhat over the years, she was only 17 in 2002, this show is 2017. She had switched from pop to this style, in training , after hearing Tarja with Nightwish.
Yes, Coen Janssen's keyboard is wireless and mobile and spins, I believe on a track here, but today has wheels. Isaac Delahaye on guitar, Rob van der Loo on bass, and drummer Arien van Weesenbeek complete the current lineup.
The song is the title track to the 2nd album in 2005, and is one of their heavier ones. It is often used as the set closer, and is still played today. They have 8 albums currently, and several EP's.
Mark had co-founded After Forever, which was the first band Floor joined at age 16. Mark and Floor are not related.
For more I suggest The Skeleton Key or Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 from the 2021 Omega Alive virtual show. Design Your Universe or Sancta Terra (feat. Floor) at the Retrospect 10th anniversary show in 2013. Or Beyond the Matrix at this same show. For a ballad ,try Rivers at either Omega Alive (acapella), live in Chile, or live at AFAS in The Netherlands (feat. Apocalyptica).
Hey guys! Thank you for your detailed review of this wonderful performance. You are absolutely right, this band is not just a bunch of session members who just came out to play on stage. This group is a real team and each of its members really enjoys the performance and they constantly interact with each other, have fun and put on a show, and not just stand on the stage.
As for the song itself, they have closed every concert with this song for many years. The song is rather complex, it has not a typical structure, there are many changes in tempo. She is quite heavy, but no, there are no hints of black metal in it, Epica has songs where there are really black metal passages, there is a real flurry of drums, even stronger than here, at such moments the vocals also change, you just need to hear it. The band had an anniversary concert with a full orchestra and a choir on stage (by the way, the choir is a regular part of their music), so this amazing concert has a song that starts as a calm ballad, and then goes into a black metal break. And in this song, Simone's vocals are also beautifully revealed, he is charmingly beautiful and there she sings more in a pop voice than goes into an operatic style. Here is the performance:
Epica - Chasing the dragon (live retrospect) - I remind you that this is a performance with a full orchestra and choir on stage
th-cam.com/video/Dx-FsHAQHp8/w-d-xo.html
Hi guys, great reaction. Epica have many many great songs. A few suggestions for next Epica songs:
- Sancta Terra, live at the Retrospect show with full orchestra and choir + Floor Jansen as a guest singer
- Unleashed, live at the Retrospect, also with full orchestra and choir .
- Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 (Omega alive)
I concur with this one. A great set of songs to start.
Great reaction guys. This is one of their heaviest if not the heaviest song that they have. Also unusual in that Simone kind of disappears for the last half of the song. The comments regarding the change in Simone's voice is in her singing style moving from a mezzo soprano range to a straight up soprano. When she first started singing with Epica her vocal coaches told her she was a mezzo and tried to mold her voice to fit in that range. As she gained experience and confidence in her voice she decided that her tessitura was that of a soprano and changed her tone. In fact Simone has said she doesn't like listening to her earlier stuff because her voice sounds weird. I think it all sounds great but to hear the difference you can checkout Cry For The Moon from their first big TV performance from the early 2000's, th-cam.com/video/9x1AzOA3G2I/w-d-xo.html vs their performance from Omega Alive in 2021 th-cam.com/video/z8DWFOk5EwE/w-d-xo.html. Epica is the heavier darker cousin of Nightwish and I love both of them. Simone has an ethereal beautiful voice that can also be powerful. They do make extensive use of choirs in their songs. A lot of their lyrics are about independent thinking and self empowerment. If you want to stay on the heavier side then Essence of Silence live from Brussels would be my recommendation. For something more middle of the road, Skelton Key (music video or the Omega Live performance) or Unleashed, live from their 10th anniversary Retrospect show (full orchestra and choir on stage). They also have a bunch of beautiful ballads. Rivers is a good one and several good videos to choose from (Live in Chile is my favorite but the music video, Omega Alive (acapella), and live with Apocalyptica are good too). One of my other favorites is Sirens - of Blood and Water with Charlotte Wessels (Ex Delain) and Myrkur.
Epica is one of my favorite bands to see live, and I've seen them at least 5 times. They have awesome energy on stage.
I really love it when this band gets picked up by smart guys like you who can really see all the hard work that this band does on their shows.
The work of this group is quite diverse. From soft minimalist ballads and acoustic songs to heavy and fast melodic death metal songs and complex and long progressive masterpieces. Many songs do have Arabic and Celtic motifs. Epica is generally more complex than Nightwish and noticeably heavier. In addition, they have their own signature epic sound. In short, this is not a Nightwish clone at all.
And I am SO glad!! 🤘🤘😎🔥🔥
There are a couple where Floor is a guest and duets with Simone. They friends and fellow Dutchies. All well worth your time.
Though I'd like to see you do the 1 (single) shot version of Rivers for a complete Epica contrast. They also do a wicked version with Apocalyptica as guests
Yes, there ARE three voices in Epica. Simone, the lead soprano, Mark on harsh vocals and choir, which can be considered the third voice, with their own lyrics (sometimes in Latin) and melodies. It's not an effect! Epica use a real choir, which you can also see in some of their videos. In live performances, the lead guitarist Isaac sometimes helps out Mark with growls, which is what also happened here, if you pay close attention.
Btw "Consign to Oblivion" is one of the heaviest growliest songs by Epica. Most other songs have much more Simone and choir in them, and less Mark's vocals. A minority of Epica songs have no harsh vocals at all, for example "Unleashed" which I suggested in my other post.
They are asking for a real ride on the next song from Epica, I suggest Design Your Universe live at Retrospect:)
Several people here have mentioned Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 from the Omega Alive concert. That is their Magnum Opus. You may want to save that for later in your journey.
Given your past videos, I think a great next listen would be Design Your Universe and Unleashed from the Retrospect 10th anniversary show. They performed with a full orchestra and choir at this 3-hour show. This is also the show with Sancta Terra and Sabat Mater Dolorosa with Floor. Those two songs are not typical Epica however, but well worth a listen.
Sweet! Do "Kingdom of Heaven Part 3." Love that.
So, back in 2013 when Floor Jansen was being introduced to the Wakken crowd as the new singer for Nightwish, Epica were performing there 10th anniversary concert, sharing the stage with a full Symphony Orchestra and a female choir and a dude choir. So check out that concert for your next reaction. So many good songs, you wont regret it 🔥🤘
This version is insane 🔥🔥🔥 real symphonic metal
Victims of contingency from OmegAlive next
A bit of context regarding Simone and her evolving vocal style. Mark first asked her to be the lead vocalist when he was putting the band together, she was 16 at the time and Mark’s girlfriend. Initially she turned him down. They tried out another singer but that didn’t work out so he asked Simone again and she said yes, she was by then 17 years old. She started classical training at age 15 and continued for about 6 years so effectively she was learning on the job. If you listen to some of their earlier stuff she often mixed her style a lot more, often switching in and out of her operatic style in mid phrase. Sometimes it worked, other times not so much (in my view). I believe it took her a few years to get comfortable with her non-operatic style and develop it into something unique to her. Now she tends to use the operatic style in contrast to Mark’s growls, whilst switching to her mix voice for the verses.
I recommend doing a comparison between the following performances.
Sensorium in a live studio session from 2004… th-cam.com/video/GECJPWF4IKU/w-d-xo.html
You can hear that her style sticks mostly to her operatic style.
Then listen to Dancing in a Hurricane, live at the Zenith (same concert as Consign to Oblivion) in 2017… th-cam.com/video/ENT-EsMyEDg/w-d-xo.html
You will see that Simone now has a very distinctive non-operatic style for most of the song. Only in the breakdown when Mark comes in does she switch to her operatic style.
Also, Dancing in a Hurricane gives you a glimpse of their use of Middle Eastern scales.
So great reaction ! Thanks ! I use to say you can't have a reaction channel and avoid Epica, and this one from this particuliar gig is one of the best to react to !
Next song -Kingdom of heaven Omega Alive show 😊
Very special. We are so fortunate that when After Forever ended we got so much more from its members!
I love the contrasts in symphonic metal. It's what makes it so theatrical/dramatic. Being a Dutchie myself, I love seeing people from around the world discover Dutch artists. Floor from Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation, Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering) and even Focus! Makes me proud to be Dutch, seeing all the appreciation on reaction channels.
Epica is easily my favorite band right now. I'm not normally a fan of harsh vocals, but the contrast between the voices and with the music is just so amazing! The drummer's nickname is Beast, very fitting.
Welcome to the phantasmic parade! Epica is musical majesty! Their whole discography is worth exploring. Every song from lyrics to musicality has something rewarding to offer!
A great contrast to this track would be the melodic splendor of Unchain Utopia: th-cam.com/video/c8XdrOhEZl0/w-d-xo.html
Or if you want more chunky heaviness, try a face-melting track called Victims of Contingency from their spectacular Omega Livestream show: th-cam.com/video/aT1JsH2_97c/w-d-xo.html
If you want another long epic masterpiece by Epica, with more Gregorian-like choir, here it is:
The Holographic Principle - A Profound Understanding of Reality th-cam.com/video/CYlQJ_t2iks/w-d-xo.html
Epica is a fantastic Dutch symphonic metal band. one of the best worldwide. The concerts are amazing
If you do Kingdom of Heaven part 3 from Omega Alive be aware you will be watching the most awesome video you have ever watched ever ]:P
Great reaction. I'd recommend reacting to Simone Simons performing with Apocalyptica, too. For example, this live performance is pretty cool:
Apocalyptica feat. Simone Simons - Rise Again (Live in London)
th-cam.com/video/dCplcb8NaJA/w-d-xo.html
My favorite live vibe is when the band looks like they would do this same performance, at this intensity, and enjoy it almost as much...if no one was even there...
Just subscribed! More Epica please! If I could recommend In All Conscience from the Omega Alive web show
Been lucky enough to see Epica live twice, and they goof around onstage but it's kind of choreographed little routines, but they make it so much fun. They've been playing for 20 years and they still look like they're have a blast. The keyboard player is bonkers in the best way.
EPICAAAAA! 🌀🌀🌀✊✊✊🔥🔥🔥
Hey guys, 3 out of 3 from my top 3 favorite bands: Nightwish, The Warning and Epica. Common to all 3 bands: Great music and lyrics, fantastic live performances no matter whether they are performing at a festival, Stadion or small venue - I have seen all 3 bands, 4-5 times each, within the last year. Here are some fun facts about bands you already or will, maybe, react to (I apologize if I already have spammed you with them):
1. Floor Jansen and Mark Jansen (no family relation) were co-members in their first band “After Forever”
2. Mark Jansen left “After Forever” and founded “Sahara Dust” and asked, then 17 years old girlfriend, Simone Simons to be the front woman and lead singer of the band
3. Simone Simons became interested in Symphonic Metal and Classical style singing after listening to Nightwish’s Oceanborn.
4. Mark Jansen changed the name of his band “Sahara Dust” to “Epica” that is the name of one of “Kamelot”’s album, a band they were touring with.
5. Simone Simons has been featured on more “Kamelot” songs - recommendation for a good live version of “The Haunting”: th-cam.com/video/RsMXxxDMFYY/w-d-xo.html
6. Simone Simons is the long-time partner of the Kamelot’s keyboard player: Oliver Palotal - they have a son together
7. During their US tour in 2012, Nightwish asked Floor Jansen to join the band as a replacement vocalist after Anette Olzon’s exit. This was the result of the so-called Denver Debacle where Nightwish had the difficult task of choosing between cancelling the gig and going ahead with support band Kamelot’s backing vocalists Elize Ryd (now Amaranthe) and Alissa White-Gluz (The Agonist, now Arch Enemy) in Olzon’s place. With the audience’s blessing they chose the latter, resulting an unforgettable and historic show. Elize, Alissa and Nightwish were applauded for their efforts by seemingly everyone except Olzon, who made her rather ungrateful opinions known the next day via an online post. A few days later - October 1st, 2012 - Olzon was officially given the boot and the tour continued with ReVamp / ex-After Forever singer Floor Jansen fronting the band.
8. Elisa Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz are still appearing now and then in Kamelot live performance or albums. Here is a recommendation: Sacrimony th-cam.com/video/1WvWbUgCcJw/w-d-xo.html
9. Kamelot’s current lead singer: Tommy Karevik and Simone Simons both have prominent parts in Arjen Anthony Lucassen project, Ayreon. Many great musicians and vocalist participate to this project. As an introduction to Ayreon, check “The Day That The World Breaks Down” th-cam.com/video/oFuMKdrzPqU/w-d-xo.html
10. ARjen Anthony Lucassen - helped young Floor improve her vocal abilities by constantly challenging her, especially with regards to lower tones and harmonies.
11. Gjalt Lucassen, Arjen Anthony Lucassen's brother, is a latin teacher and write the latin lyrics you hear in Epica's song.
12. Floor Jansen is married to Sabaton drummer, Hannes Van Dahl. As an introduction to Sabaton, check Ghost Division (the drummer in this video is NOT Hannes van Dahl - but it’s a great intro anyway): th-cam.com/video/9FkYxnm70vg/w-d-xo.html
13. Sabaton has been touring with Amaranthe (Eliza Ryd) last year. Amaranthe has made it a cover in homage for their touring partner, 82nd all the way th-cam.com/video/56MaYg-LNXM/w-d-xo.html - they perform it together live here: th-cam.com/video/56MaYg-LNXM/w-d-xo.html
14. Intro to Arch Enemy and Alissa White-Gluz - Nemesis live @Wacken: th-cam.com/video/UNPKGyYzPCo/w-d-xo.html
Recommendations for Epica:
Epica - Cry for the moon - Simone is 19 years old: th-cam.com/video/Dys1_TuUmI4/w-d-xo.html
EPICA - Run for a Fall (We Will Take You With Us) (OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO): th-cam.com/video/qU1q7uOFXUI/w-d-xo.html
And why not combined with Floor:
EPICA - Sancta Terra feat Floor Jansen) Live Retrospect show: th-cam.com/video/cx22Yuj2nzg/w-d-xo.html
EPICA - Stabat Mater Dolorosa feat. Floor Jansen Live Retrospect show: th-cam.com/video/nhtOORYTGx8/w-d-xo.html
FROM Omega Alive - 2021
EPICA - The SKELETON KEY - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
EPICA - UNCHAIN UTOPIA - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
EPICA - VICTIMS OF CONTINGENCY - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
EPICA - KINGDOM OF HEAVEN PT 3 - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
From 2023:
Apocalyptica feat. Simone Simons - Rise Again (Live in London))ndon): th-cam.com/video/dCplcb8NaJA/w-d-xo.html
Apocalyptica & Epica - Rise Again (Official Video): th-cam.com/video/cEgsUUhqdlg/w-d-xo.html
Love the band, recommend Epica - kingdom of heaven pt3 (omega alive) for a masterpiece 😁.
I just came home after having to cancel a 2 week contract out of town due to forest fires and smoke, taking a loss, poured a glass of wine, loaded up TH-cam and what do I see….. OffSet Era is reacting to Epica? Consign to oblivion? At Zenith? Wait, hold my wine glass while I top it up!! Don’t disappoint me boys! I’ve had a shitty week!! 😂
Hey Guys, Thank you for the reaction you Guys are amazing and welcome to the world of Epica.
Next up please do "Unleashed & Storm The Sorrow Live Masters of Rock (2014)" which showcases almost all the elements to Simone's Diverse voice
great reaction guys! i would never do this song first because some reactors dropped out after this song because simone sings very high in this song and because there are a lot of growls in it, this song is more for people who have heard more of epica, but I'm glad you liked it if you loved this it will only get better because this was one of their heavyst songs, a lot of nightwish fans will say do Sancta Terra because floor sings in it but I hope you dont because they have so many more beautiful songs than thet song, here's a beautiful song with a surprise, don't forget to watch the song until the end!! Epica - Design Your Universe (Retrospect) th-cam.com/video/9nlPx-HEpCU/w-d-xo.html
dont forget to do the retrospect live
I agree to do this masterpeace as seccond video
You should now try Within Temptation. Songs like faster or shot in the dark. They also have two collabs out. One with Tarja (ex Nightwish) called paradise and one highly recommended with Xzibit called and we run
Epica use a lot of choirs as well as strings, brass etc. they use real choirs and orchestral musicians recorded in the studio for both their studio recordings and their live performances.
forgot to say, loved your reaction, you have a new subscriber
🇫🇮❤your reactions & would like to watch you react to this live performance by Epica featuring Apocalyptica from my home country: " EPICA feat. APOCALYPTICA - Rivers (Live At The AFAS LIVE) "
Awesome reaction guys, keep on with Epica, you can't go wrong whatever song you choose, plus the amount of reactors that say 'cosign' instead of 'consign'
Great review. I'm grateful that you did a little research to learn some band member names before the review. I wish more reviewers did that. This band is awesome.
Some of my favs that I recommend you review:
Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 - Omega Alive performance - which was a virtual concert during the lockdowns.
Design Your Universe - beautifully crafted tune from their Retrospect concert. Don't be too quick to stop listening [hint]
Rivers featuring Apocolyptica.
And last but not least: Sancta Terra - Retrospect concert where Simone is joined by Floor Jansen - vocal bliss.
one of my favs is Epica beyond the matrix live at the zenith paris
Their so amazing live❤ when i saw them live i just had a big smile on my face (and a few tears) the whole time😊
now you guys need to listen to Unleashed live retrospect, they play with a full orchestra, it will give you goosebumbs
Thanks, welcome to Epica, great analysis
Hi!
If you are curious about the change in Simone's vocals, you picked one of the "worst" songs here, since it has very little Simone in it and it's not her best performance of this song either. You need to start with their earliest music. You should be able to notice that young Simone's operatic head voice was different. Some say it was an "immature" or "undeveloped soprano" but on the other hand, many many fans, myself included, are forever in love with that young Simone unique voice, it was very warm and ethereal. Yes, as a teen girl she was inspired by Tarja from Nightwish and she tried to sing in the same way but she definitely had her own gorgeous vocal timbre. No other singer sounds like Simone did back then.
To understand what I'm talking about, watch these early performances and listen carefully to her stunning voice:
2004 - EPICA - Cry For the Moon - th-cam.com/video/9x1AzOA3G2I/w-d-xo.html
2006 - EPICA - Sensorium - th-cam.com/video/RD4eHNSl4yM/w-d-xo.html
And here, already sounding different:
2013 - EPICA - Unleashed - th-cam.com/video/rxd6sxLxdys/w-d-xo.html
And same song 10 years later:
2023 - EPICA - Unleashed - th-cam.com/video/OV7KcV0VZmw/w-d-xo.html
epica is definitely always fun. no egos, being a bit silly, while playing rock hard metal. Simone went to get ppl beers one time when the power went out, while the band just played acoustic. and..... continued the While set after the power was back on.
definitely my favorite band.
Do "Kingdom of Heaven Part 3." Great, great, great!
Floor and Simone sing together at Epica's Retrospective concert Sancta Terra and also on Stabat Mater Dolarosa
Great reaction guys! Haven't listened to a lot of Epica, but what I have heard is very good. Floor appeared with Epica on a couple of songs in one of their shows. I can't remember which show but the vocals with Simone and Floor were amazing!
Bass player Rob van der Loo is playing a Dingwall bass guitar, which is a Canadian brand.
The keyboard of Coen is on a track!
I do love that song. So much of a blast.
Vibeke Stene and the band Tristania. Another one of the best (largely unknown) female vocalists of all times. Nightwish and Tristania is where all this started to make waves in the music industry. Those two bands together was an unbelievable show. People don't mention Tristania enough, imo. If you like this, I'm sure you'll find something you'll enjoy with Tristania. Two of there albums are still in my top three. Ashes, and Vibeke Stene last album with them Illumination.
You might check out Epica - Sancta Terra (feat Floor Jansen) Live Retrospect show. Its not their best song, however, the listening to Simone & Floor singing together is beyond surreal.
If you want to hear 3 vocalists, try the band Amaranthe, songs 'The Nexus'
Two of my favorites are Unleashed and storm the sorrow. In this link you have both
th-cam.com/video/Xkth6veR9AU/w-d-xo.html
🐕hey I love Epica my #2 fav Band Sabaton is #1 this is the best Epica starter song a classic
Ok, now you know Epica. Now you can check them in: "Epica - Sancta Terra (feat Floor Jansen) Live Retrospect show" just for the good vibes!
Nice reaction and insights. Epica is just a hugely talented group. The band are all really talented musicians, and Simone is a great vocalist. As you now understand, Epica is one of the best bands out there with changing dynamics (to use your descriptions) and switching clean/harsh vocals. Yes to more Epica reactions, my suggestion would be for one of their newer songs called "Abyss of Time" as it's one of my favorites of theirs.
And since you were commenting on how good the drummer in Epica is, I'll drop a suggestion for another band with an insanely talented drummer (and both guitarists...and the bassist). Check out the metal band Trivium as they are another band that does the heavy/melodic combo really well. I'll suggest the official live version of their song "Like A Sword Over Damocles" th-cam.com/video/sRlv7m6RrFo/w-d-xo.html
offset... is also printingpress operation... other then letterpress, printinpress ( offset printingpress) operator and metalhead, and awesome band, great reaction
Well worth following up with something from the Retrospect concert where they played with a full orchestra and a huge choir. As you already know Floor then maybe do ‘Sancta Terra’ on which she guests and listen to the two Dutch goddesses sing together. They are also good friends.
Great reaction guys!
May i suggest two more songs?
Sancta Terra ft Floor Jansen from Retrospect and Kingdom of Heaven pt 3 from Omega Alive.
Simone and Floor are great friends
Took you guys a LONG time to realise that the keyboards were moving from side to side across the stage 😂
Sign of the Cross - yes
kingdom of heaven pt 3 omega alive a masterpiece song
Perfect
damn do more of there retrospect live songs !!! full ochestra many to pick from that concert !! and yes that drummer is sick !
17:08 she is offstage..let her boys have some fun, and later come in as Her Majesty..
Hey Guys. Here are a few more Songs for you to check out:
Kingdom of Heaven (Omega Alive)
Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 (Omega Alive)
Design your Universe (Retrospect)
The Essence of Silence (Retrospect)
Sancta Terra feat. Floor Jansen (Retrospect)
Have you guys done Wintersun, Sons of Winter And Stars? It’s this and another level of blast beat you may have never seen before! Two now members of Nightwish.
Epica has two stars, Simone and the drummer, whose name escapes me. The rest seems a fight for attention between the others. You should take a look at "Sancta Terra" that they did with Floor.
Here is a must react to Epica song Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 from Omega Alive th-cam.com/video/BdBCVMD8TiM/w-d-xo.html
Abyss of Time th-cam.com/video/sTbk3SfUq9Q/w-d-xo.html
Beyond the Matrix th-cam.com/video/ix_PpfputKY/w-d-xo.html
Rivers ft Apocalyptica th-cam.com/video/7imPLmvLyQA/w-d-xo.html
are on heavy rotation in my playlist. I hope you will enjoy them too.
Mark's gutteral vocals are usually used for like negative aspects, like from the aspect of a demon, or the 7 Deadly Sins etc.
I don't think thats necessarily the case in Nightwish.
The first thing you hear Mark say in this song for example is
" The only thing that counts is the prosperity of today
Most important to us is that our bills get paid
Our good intentions have always been delayed"
So, he's portraying Greed.
That being said, Epica isn't a religious band.
Next rabbithole, Ayreon! Than Sabaton.
Listen to Floor and Epica together live!
Suggest “Beyond the Matrix” from the same concert.
th-cam.com/video/ix_PpfputKY/w-d-xo.html
Plus, the whole 3-hour “Live Retrospect 2013” 10th band anniversary show is, imho, the best symphonic metal concert of all times. A level even beyond Nightwish’s incredible Wacken Open Air 2013 gig…
th-cam.com/video/vXYkEGCjgm0/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/DwMsaFfgWKw/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/q9eKLPCciWw/w-d-xo.html
Enjoy!
I know you guys have heard Floor in Nightwish but have you heard her in her earlier band ReVamp she sing very differently in this song "Disdain" th-cam.com/video/iNSf64M9uA0/w-d-xo.html
Kingdom of Heaven Pt 3 from Omega Alive!!!!!
please do epica the minor from the alchemy project and after that check the entire ep on your own time it's fucking amazing.
No disrespect to American fans, or reactors, but almost everyone seems to miss the respect they pay to La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, done buy the band in their final concert of this tour, in Paris.
0:32 "co-sign to oblivion" 🤣
No criticism, just a cultural observation, but I've noticed several times that people from the US don't pick up on the word "consign" being what it is, an actual normal English word, so they say "co-sign" instead. I don't know what's up with that, but maybe the American psyche is too jittery to stop and think about which word they're actually looking at and if they might already know the word somewhere at the back of their heads.
In any case, "consign to oblivion" is not a phrase that Epica came up with, but is in fact a set phrase that you can find in some thesauri. I heard it a few weeks ago on BBC radio, where the presenter used it between segments. I forget what the context was.
Mark Jansen (no family) has the best growl in the metal scene: fat, mean and a bit satanic❤
And drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek is as always stealing the show! Enjoy his drumming and pedal work in “Sancta Terra”, featuring Floor Jansen (no family 😂)
Simone and Floor are long time friends:
th-cam.com/video/slgVNyk6ckE/w-d-xo.html
epica unleashed live official then epica unchain utopia live omega alive is newer
Why that low pitch distortion on your voices? Really disturbing...
On no! You mentioned Nightwish on an Epica reaction……….
better talk separately while music stop. Snce both of you did't listen and react spontaneously if talking in the middle of music. Bad reaction video....
Epica > nightwish
Love epica ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤