Algorithm boosting comment: Epica is phenomenal live. Check out The Essence of Silence official live if you enjoy their heavier and faster sounds, and transitions between male and female vocals.
The performance, the voices and the music aside, what is so powerfull about this band is how wel the dark and the light side complements and enhances each other. My favorite band ever.
I got into Epica because of Kamelot who used to collab with Simone Simons, the main vocalist. This was back in their Roy era (the previous singer who left the band back around 2012). Great stuff from both bands, you might wanna check out Amaranthe if you haven't yet since they collab with the main singer from that band for albums and live performances.
As others have pointed out, this is a single and is more 'accessible' to a broader audience. The live versions and the album songs are heavier; Simone does take over vocals about 70% of the time on average, but as you said, there is more back-and-forth BUT these songs are on the albums, usually. Singles have to reach a wider audience, especially if you're in the metal genre; it happens with death metal bands and others. Do not give up on Epica. I recommend, 'Universal Death Squad', 'Ascension - Dream State Armageddon', 'Semblance of Liberty' just a few to give you an understanding on what they're about. I suppose 'Consign to Oblivion' is more of a song that demonstrates every essence of what the band does on a general basis. Hope you see this and hoping to see more Epica reactions! Love your videos. Keep it up! :)
The sheer musicality of each band member put together in a cohesive whole makes Epica the "complete" experience - consistently. There is something for everyone and any fan will give you a list of at least 10 songs u must listen to. If u asked a fan what ONE song you should listen to that captures what the band is, most would probably say "Design your Universe". There are many other songs as well that are all excellent, but this is one of the older ones - being from 2009. There are many live performances you can watch. Note - she is quite pregnant in some of the live concerts (anniversary concert etc.) depending on which u watch.... This would obviously affect her singing. So some are better than others.
Epica has a variety of stuff. There are some songs with very little Mark and some with more of him, but Simone is pretty much always there to some degree. You should check out these songs by them: "Victims of Contingency" "Edge of the Blade" "Universal Death Squad" "The Secone Stone" Thanks man! Also, Unleash the Archers dropped another new song for their upcoming album called "Soulbound" so you should check that out soon!
Wow, Epica. I already listen to their epic songs and it was great to hear in my ears. My favorite songs of their tracks are Fight Your Demons and The Last Crusade. Glad you react to Epica. Anyway love your channel and keep it up. Take your time and Good day.
Universal Death Squad! Another more accessible song of theirs, but also on the heavy side and extremely dynamic, and the music video is more studio-like. You will like it.
Still pushing for Ayreon - The Day That The World Breaks Down. Ayreon is a very unique collaboration of artists that you could spend weeks of videos on! I posted a long list on another post, going to add 'Leaves Eyes - Farewell Proud Men' and 'Lumsk - I Trollehender' to the list.
@Anon X It's just a catchy song. The part where Simone Simons sings with Mark Jansen is great, but this is probably the weakest song on the album. Especially because the other ones are way more complex.
@Anon X Nope. Mark Jansen himself referred to it the exact same way. And he's the main composer of this album, of course. And Simone and him also referred to that song as a catchy song and not as a complex one.
Great reaction, loved to watch it! I think you would enjoy "Design Your Universe" from the Retrospect 10 year anniversary show. It has a full orchestra and choir on stage. "Design Your Universe" is probably one of the best representations of a great EPICA song, tons of orchestral support, cool back and forth between growling and Simone doing operatic and some mix voice, it's just a great overall impression of what the band does. In terms of studio songs, "Essence of Silence" is really great but it does not shine as much live...
I adore this song, but upon seeing it live I discovered I liked it more live. Wish there was a good official live video of it somewhere. Good songs for that back and forth dynamic would be "The Essence of Silence", "Victims Of Contingency", "Ascension - Dreamstate Armageddon", "Martyr of The Free Word", and (this one's for fun) "Crimson Bow and Arrow" from their Attack On Titan EP. There are many more, those are just among my favorites. Of course many people will recommend "Kingdom of Heaven" as well, but I will always recommend that for a first listen to that, the studio version is preferred. Getting the full experience of that the first time in the way it was intended to be heard is the way to go. There isn't an official live version of it, although I desperately wish there was. Sorry for long comment, long time Epica fan here. Can't help myself.
This was the First vidio from Epica that i see from Epica this was in 2003 this is 21years ago Simone the singer is 22years by Epica she start here singing by Epica with 17years
Plz check out some Bands from Austria ! 1) The Sorrow -"Knights of Doom " or "Where is the Sun?" 2) Everlasting Dawn-"Faint" 3) Artas-"Rassenhass" 4)Norikum-"The Worlds Desease" 5) InDorsia-"Two Face" 6) Drescher-"First Blood" 7)Reset the World/"Forever Young" 8)Kill The Lycan-"Cronus" Have Fun ! Greetings from Austria!
Epica has had a few of the most legit, brutal pits I've ever been a part of 🤘 one time in Baltimore Simone even said we got the tour record for crowd surfing! I'm taking proper violent pits and I've been to everything from Slayer to Pantera to Weird Al 🤘
One of my favorite songs by them ❤️ react to Unleashed or Victims Of Contingency👌🏻 the majority of the song have growls but they have a few without them too (they still great songs btw)
if you like Epica at all, you should also check out the band MaYaN. the guy that started Epcia also is a co-founder of that band, and after you react to a video or 2 from them.....you need to just listen to the Quarterpast album in its entirety (not a youtube video obviously)...its like a death metal opera
Simone has the most vocal lines in Epica. I think about 30% of their catalog is without harsh vocals, but it differs per album. Last song that you did is one of those where there are more harsh vocals than clean ones. Many Epica songs out there have been reacted to, these are the more famous songs. I would suggest to do another song next: The Quantum Enigma-( Kingdom of Heaven part 2) lyric video. It is the title track of their previous album.👍
Epica is just amazing it's just so ......epic ^^' and Simone's voice is one of the best out there :D but still, i would love to see your reaction to "the Ocean - Permian: The Great Dying" try it, it's good wall of sound and stuff ;)
I would be a huuuge Epica fun, if there wasn't that growling. I like their compositions in general and Simone's voice, but that growling is just not my thing.
Algorithm boosting comment:
Epica is phenomenal live. Check out The Essence of Silence official live if you enjoy their heavier and faster sounds, and transitions between male and female vocals.
I agree, I've seen them multiple times in the US. Shows are much smaller but have amazing band lineups!
I wouldn't recommend listening to the love version of the song, since the live version is not nearly as eargasmic as the studio version.
Agreed. Epica is amazing live.
You should listen to "The Second Stone", "The Essence of Silence", and "Victims of Contingency" next.
Oh my god yes
You should listen to "Unleashed" from Design your Universe, it's a master piece !!!
You should listen to "Design your Universe" and/or "The Essence of Silence"!
Epica has songs with all Simone's cleans and songs with majority Mark's growls. Try Essence of Silence.
The performance, the voices and the music aside, what is so powerfull about this band is how wel the dark and the light side complements and enhances each other. My favorite band ever.
I got into Epica because of Kamelot who used to collab with Simone Simons, the main vocalist.
This was back in their Roy era (the previous singer who left the band back around 2012).
Great stuff from both bands, you might wanna check out Amaranthe if you haven't yet since they collab with the main singer from that band for albums and live performances.
As others have pointed out, this is a single and is more 'accessible' to a broader audience. The live versions and the album songs are heavier; Simone does take over vocals about 70% of the time on average, but as you said, there is more back-and-forth BUT these songs are on the albums, usually. Singles have to reach a wider audience, especially if you're in the metal genre; it happens with death metal bands and others. Do not give up on Epica. I recommend, 'Universal Death Squad', 'Ascension - Dream State Armageddon', 'Semblance of Liberty' just a few to give you an understanding on what they're about.
I suppose 'Consign to Oblivion' is more of a song that demonstrates every essence of what the band does on a general basis.
Hope you see this and hoping to see more Epica reactions! Love your videos. Keep it up! :)
My favorite epica song has to be the essence of silence highly recommend checking it out
The sheer musicality of each band member put together in a cohesive whole makes Epica the "complete" experience - consistently. There is something for everyone and any fan will give you a list of at least 10 songs u must listen to.
If u asked a fan what ONE song you should listen to that captures what the band is, most would probably say "Design your Universe". There are many other songs as well that are all excellent, but this is one of the older ones - being from 2009. There are many live performances you can watch.
Note - she is quite pregnant in some of the live concerts (anniversary concert etc.) depending on which u watch.... This would obviously affect her singing. So some are better than others.
Epica has a variety of stuff. There are some songs with very little Mark and some with more of him, but Simone is pretty much always there to some degree. You should check out these songs by them:
"Victims of Contingency"
"Edge of the Blade"
"Universal Death Squad"
"The Secone Stone"
Thanks man! Also, Unleash the Archers dropped another new song for their upcoming album called "Soulbound" so you should check that out soon!
Wow, Epica. I already listen to their epic songs and it was great to hear in my ears. My favorite songs of their tracks are Fight Your Demons and The Last Crusade. Glad you react to Epica. Anyway love your channel and keep it up. Take your time and Good day.
Universal Death Squad! Another more accessible song of theirs, but also on the heavy side and extremely dynamic, and the music video is more studio-like. You will like it.
Still pushing for Ayreon - The Day That The World Breaks Down. Ayreon is a very unique collaboration of artists that you could spend weeks of videos on!
I posted a long list on another post, going to add 'Leaves Eyes - Farewell Proud Men' and 'Lumsk - I Trollehender' to the list.
I heard this song on apple music and as I soon I heard it I added to my favorites. It was so great I didn’t even know who it was for
This song is one of their more "mainstream" songs, great song still though
Yep. Not a bad song. But nowhere near their better stuff. Serenade of Self Destruction would be my vote if he revisits this album.
@Anon X It's just a catchy song. The part where Simone Simons sings with Mark Jansen is great, but this is probably the weakest song on the album. Especially because the other ones are way more complex.
@Anon X Nah. It's still the least complex song on the album.
@Anon X Nope. Mark Jansen himself referred to it the exact same way. And he's the main composer of this album, of course. And Simone and him also referred to that song as a catchy song and not as a complex one.
Great reaction, loved to watch it!
I think you would enjoy "Design Your Universe" from the Retrospect 10 year anniversary show. It has a full orchestra and choir on stage.
"Design Your Universe" is probably one of the best representations of a great EPICA song, tons of orchestral support, cool back and forth between growling and Simone doing operatic and some mix voice, it's just a great overall impression of what the band does.
In terms of studio songs, "Essence of Silence" is really great but it does not shine as much live...
I adore this song, but upon seeing it live I discovered I liked it more live. Wish there was a good official live video of it somewhere.
Good songs for that back and forth dynamic would be "The Essence of Silence", "Victims Of Contingency", "Ascension - Dreamstate Armageddon", "Martyr of The Free Word", and (this one's for fun) "Crimson Bow and Arrow" from their Attack On Titan EP. There are many more, those are just among my favorites. Of course many people will recommend "Kingdom of Heaven" as well, but I will always recommend that for a first listen to that, the studio version is preferred. Getting the full experience of that the first time in the way it was intended to be heard is the way to go. There isn't an official live version of it, although I desperately wish there was.
Sorry for long comment, long time Epica fan here. Can't help myself.
The teacher that taught both Floor and Simone should be praised :))
This was the First vidio from Epica that i see from Epica this was in 2003 this is 21years ago Simone the singer is 22years by Epica she start here singing by Epica with 17years
This isnt a typical epica song but I still love it, for heavier maybe the obsessive devotion live or Kingdom of heaven
Plz check out some Bands from Austria ! 1) The Sorrow -"Knights of Doom " or "Where is the Sun?" 2) Everlasting Dawn-"Faint" 3) Artas-"Rassenhass" 4)Norikum-"The Worlds Desease" 5) InDorsia-"Two Face" 6) Drescher-"First Blood" 7)Reset the World/"Forever Young" 8)Kill The Lycan-"Cronus" Have Fun ! Greetings from Austria!
🤟EPICA - ESSENCE OF SILENCE (LIVE) 🤟
The Essence of Silence LIVE version is a great one, you should do that next! 🤘🏻
u should watch it live with christina scabbia from lacuna coil & u gonna love it & it's way better than the music video
More Epica please!! ❤
Epica has had a few of the most legit, brutal pits I've ever been a part of 🤘 one time in Baltimore Simone even said we got the tour record for crowd surfing! I'm taking proper violent pits and I've been to everything from Slayer to Pantera to Weird Al 🤘
One of my favorite songs by them ❤️ react to Unleashed or Victims Of Contingency👌🏻 the majority of the song have growls but they have a few without them too (they still great songs btw)
Whats funny about the album Requiem for the Indifferent is that outside of one song Mark has growls on ever song.
Have you heard Sonata Arctica?
You should react to Kingdom of Heaven. It's their masterpiece
The norm is really somewhere in between, but closer to Consign to Oblivion. I think you'd love "Essence of Silence." Pretty much 50/50.
Great reaction as always!!! Gold Blooded by Invisions is one you really have to do!!
More Please!
Two songs I have to see you react to are The Unfinished Story by Bloodred Hourglass and Loveless by Any Given Day. Looking forward to it.
if you like Epica at all, you should also check out the band MaYaN. the guy that started Epcia also is a co-founder of that band, and after you react to a video or 2 from them.....you need to just listen to the Quarterpast album in its entirety (not a youtube video obviously)...its like a death metal opera
Simone has the most vocal lines in Epica. I think about 30% of their catalog is without harsh vocals, but it differs per album. Last song that you did is one of those where there are more harsh vocals than clean ones. Many Epica songs out there have been reacted to, these are the more famous songs. I would suggest to do another song next: The Quantum Enigma-( Kingdom of Heaven part 2) lyric video. It is the title track of their previous album.👍
Epica is just amazing
it's just so ......epic ^^'
and Simone's voice is one of the best out there :D
but still, i would love to see your reaction to "the Ocean - Permian: The Great Dying"
try it, it's good
wall of sound and stuff ;)
Simone is a vision to behold.
for a little more "umpf"
"lacuna coil - reckless"
;)
god damn i love me some epica
Kingdom of Heaven or Chasing the Dragon live next 🤘
Victims of contingency from OmegAlive next 🔥
Consign to Oblivion is more about everything they are.
Nah.
Hello 🇧🇷
Nice reaction 🎶
Pleaseee, react to The Kingdom of Heaven or Chasing the Dragon both from Epica.
😉🔈🎶🎸
You should try Lacuna coil, this song is almost a copy of what they've done
I suggest Cry for the Moon and Design Your Universe. Live at Retrospect show.
Get back to Epica. Theres so much more to explore.
Hi! Please, react to "Stabat Mater Dolorosa" live Retrospect Show
Yo te recomiendo The Obsessive Devotion
You should reaction to kingdom of heaven pt. 3. that is the best song that they do.
Please please do Nothing but thieves 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
And start with Amsterdam 💕
You should listen to lacuna coil
Please try to react "take me down" by Mr bone and the boneyard circus from Philippines. Thank you
I would be a huuuge Epica fun, if there wasn't that growling. I like their compositions in general and Simone's voice, but that growling is just not my thing.