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As far as stop-gaps go, Epica’s 2022 mini-album, ‘The Alchemy Project’, was incredibly effective. Not only did the seven-song effort make the four-year gap between studio albums more easy on the palate, but it also delivered arguably the best collaborative effort of the decade with Charlotte Wessels and Myrkur joining Epica vocalist Simone Simons on the jaw-dropping ‘Sirens – Of Blood and Water’.
Had this collaboration not existed, then chances are that all the talk would have been about another collaboration that saw Epica ramp up the death metal leanings of the band and blow the cobwebs off with ‘Human Devastation’ which also featured God Dethroned & Sven de Caluwé (from Aborted). This hint of a more aggressive and extreme sound has ever-so-slightly carried forward into the long-awaited new full-length album ‘Aspiral’, and guitarist and harsh-vocalist Mark Jansen sounds utterly reinvigorated (his screams on ‘Metanoia—A New Age Dawns Part XIII’ and ‘The Grand Saga of Existence—A New Age Dawns Part IX’, as impressive as ever).
‘Aspiral’ is huge in every department. The arrangements, the songcraft, the performances: all HUGE. The production is especially huge, and as fun as it is to devour the album whilst wearing a decent pair of cans, it sounds so much better when it is cranked up and filling the room. With one of the strongest ranges in music today (regardless of genre) Simone Simons’ flawless vocals are – as you would expect – immense. Her enunciation is crystal clear and unmuddied, and to these ears at least, there seems to be more emphasis on her pop/rock vocals than her trademark operatic vocals with the soaring album opener ‘Cross the Divide’ being a particularly strong example of this (Rob van der Loo’s bass rumbles on this one are top-notch, as they also are on the beguiling ‘Obsidian Heart’ ). It’s Epica at their most thrilling and their most accessible, as casual visitors to the symphonic metal genre will attest to.
If ‘Cross the Divide’ sees the band touch on poppier material, the likes of ‘Arcana’ has the band on more familiar territory. Dark, brooding, with incredible choral arrangements that feature a ghostly touch thanks to the children’s choir. Ariën van Weesenbeek’s incredible drumming is relentless and mixed with the first sign of harsh growls from Mark Jansen, helps bring a heavier edge to proceedings. Pardon the obvious, but it is epic. As is the welcome inclusion of more parts to the continuing ‘A New Age Dawns’ saga. Beginning with the gloriously everything-but-the-kitchen-sink ‘Darkness Dies in Light—A New Age Dawns Part VII’, each of the three parts (completed by ‘Metanoia—A New Age Dawns Part XIII’, and the staggering ‘The Grand Saga of Existence—A New Age Dawns Part IX’) are the longest tracks on the album, with each hitting seven minutes in length, and highlight the depth to be found amongst ‘Aspiral’.
‘Fight to Survive—The Overview Effect’ has the perfect blend of Simons’ crystal clear vocals, a stunning mix of down-tuned, razor-sharp riffage, and gorgeous guitar melodies from the partnership of Mark Jansen and Isaac Delahaye, and crucial keyboard flourishes from Coen Janssen. If ever any song showed all the combinations that make up the Epica DNA, then this would be it. If, on the other hand, huge choral arrangements that tip their toes into Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ territory are your thing, then ‘T.I.M.E.’ will have you reaching for the repeat button. Simply put, it is glorious and maybe even a tip of the hat to the ballroom waltz scene in Disney’s Haunted Mansion in amongst van Weesenbeek’s blastbeats?
The sweeping arrangements continue on the Eastern-tinged intro of ‘Eye of the Storm’ which features Mark Jansen taking on more of a lead vocal role on one of the heaviest tracks on the album; it also highlights the great contradiction of light and shade that often makes up an Epica track as Simone Simons’ lighter-than-light vocals are the perfect foil for Jansen’s hellacious growls.
At sixty minutes in length, the expected dip in quality never arrives; instead, as the album grows to its conclusion, it gets better. Expect ‘Aspiral’ to feature heavily in an abundance of end-of-year polls.
Available now via Nuclear Blast Records. More information HERE, and if physical media is your bag, then do check out the earbook, as it is stunning.
Review – Dave
All images – Tim Tronckoe
EPICA + AMARANTHE – Arcane Dimensions Tour
With special guest Charlotte Wessels’ The Obsession
16.01.26 – DE, Cologne – Palladium
17.01.26 – DE, Munich – Zenith
18.01.26 – BE, Brussels – Forest National
20.01.26 – UK, Bristol – Bristol Beacon
21.01.26 – UK, Glasgow – Barrowlands
23.01.26 – UK, Manchester – O2 Apollo
24.01.26 – UK, London – Eventim Apollo
25.01.26 – FR, Paris – Le Zenith
27.01.26 – CH, Zurich – Halle 662
28.01.26 – IT, Milan – Alcatraz
30.01.26 – ES, Barcelona – Razzmatazz 1
31.01.26 – ES, Madrid – Sala La Riviera
01.02.26 – PT, Lisbon – Coliseu dos Recreios
03.02.26 – FR, Toulouse – Bikini Toulouse
04.02.26 – FR, Lyon – Radiant-Bellevue
06.02.26 – DE, Ludwigsburg – MHP Arena
07.02.26 – NL, Amsterdam – Ziggo Dome
06.03.26 – DE, Hamburg – Inselpark Arena
07.03.26 – DE, Leipzig – Haus Auensee
08.03.26 – DE, Berlin – Columbiahalle
10.03.26 – DK, Copenhagen – Poolen
11.03.26 – SE, Stockholm – Fallan
13.03.26 – FI, Oulu – Tapahtumakeskus Tullisali
14.03.26 – FI, Helsinki – Black Box
15.03.26 – EE, Tallinn – Helitehas
22.03.26 – DE, Frankfurt am Main – Jahrhunderthalle
Tickets and VIP upgrades are available from epica.nl/tour
