Epica (band)

Epica
Epica performing at the 2015 Wacken Open Air, one of several music festivals to promote The Quantum Enigma.
Background information
Also known as	Sahara Dust (2002)
Origin	Reuver, Limburg, Netherlands
Genres	Symphonic metal
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Transmission, Nuclear Blast
Associated acts	MaYaN, God Dethroned
Website	epica.nl
Members	Mark Jansen Coen Janssen Simone Simons Ariën van Weesenbeek Isaac Delahaye Rob van der Loo
Past members	Yves Huts Ad Sluijter Helena Michaelsen Jeroen Simons

Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever.

Born as a symphonic metal band with gothic tendencies, later Epica have incorporated into their sound strong death metal influences. Starting from the third album, even progressive metal attitudes have become evident. In addition, the band often uses thrash metal and groove metal riffs, black metal passages (mostly in the drum tecnique), power metal moments and references to arabic music. Some songs also have electronic shades, djent transitions and folk metal melodies derived from middle eastern, chinese and celtic traditions. Epica is also known for the attention to the vocal lines that, in contrast to the heavy context, weave very catchy, easy to hold, sophisticated and emotional melodies. In the band's sound the use of female vocals and male growls, performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen respectively, is fundamental. They primarily write their own lyrics, which often deal with philosophical, psychological, spiritual, socio-political and personal themes. Epica is also known for their wide use of orchestra and opera choirs.

In 2003, Epica's debut album The Phantom Agony was released through Transmission Records. Consign to Oblivion followed in 2005, and debuted at No. 12 in the Dutch charts. They moved labels to Nuclear Blast following Transmission's bankruptcy, and in 2007, released their third studio album The Divine Conspiracy, which charted at No. 9 in the Netherlands. 2009's Design Your Universe was met with yet greater success, debuting at No. 8 in the Dutch Albums Chart, and charting across Europe, also garnering much critical acclaim. Epica's fifth studio album Requiem for the Indifferent was released in 2012. Well received by critics, it achieved international success, entering the US's Billboard 200 at No. 104, and Japan's Oricon Albums Chart at No. 172.