Epica - Impress with their blend of Classical Metal!!!

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Going Dutch was never so much fun!

Epica is a Dutch Symphonic Metal band, fronted by Opera sounding Simone Simons who mixes her passions of Classical and Metal music fuse perfectly. I could not quite believe it the first time it was described to me, how you can make two seemingly opposed genres actually work together but somehow it does. Almost on a level of Classical and Drum n' Bass back when Goldie and the Heritage Orchestra visited the same city in the summer.

Epica is more like a show than a standard concert, with all the members head banging on stage at multiple points in the evening. Even the one that didn’t have any hair to swish did this, but saying that he did have a cool looking wrap around keyboard and a fixed one that swivels to make up for it. From the first moment you hear Simone’s vocals the word that sprung to mind was a simply WoW!!!.

‘Sensorium’ from their debut album made an early appearance to the limited, about two thirds of the venue was full, but knowledgeable crowd. Musical it could all be seen as a historical mis- mash, 1980’s Metallers, with Opera singing which could be from the 1800’s yet we all come together in 2015 for a glorious feast of music.

I know I keep returning to the styles and that Music Trespass has a Metal following but if you asked me to go to a straight Metal or Opera gig separately I wouldn't be keen, but bring them together and I love it. And I think Epica have something really special, and I like them more... ever time I listen to them.

They have received a lot of interest on YouTube and they played the highest streamed one “from the start of Epica”... is 'Cry for the Moon’, which understandable got the biggest reaction of the night. I am sure the pure Metal fans would totally disagree but at times I did not think the growling metal vocals actually added anything and the female vocals did the job perfectly.

There followed a drum solo that would have made Animal proud before they launched into the last song of the main set ‘Design your Universe’ The encore included a number that included a Disco ball and lights, though I think in disco terms the Bee Gees legacy could be safe for a while, yet it may have been interesting to hear their take on Symphonic Metal.

All too soon it was the last tracks ‘Unchain Utopia’ and ‘Consign to Oblivion’ with again a view of the tops of heads shaking, I did note the singer rocked her neck from side to side rather than forward and back, good conservation of the neck for singing I guess.

Whatever they did on stage tonight it looked and more importantly sounded great.  So despite what you may think opera and metal can be perfectly good bedfellows. I may try a Skiffle / Hard House combo next, though it could be a while before I make it. 

Review by Jon Cooper and pictures by Steve Owen (www.IcarusPhotography.co.uk) 

Check Out! the Video for 'Victims of Contingency​' Below...