Ad Sluijter

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

Formed as a symphonic metal band with gothic tendencies, later Epica have incorporated into their sound strong death metal influences.

Starting from the third album, progressive metal influences have also become evident.

In addition, the band often uses thrash metal and groove metal riffs, black metal passages (mostly in the drum technique), 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.

The use of soprano vocals and growled vocals, performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen respectively, is fundamental to the band's sound.

They primarily write their own lyrics, which often deal with philosophical, psychological, spiritual, moral, scientific, environmental, socio-political, global and topical and personal themes.

Epica is also known for their wide use of orchestra and opera choirs.

The first three parts can be found on Prison of Desire (2000), After Forever's debut album, and the following three parts can be found on The Divine Conspiracy (2007), Epica's third album.

These songs deal with the dangers of organized religion.

The song "Façade of Reality" on the album was written about the September 11 attacks and includes fragments from speeches by Tony Blair.

The album was followed by three singles: “The Phantom Agony”, “Feint” and “Cry for the Moon”.

Their second release, entitled Consign to Oblivion, was influenced by the culture of the Maya civilization, which can be noticed on songs in the "A New Age Dawns" series.

In early 2002, at 23 years old, Mark Jansen left After Forever over creative differences.

He then began looking for musicians who would work towards a more classical/symphonic type of music project; this was initially named Sahara Dust.

In late 2002, the band courted Helena Iren Michaelsen (from Trail of Tears) as its frontwoman, but shortly after she was replaced by Simone Simons, who was Jansen's girlfriend at the time.

The band's line-up was completed by guitarist Ad Sluijter, drummer Jeroen Simons, bassist Yves Huts, and keyboard player Coen Janssen.

The name was later changed to Epica, inspired by Kamelot's album of the same name.

Epica then assembled a choir (made up of two men and four women) and a string orchestra (three violins, two violas, two cellos and an upright bass) to play along with them.

Still under the name Sahara Dust, they produced a two-song demo entitled Cry for the Moon in 2002.

As a result, they were signed to Transmission Records.

The Phantom Agony is the first full-length studio album by Epica.

It is the first album recorded by guitarist Mark Jansen after his departure from the band After Forever.

In 2003, Epica's debut album The Phantom Agony was released through Transmission Records.

The album was produced by Sascha Paeth (known for having produced bands such as Angra, Rhapsody of Fire and Kamelot) and released in June 2003.

This album, Mark Jansen continues with the collection of songs that make up "The Embrace That Smothers".

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.

"A New Age Dawns" refers to the time system of the Mayan people, which extends up to 2012, and makes no reference of what may happen past said year.

Consign to Oblivion was composed with film scores as a basis, with Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman cited as major inspirations.

The album features guest singing by Roy Khan (from Kamelot) on the song "Trois Vierges".

Epica also joined Kamelot as a support band on parts of their tour for promotion of The Black Halo album, to which Simons had contributed her vocals on the track "The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)".

At the beginning of May 2014 the band released their sixth album, The Quantum Enigma, which was a huge international success, debuting on No. 110 on US Billboard 200 and peaking at No. 4 in Epica's homeland Netherlands.

In June 2015 Epica was awarded the Music Export Awards, which is given to the Dutch act with the most international success in the past year.

Their seventh album, The Holographic Principle, was released in September 2016 to continued international success, equalling the peak chart position set by its predecessor in the Netherlands.

The band released their eighth album, Omega, in February 2021.