The new album title doesn't sound new, it is exactly what was expected from Epica, I hope the music will be more creative though anyway by the before backgrounds from Epica, it is obvious they won't rebel their previous structure of music.

"A Rant For The Uninterested"

by Ernie

First of all, the title. It sucks. It sounds an awful lot like "Poetry For The Poisoned", another something for a someone type title (you know, like a self-help book or something), which almost always predicts an uninspired work, be it an album, a film, a book or a video game. The reason why I feel it is uninspired, is because it sounds very specific, it sounds alienating to me as a listener. I am not indifferent, just like I am not poisoned, so this requiem is not for me then? So why should I care? There comes a point, where enough is just enough.
Which brings me to the theme of the album. I loved Consign to Oblivion and I especially loved the final moments and the words: "We must return to the laws of nature, free ourselves from madness." It's been three albums since that masterpiece and Mark is still going on about all the same things. It gets boring, it gets more and more preachy. Consign To Oblivion was about a civilization that had been lost, it encouraged us to learn from their mistakes, but it wasn't anywhere near as patronizing as "Design Your Universe" (that's a command, not a suggestion or an encouragement in my eyes), because it was telling a story, it wasn't entirely topical. From the description of this new album it is obvious that it is completely topical: "this is wrong, that is wrong, we have to change that and do this etc". I hate works that are 100% topical. There is no room there for applicability, no room what's so ever for applying your own personal thoughts and feeling to anything. If this was just one album, I might be OK with it, but this seems to be never-ending. We get it, Mark, mankind is headed towards annihilation, we know! How many times are you going to tell us this? In how many different ways do you feel you need to say the same things over and over again?
To judge a piece of art based on nothing but it's title and probable theme is unfair, I'll admit. That would be like someone who's never seen The Starry Night by Van Gogh saying that the painting must be awful, because the name sounds lame. Well, it would almost like that. If the painting was instead called "Stars For People Who Are Too Stupid To Appreciate Stars, Look At The Painting And Learn To Appreciate The Stars You Imbeciles, Damn It!" then I believe being prejudiced would be somewhat justified.

I guess what I am trying to say here is that based on everything I know of Epica and of how accurately album titles can predict the content, I am not too excited. Is it really coincidence that "Ride The Lightning", which sounds so much cooler than "St Anger" or "Kill 'Em All" is the best Metallica album? That "Oceanborn", which sounds so much more innocent, pure and inspired and so much less lame than "Imaginaerum" or "Century Child" is the best Nightwish album? "The Black Halo" vs "Poetry For The Poisoned"? "Rust In Peace" vs "Risk"? "Follow The Reaper" vs "Blooddrunk"? There is no contest. Where the title of the album demonstrates inspiration, generally the music on the album does so too and the opposite is also true. From the latest albums of my favorite bands (With the exception of Blind Guardian) I have learned to trust my instincts and to trust a wise man who once asked: "What's in a name?" That man was William Shatner of course. And he knew stuff.

Nice job Ernie.. couldn't be agreed more

Good rant up there, but that won't stop my excitement for this. I'm sure Epica won't disappoint.

Written by [user id=105293] on 02.12.2011 at 12:39

"A Rant For The Uninterested"

by Ernie

First of all, the title. It sucks. It sounds an awful lot like "Poetry For The Poisoned", another something for a someone type title (you know, like a self-help book or something), which almost always predicts an uninspired work, be it an album, a film, a book or a video game. The reason why I feel it is uninspired, is because it sounds very specific, it sounds alienating to me as a listener. I am not indifferent, just like I am not poisoned, so this requiem is not for me then? So why should I care? There comes a point, where enough is just enough.
Which brings me to the theme of the album. I loved Consign to Oblivion and I especially loved the final moments and the words: "We must return to the laws of nature, free ourselves from madness." It's been three albums since that masterpiece and Mark is still going on about all the same things. It gets boring, it gets more and more preachy. Consign To Oblivion was about a civilization that had been lost, it encouraged us to learn from their mistakes, but it wasn't anywhere near as patronizing as "Design Your Universe" (that's a command, not a suggestion or an encouragement in my eyes), because it was telling a story, it wasn't entirely topical. From the description of this new album it is obvious that it is completely topical: "this is wrong, that is wrong, we have to change that and do this etc". I hate works that are 100% topical. There is no room there for applicability, no room what's so ever for applying your own personal thoughts and feeling to anything. If this was just one album, I might be OK with it, but this seems to be never-ending. We get it, Mark, mankind is headed towards annihilation, we know! How many times are you going to tell us this? In how many different ways do you feel you need to say the same things over and over again?
To judge a piece of art based on nothing but it's title and probable theme is unfair, I'll admit. That would be like someone who's never seen The Starry Night by Van Gogh saying that the painting must be awful, because the name sounds lame. Well, it would almost like that. If the painting was instead called "Stars For People Who Are Too Stupid To Appreciate Stars, Look At The Painting And Learn To Appreciate The Stars You Imbeciles, Damn It!" then I believe being prejudiced would be somewhat justified.

I guess what I am trying to say here is that based on everything I know of Epica and of how accurately album titles can predict the content, I am not too excited. Is it really coincidence that "Ride The Lightning", which sounds so much cooler than "St Anger" or "Kill 'Em All" is the best Metallica album? That "Oceanborn", which sounds so much more innocent, pure and inspired and so much less lame than "Imaginaerum" or "Century Child" is the best Nightwish album? "The Black Halo" vs "Poetry For The Poisoned"? "Rust In Peace" vs "Risk"? "Follow The Reaper" vs "Blooddrunk"? There is no contest. Where the title of the album demonstrates inspiration, generally the music on the album does so too and the opposite is also true. From the latest albums of my favorite bands (With the exception of Blind Guardian) I have learned to trust my instincts and to trust a wise man who once asked: "What's in a name?" That man was William Shatner of course. And he knew stuff.

That was what I really meant, enough mark, you've said it before please be more creative. these preaching series of Epica is really getting boring, they should do something about or soon they will lose their popularity I think.

Written by Iron Nostarion on 02.12.2011 at 15:40

Good rant up there, but that won't stop my excitement for this. I'm sure Epica won't disappoint.

I'll take that bet

Was gonna post something similar to Ernie.... Epica are getting very annoying with all the "alarmist attitude", it just looks so stupid and irritating.

I wouldn't mind (since I usually dont care about lyrics/themes) if the music was great, but they've gone down since a while now... have the feeling its gonna be more generic stuff.

Yeah, there are a lot of problems in this world and some how writing another symphonic metal album is going to fix them...

Awful title :/
I think Mark went all death metal on MaYaN and saved all the pop for this Epica album, I don't have high hopes for this.

But let's see...

Written by [user id=105293] on 02.12.2011 at 12:39
It sounds an awful lot like "Poetry For The Poisoned", another something for a someone type title (you know, like a self-help book or something), which almost always predicts an uninspired work, be it an album, a film, a book or a video game.

Well, Requiem For A Dream is one of my favourite movies of all time, just saying

I understand your point of view, but I think you're making a big deal out of this. Not that you are not right, I agree with most of what you wrote, but I don't think we should be wondering so much about "what might the album sound like" or "what are the lyrics about". When the time comes we'll all be here to judge it and before that let us just sit back and relax while the band is doing their job.

About the album titles, I see no connection at all between that and their musical content. Ok, maybe "Lulu" from Lou Reed/Metallica was an announced tragedy since the moment they revealed the album title, but there a lot of counter-examples for those you gave here. For example, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus and Illud Divinum Insanus both sound the same way, but one is a masterpiece from Candlemass while the other is a mastershit from Morbid Angel.

Nevertheless, you've wrote interesting stuff, but don't be too harsh just judging from the title. Let's at least wait for the first single/snippet

Written by Dark Forever on 02.12.2011 at 18:10

Well, Requiem For A Dream is one of my favourite movies of all time, just saying

There's a difference though, one is a requiem for a group of people, the other is a requiem for a concept, one is obvious and falls flat and the other is symbolic and actually kind of cool
Also, I must say that by names alone I would have predicted that Epicus Doomicus Metallicus was better, because it is deliberately silly sounding, cute even, where as Illud Divinum Insanus just sounds pretentious and lame. I think I can tell these things man, I must have a sixth sense, just like Bruce's willy.

But I was just ranting anyway. The album may very well turn out to be great. But my prediction is that it will not be.

I don't want to judge anything just by the name of the album. All I know is their last album was a pretty good and varied style-wise imo. So I'm not entirely negative about just an album title.

Written by [user id=105293] on 02.12.2011 at 12:39

We get it, Mark, mankind is headed towards annihilation, we know! How many times are you going to tell us this? In how many different ways do you feel you need to say the same things over and over again?

Now THAT'S a new Tolkki right there

Written by Milena on 02.12.2011 at 19:24

Written by [user id=105293] on 02.12.2011 at 12:39

We get it, Mark, mankind is headed towards annihilation, we know! How many times are you going to tell us this? In how many different ways do you feel you need to say the same things over and over again?

Now THAT'S a new Tolkki right there

Pretty much. I am just glad Mark is at least a great songwriter. Bad lyrics are bad, but bad lyrics accompanied by boring melodies...

Topic derailing... hehee

Come on guys... Why are you so negative?????? Look at the positive side of the news...:devil: Personally, I am expecting a darker & harsher piece of music By the way, the whole concept of his band is something political and contemporary. So it's no strange at all to have an album which talks about "the things that are happening around us".

I would rather artist speak about what they are most passionate about even though it might be preachy than to listen to artist tackle themes they have no clue about or are just jumping on the popular themes everyone else is doing. I applaud Epica's social awareness and guts to stand up for what they believe in. They must know some will be offended by it. But they do it anyways because they strongly believe in their message.
I don't have to accept or believe their message but I appreciate their integrity and honesty. (I actually feel their message is very pertinent today)
I think the title is awesome. Indifferent to me is people whom are always in the middle, never taking sides, unwilling to take risks, always in the grey area. How boring! Let them die.

Is this about the Occupy protests?

How come no dubstep remix.

Written by [user id=105293] on 02.12.2011 at 12:39

"A Rant For The Uninterested"

by Ernie

First of all, the title. It sucks. It sounds an awful lot like "Poetry For The Poisoned", another something for a someone type title (you know, like a self-help book or something), which almost always predicts an uninspired work, be it an album, a film, a book or a video game. The reason why I feel it is uninspired, is because it sounds very specific, it sounds alienating to me as a listener. I am not indifferent, just like I am not poisoned, so this requiem is not for me then? So why should I care? There comes a point, where enough is just enough.
Which brings me to the theme of the album. I loved Consign to Oblivion and I especially loved the final moments and the words: "We must return to the laws of nature, free ourselves from madness." It's been three albums since that masterpiece and Mark is still going on about all the same things. It gets boring, it gets more and more preachy. Consign To Oblivion was about a civilization that had been lost, it encouraged us to learn from their mistakes, but it wasn't anywhere near as patronizing as "Design Your Universe" (that's a command, not a suggestion or an encouragement in my eyes), because it was telling a story, it wasn't entirely topical. From the description of this new album it is obvious that it is completely topical: "this is wrong, that is wrong, we have to change that and do this etc". I hate works that are 100% topical. There is no room there for applicability, no room what's so ever for applying your own personal thoughts and feeling to anything. If this was just one album, I might be OK with it, but this seems to be never-ending. We get it, Mark, mankind is headed towards annihilation, we know! How many times are you going to tell us this? In how many different ways do you feel you need to say the same things over and over again?
To judge a piece of art based on nothing but it's title and probable theme is unfair, I'll admit. That would be like someone who's never seen The Starry Night by Van Gogh saying that the painting must be awful, because the name sounds lame. Well, it would almost like that. If the painting was instead called "Stars For People Who Are Too Stupid To Appreciate Stars, Look At The Painting And Learn To Appreciate The Stars You Imbeciles, Damn It!" then I believe being prejudiced would be somewhat justified.

I guess what I am trying to say here is that based on everything I know of Epica and of how accurately album titles can predict the content, I am not too excited. Is it really coincidence that "Ride The Lightning", which sounds so much cooler than "St Anger" or "Kill 'Em All" is the best Metallica album? That "Oceanborn", which sounds so much more innocent, pure and inspired and so much less lame than "Imaginaerum" or "Century Child" is the best Nightwish album? "The Black Halo" vs "Poetry For The Poisoned"? "Rust In Peace" vs "Risk"? "Follow The Reaper" vs "Blooddrunk"? There is no contest. Where the title of the album demonstrates inspiration, generally the music on the album does so too and the opposite is also true. From the latest albums of my favorite bands (With the exception of Blind Guardian) I have learned to trust my instincts and to trust a wise man who once asked: "What's in a name?" That man was William Shatner of course. And he knew stuff.

I gotta say, well done!!! but, I gotta say again, despite the intention behind the title, I like it!! maybe cause it contains the word "Requiem" which I love in titles...but you made a really good point, after Consign to Oblivion, Which I think is their best, its kinda boring to go over the same idea again...
But not all the times the title tells you everything, and yes, Century Child may sound lame, but the album is more than awesome, I guess its about taste after all...well, about "Poetry For The Poisoned" you are right!, so I guess thats the case sometimes...
and btw, LOL on "Stars For People Who Are Too Stupid To Appreciate Stars, Look At The Painting And Learn To Appreciate The Stars You Imbeciles, Damn It!"

This album is for me!

I am totally indifferent as to what schlock Epica will come up with this time.

Kinda boring title but i mean Epica has never been known for good titles but they are known for making quality sympho metal so whatever. And they do have a point, according to scientists, within this century our planet is pretty much fucked due to unnatural global warming.. kinda a big deal. just sayin.

That's an epic rant dude.

For everyone who is bad-mouthing the album, I say this: What's in a name? A name is nothing without a face. Let us listen to the music and read the lyrics before we judge the title. For the critics who are saying "maybe its too early to judge this album but..." you can stop right there. You just said everything that needed to be said.

Cannot wait for this album to come out. That is all.