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Epica - The Quantum Enigma



8.3 | 569 votes |
Release date: 2 May 2014
Style: Symphonic metal

Owners:

466 have it
48 want it


Disc I
01. Originem
02. The Second Stone
03. The Essence Of Silence
04. Victims Of Contingency
05. Sense Without Sanity - The Impervious Code
06. Unchain Utopia
07. The Fifth Guardian - Interlude
08. Chemical Insomnia
09. Reverence - Living In The Heart
10. Omen - The Ghoulish Malady
11. Canvas Of Life
12. Natural Corruption
13. The Quantum Enigma - Kingdom Of Heaven Part II
14. Memento [vinyl bonus]
15. Banish Your Illusion [iTunes bonus]
16. Mirage Of Verity [Japanese bonus]

Disc II [Digipack/Earbook acoustic tracks bonus]
01. Canvas Of Life
02. In All Conscience
03. Dreamscape
04. Natural Corruption

Disc III [Earbook instrumental tracks bonus]
01. Originem
02. The Second Stone
03. The Essence Of Silence
04. Victims Of Contingency
05. Sense Without Sanity
06. Unchain Utopia
07. The Fifth Guardian
08. Chemical Insomnia
09. Reverence
10. Omen
11. Canvas Of Life
12. Natural Corruption
13. The Quantum Enigma

Top 20 albums of 2014: 19

Line-up
Simone Johanna Maria Simons - vocals
Coen Janssen - keyboards, piano
Mark Jansen - guitars, vocals
Isaac Delahaye - guitars
Ariën Van Weesenbeek - drums
Rob van der Loo - bass

Guest musicians
Daniel de Jongh - vocals

Choir: Jan Douwes, Angus van Grevenbroek, Andreas Goetze, Karen Langendonk, Annette Vermeulen, Annette Stallinga, Silvia da Silva Martinho, Astrid Krause, Alfrun Schmid, Ruben de Grauw, Koert Braches, Daan Verlaan, Marcela Bovio, Frederique Klooster, Martha Bosch, Annemieke Nuijten

Violin: Vera van der Bie, Loes Dooren, Floortje Beljon, Merel Jonker, Emma van der Schalie, Ian de Jong, Marleen Wester, Ben Mathot, Judith van Driel

Viola: Mark Mulder, Amber Hendriks, Adriaan Breunis

Cello: Thomas Van Geelen, Jan Willem Troost, David Faber, Annie Tångberg

Additional info
Produced by Joost van den Broek.
Engineered by Joost van den Broek, Maarten de Peijper, and Jos Driessen.
Mixed by Jacob Hansen.
Mastered by Darius van Helfteren.
Cover art and photography by Tonnie Simons & Stefan Heilemann.

Staff review by
R'Vannith
Rating:
8.0
Epica are back with a bang on their sixth studio release, the symphonic metal powerhouse abolishing any doubts that they can maintain their powerful presence within the genre.

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published 01.05.2014 | Comments (19)

Guest review by
AngelofDeth
Rating:
7.5
In many ways, The Quantum Enigma is the obvious successor to 2009's much cherished Design Your Universe. And by that I mean bombastic and over the top symphonics melded with Mark's signature heavy riffing and growls, with Simone's operatic vocals making a surprising, yet welcomed, return. Most praiseworthy of all, while it follows in the footsteps of an obvious predecessor, this album still manages to somehow feel new, as the symphonics explore untamed territories. There is no shortage of original riffs and the vocals are - wait, what? Did Elyze Ryd from Amaranthe replace Simone? No, no she didn't. But she may as well have, meaning that this is also Epica's most 'poppy' effort to date.

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published 21.06.2014 | Comments (4)

Guest review by
TheJester
Rating:
9.5
After the previous album, which was good but not as memorable as the earlier albums, bland and lacking most signature Epica elements, Epica release The Quantum Enigma, and with it they showed us that Epica is back stronger than ever!

A lot of people said that Simone's vocals are growing weak and that she was the weakest part of the band (with which I was hardly disagreeing even then), but this album is for sure highlight of her career. Strong falsettos are back, vocal harmonies arranged like never before (for example in "The Essence of Silence", "Unchain Utopia" and "Natural Corruption") and a lot more.

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published 29.04.2020 | Comments (2)

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Comments page 5 / 5

Comments: 126   Visited by: 1456 users
12.12.2014 - 12:15
Rating: 8
MelancholiaC
Overall a more consistent album than Requiem For The Indifferent with a return to focusing on symphonic melodies, although I think Requiem's best moments (e.g. Monopoly On Truth, Internal Warfare, Serenade Of Self-Destruction) outshine this one. The production is definitely improved with a sense of renewed vigour, but I miss some of the more progressive songwriting on the last album. Atmospherically it goes perfectly when you're in the mood of carpe diem.
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28.08.2016 - 19:18
Rating: 5
angel.
Evil Butterfly
As much as I love the chorus parts in this album,they are wonderful and perfect, Epica is still having the problem making the breakdowns terrible. I hate those wailing breakdowns.
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The Fangirl.
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03.02.2018 - 10:05
Tatsella
Fangirl
I'm fan of their recent works, not old ones. And I think this is their best album. That's how symphonic metal should sound like. Maybe there's too many choirs but overall it's a great album.
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29.04.2020 - 13:47
TheJester
Written by Tatsella on 03.02.2018 at 10:05

I'm fan of their recent works, not old ones. And I think this is their best album. That's how symphonic metal should sound like. Maybe there's too many choirs but overall it's a great album.

My favorite as well! You can check my review of this one.
Choir is maybe the most signature element for Epica, they can arrange it pretty well.
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29.09.2021 - 08:30
Rating: 9
GrimReaper85
Canvas of Life is so beautiful. I think quality here compares to 2007 and 2009 albums or is at least very close.
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04.09.2022 - 17:11
Rating: 7
ChapuLviz
Tropical Goat
Contributor
First songs are really awesome, but the rest are meh
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