This is REALLY generic Epica... but I think it's better executed than their last album or two. I don't think any of it is bad I just won't remember any of it in a few months time. Solid 7/10 I think.

Written by flammeimwind333 on 11.10.2016 at 16:59

It is not Epica's best album..but to compare with a shit like the astonishing is a bit too..cruel

And you still gave it a 10/10 somehow..

I'm enjoying the album more and more because my expectations are flowing away, but at the same time it's more clear to me than ever that the band stopped caring about developing their sound. Looking back at their discography, the transitions between TPA, CTO, TDC and to a lesser degree DYU are incredible. Immense musical growth and change every time. Why are we stuck now all of a sudden for three albums in a row?

Written by Didymus on 13.10.2016 at 16:43

Written by flammeimwind333 on 11.10.2016 at 16:59

It is not Epica's best album..but to compare with a shit like the astonishing is a bit too..cruel

And you still gave it a 10/10 somehow..

I'm enjoying the album more and more because my expectations are flowing away, but at the same time it's more clear to me than ever that the band stopped caring about developing their sound. Looking back at their discography, the transitions between TPA, CTO, TDC and to a lesser degree DYU are incredible. Immense musical growth and change every time. Why are we stuck now all of a sudden for three albums in a row?

I gave 10/10 compared to the other albums released this year. For me, only Skuggsja, Combichrist, Lord of The Lost and Helalyn Flowers released better albums.

Written by flammeimwind333 on 13.10.2016 at 16:55


I gave 10/10 compared to the other albums released this year. For me, only Skuggsja, Combichrist, Lord of The Lost and Helalyn Flowers released better albums.

Better than worthy of a 10?

Yeah, it's just the number in the end.

People love more than what's worthy of 10s, 50s or even 100s.

Written by Didymus on 13.10.2016 at 16:43
... it's more clear to me than ever that the band stopped caring about developing their sound...

I'd be hard-pressed to agree with someone who said the band hasn't developed their sound over the last couple of albums. Maybe they haven't evolved in the direction folks were hoping for, but they've certainly tried quite a few new things in the last two albums alone. In fact, I'd say Requiem for the Indifferent and The Quantum Enigma were some of the biggest leaps in sound, albeit in entirely different ways. Requiem for the Indifferent was overall slow and lacked the energy we came to expect from them, and then they flipped that criticism on it's head by releasing The Quantum Enigma. We've seen more guitar solos in the last two albums than their entire discography before combined, and they've toyed with sounds and themes they've rarely dabbled in, if at all (e.g. The Fifth Guardian/Chemical Insomnia, Dancing in a Hurricane, etc). The biggest give-away that they're further refining their sound lies in Mark's vocals alone. I always thought his vocals were too abrasive and contrasting to the tone of the songs. In one word, I'd say they sounded "misplaced", Requiem for the Indifferent sounded so tacky when they were playing a mellow song and here would come Mark's vocals in a way that just sounded completely out of place. When The Quantum Enigma dropped, it sounded like they finally invested in a mixing board and decided to blend his vocals in, much like how they would with Simone's during choruses with background singers.

I'd argue that they've developed their sound quite a bit in the last two or three albums, and fans of their early work are disappointed, while fans of the newer stuff are treated to more of what they've come to love about Epica. Everyone has varying opinions though, and as the age-old idiom goes, "Opinions are like ass-holes. Fuck 'em!"

For me this sits at about an 8/10. In areas it's amazing, but sometimes I can't help but feel like (as an album) the whole thing drags out, I can't help but feel like if they took the best parts and shortened it, it would help the whole thing to flow and imo, be more memorable.

Picked up the album today again. Did she just say "the funkiness is what makes my booty move" in The Funky Algorithm?

A joke of a song throughout.

Written by The Melting Snow on 10.11.2016 at 00:29

A joke of a song throughout.

Well, you can tell that was the intention, to modify the lyrics of the original song and end up with that funny acoustic version.

Written by The Melting Snow on 10.11.2016 at 00:29

Picked up the album today again. Did she just say "the funkiness is what makes my booty move" in The Funky Algorithm?

A joke of a song throughout.

In a behind the scenes video, Isaac and Coen were talking about how they just wanted to have fun on the acoustic renditions. None of these are meant to be serious at all.

I have every album of epica since the Phantom Agony and IMO this is probably their best album. After the catchy first track the album is epic and varied, and the last half is just awesome with nice progressiveness and new sounds in this band. Near perfect!

I want to like them, they put so much effort in their music, their topics and concepts are very interesting but the poor lyrics writing and lyrics delivery fucking ruins everything for me.

The most diverse Epica álbum, with new elements introduced in their sound that we never heard before on the previous records. The concept in general is really interesting, and the overall performance of the band is good. Not the best Epica álbum, not at all, but still a very good effort, and in a way refreshing.

Written by flyboyrob2112 on 09.10.2016 at 07:07

I had really high hopes for this album and they weren't really met. I like it more each time I listen to it so there's that.

I think "Universal Death Squad" is so cheesy as to make me cringe every time I see the title. I skip over it every time.

But yeah, I definitely agree that this seems like another iteration of Requiem for the Indifferent.

Thinking back, I'm not sure why I said this. I like Requiem for the Indifferent a lot more.

Last 4 minutes

Best Epica album for me. Great guitars, symphonies, drums (the black metal passage on "Ascension"), melodies and the concept behind the music.
Tracks 1-7: great slightly proggy, slightly death symphonic metal
Tracks 8-11: a bit meh and repetitive with only a few eye opening parts, but definitely growers.
Track 12: a decent enough epic, not quite as good as first seven tracks.