Epica - Requiem For The Indifferent review
| Band: | Epica |
| Album: | Requiem For The Indifferent |
| Style: | Symphonic metal |
| Release date: | March 09, 2012 |
| Guest review by: | PocketMetal |
01. Karma
02. Monopoly On Truth
03. Storm The Sorrow
04. Delirium
05. Internal Warfare
06. Requiem For The Indifferent
07. Anima
08. Guilty Demeanor
09. Deep Water Horizon
10. Stay The Course
11. Deter The Tyrant
12. Avalanche
13. Serenade Of Self-Destruction
14. Nostalgia [bonus]
15. Twin Flames [bonus]
Epica is back with a new album, trying to continue their success over the past years and to satisfy their many fans, even though they're not experimenting with a whole new approach this time; the result is something different from Design Your Universe.
Requiem for the Indifferent is less aggressive and more accessible, but at the end of the day it's just as enjoyable. The album has its flaws like every other Epica album, but almost every song has enough interesting moments to look forward to. It can be the professional choirs, some good riffs and solos, some well timed growls or Simone's amazing vocals. But you also have to endure the average done-to-death stuff that keep appearing throughout your lengthy listen.
The main problem with Requiem for the Indifferent is its lack of courage, songs like "Monopoly on Truth" or the brilliant "Serenade of Self-Destruction" can make for a nice experience but nothing on this record will surprise anyone already familiar with Epica. Also a few songs can be considered as highlights and the rest, not terrible in any way, but they are also nothing special. At the risk of sounding like a Simone fanboy I'm starting to think that not only is she just a beautiful front woman for this band, but she's the only one that is getting the job done; if not for her work this album could be labeled as an average release. (Also the band's lyrics keep getting better.)
I hope for their next album that they step up their songwriting and try something completely new, but to conclude this review: Epica continues to satisfy me with this record but it's nowhere near what I really wish to hear from this band.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by PocketMetal | 11.06.2012
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Rating:
7.0
7.0
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Rating: 7.0 |
So I've finally marshaled my thoughts on Requiem for the Indifferent. I love Epica, they are my third favorite band, but when I heard this album I didn't fanboy out, I just sat there in confusion unsure of what to think. What's really different about this album is that's it's not as inherently catchy as their previous material, it's slower as well and a lot more progressive. Ultimately this album really doesn't stack up to the rest of their discography and especially not Design Your Universe which is literally one song away from being perfect; they clearly decided to experiment with this album which I have no problem with, but in music one must be careful with experimentation because while in this case it's not completely disastrous it could have been so much worse. In some cases that experimentation on this album works well and it was somewhat refreshing. Read more ›› |
Rating:
7.5
7.5
|
Rating: 7.5 |
The previous Epica album, I can freely say, was a masterpiece. I read a lot of negative reviews on this album so I decided to write a review myself. Is this the weakest Epica album? Yes. Is this a bad album? No! With this album, Epica decided to change a few things that were significant in previous ones. The album is mostly guitar-oriented; the riffs are good and heavy, but we can sense the absence of symphonic orchestra elements. Also Simone was singing mostly with a clean, non-falsetto voice, which also was one of significant factors, so I can understand why people rage over this album so much. However, Simone did heavenly good vocal melodies even without falsetto. Mark's growls were also on point. Read more ›› |
Comments
Comments: 13
Visited by: 193 users
| Unhealer Eclecticist Posts: 2311  |
I agree with the review, only that I think Simone is currently the weak link and not the main feature. She needs to take some singing lessons or the band should get a new singer, I don't mind.
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| Monolithic ♠♠♠ Posts: 669  |
The review did enough justice to the album: not much of an incendiary package filled with creativity or anything special. Still it's worth it to be listened to once in a while.
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| R'Vannith ghedengi Elite Posts: 3099  |
Nice review Pocket, that's something like what I heard in this album, though I just found everything except the vocals really mundane. As you mention Simone saves it from being average, personally I don't think she quite manages to pull that off here and even she sounds a bit faltering at times, like in "Guilty Demeanor" for example. There really isn't anything that would make me want to listen to this over the previous album.
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| PocketMetal Posts: 750 |
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| demonsarising Posts: 60 |
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| Cal Wolvington Account deleted |
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| moribun Posts: 92  |
Nice review. However I personally don't think Simone did a decent job. Her voice brings a hint of suffocation, and too sweet for her and the band's music's own good.
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| PocketMetal Posts: 750 |
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| Surion Posts: 21  |
I don't think Simone's vocals are the highlight in this record, her voice sounds so much better in Consign to oblivion and The Divine Conspiracy. But instrumentally i really like this album, also good to hear more harsh vocals...the production is well done, but I have to agree that it's nothing groundbreaking or new, but Suits Epica. Loved the song "Avalanche".
---- Ereßµ§ ø? ßløøð
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| PocketMetal Posts: 750 |
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| Fritillaria Account deleted |
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| AngelofDeth Cyborg Raptor Posts: 1183  |
Why all the hate on Simone? I do agree that she doesnt have the same power and consistency as other singers like Tarja and Floor but I prefer Simone's tone and quality over all other Symphonic singers, there's just something angelic about her voice. As for the album I wouldn't be so generous as to give this an 8/10. It is inarguably Epica's weakest album and as you mentioned there's alot of great parts but few great songs in their entirety. Though, now that I have gotten over my high expectations and given the album another chance it has grown on me a bit but it is still a low point for the band. Hopefully the new songs Mark is making are better than these.
---- pewpew.. gotcha
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| BlankFile Posts: 705 |
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