Epica – “Omega” album review

Nuclear Blast Records – 2021

Grand – Webster Dictionary defines the word as “involving or including many people or things : very large in scope : intended to have an important or impressive result.” If there was a single word to describe the emotion of Epica’s new masterpiece, it is just that. After 7 albums and nearly 20 years of touring the world, while performing in notable festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Pinkpop and Summer Breeze to name a few – the Dutch-symphonic metal outfit return with their eight full-length album Omega, and it is nothing short of breathtaking. From “Alpha” to “Omega”, from beginning to end so to speak, this is everything you would want from Epica.

Omega is their first album in 5 years since the 2016 record The Holographic Principle, and at this point in their storied career, it seems that Epica knows their identity and have expanded on that established sound. Fronted by the magnificent Simone Simons, her operatic and graceful voice has always been the familiar element of the band which has kept its heart beating throughout the years. But it is not without her dedicated band-mates that the definition of “Grand” doesn’t come to a full circle – this becomes complete with the likes of the talented Mark Jansen and Isaac Delahaye who team up on harsh vocals and guitars, including the thundering bass lines from Rob van der Loo, the majestic keys and orchestrations of Coen Janssen, and the booming and resounding drum patterns of Ariën van Weesenbeek. Together, this is the “Grand” component which exemplifies the chemistry between the group members. Let’s get to the nitty gritty of the album, shall we?

Omega starts us off with a choir-like prologue titled “Alpha – Anteludium” – And knowing that the band brought in the likes of the City of Prague Symphonic Orchestra, I felt I was in for quite another treat from Epica. “Abyss Of Time – Countdown to Singularity” then kicks in and plunges you right into the action as Simone and Mark showcase their vocal symmetry between beauty and the beast. The bass, drums, keys, and guitars are all produced so eloquently throughout this song – which is a constant ingredient heard throughout the album and serves as a testament to renowned producer Joost Van Den Broek. Setting a tempo is a vital and important formula for records, and Epica executes it well here. This song had everything, and I can see this as an explosive performance whenever the time comes to seeing this presented live.

The next three songs, “The Skeleton Key”, “Seal Of Solomon”, and “Gaia” are all well complements of each other. In other words, the transitions from one song to the next seem to carry over very nicely. From Gregorian chants and bass grooves, to guitar solos and orchestral components, all mixed with the grandeur sounds of Simone’s vocals, it’s hard to believe that 15 minutes of the album have already passed by. The next two: “Code Of Life” and “Freedom – The Wolves Within”, are songs proven to be giving off cinematic tones, the latter which became the first single off of the new record. Epica’s lyrical thematics usually stem off of societal, philosophical, and spiritual elements. This is especially present in “Freedom – The Wolves Within”, which tells the story about good and evil within a fight between wolves serving as a metaphorical catalyst.

Let’s now get to the highlights of the album for me, which surrounds the 13-minute epic “Kingdom of Heaven Prt. 3 – The Antediluvian Universe” and the soul-stirring “Rivers”. The first of the two songs is Epica at it’s best, and I am also willing to say that this is their magnum opus. The 1st act is a 2-minute segment which takes us through monastery-like vocals, woodwinds, brasses, strings, and oh, goosebumps. Plenty of it, might I add. It never overstays its welcome as the steady groove of the song starts to break in. Simone and Mark do what they do best, and Coen Janssen and company really shine with their instrumentals here midway through, setting up for quite an unforgettable and haunting 3rd act. What I’ve really noticed is that how the band has figured out this recipe on how to execute the entrance of the vocals in their songs between the soft and the heavy – being that this is their 8th album, it really rounds out to the level of finesse that no other symphonic metal band can match. The next song “Rivers” is a beautiful melody that is perfectly placed in the tracklist. The clean vocals and keys start things off here in a slow and steady burn. Simone dominates the entirety of this song and gives it a very emotional feeling throughout, which provides the listener a chance to breathe after the previous 8 tracks. Trust me, this is a good breather. These two songs were great opposite dynamics of each other.

The final three tracks: “Synergize – Manic Manifest”, “Twilight Reverie – The Hypnagogic State” and “Omega – Sovereign of the Sun Spheres” pick back up with the heaviness, and actually is the heaviest section in the entire album. These songs also have swift transitions from one to the next. This is also where drummer Ariën showcases more of his skillful techniques in the pattern of blast-beats, and is a great change-up. The final song is a powerful way to finish this incredible journey of an album, letting all the listeners know that Epica will always be a heavy hitter in the world of metal, not just among the symphonic groupings.

From “Alpha” to “Omega” and from beginning to end, Omega is the masterpiece I never thought I needed to hear. This album will be hailed for many years to come, and beyond. At the same time, it can serve as a representation of how I believe symphonic metal should sound and should be conducted. Top to bottom, everyone involved on Omega deserves all the recognition in creating this triumph. Symphonic metal, from my perspective, can get repetitive. It is still an underrated sub-genre in the dark side of music; I hope this record gives it the push it needs because of how refreshing this sound is. I also hope to expect the listeners out there to get the goosebumps, emotions, and the headbanging I felt, because it is a journey I cannot wait to relive again with Epica. And of course, when the time comes, to feel the energy in a live performance fashion within these new songs, because the experience of Epica is unlike any other. Omega is grand.

Our Score 10/10