Review: Epica – The Holographic Principle (EN)
There seems to be no end to the rising star of Epica. A small summer pause is almost to an end and after a three year long world tour the band is charged again and ready to go! That is of course because the Holographic Principle is released on the 30th of september.
The next day their release show is planned: their own festival Epic Metal Fest. It would be difficult to make a bigger party of it than it already is, with bands such as Stream of Passion, MaYaN, Textures and Katatonia. A jam-packed 013 (Tilburg) will house almost 3000 metal fans, many of whom whill be there for the new Epica show. The pre-sale for this show has started and the album is also available for pre-order. But Epica wouldn’t be Epica if they didn’t have something special as well. The cd-bundle with a hologram for your phone is a nice goodie, but for the real fans with some extra savings there is a very unique item: an action figure set, complete with stage. It can’t get much crazier than that (available via this link in two different sizes). With the release of the last album, a dream came true for Mark, because the band released their own cycling tenues. They are also available this year, with new THP prints of course. These will be available from september 1st.
The album starts with, what else, an intro. It’s an ideal little number called Eidola. Coen and Mark know how to set the right mood and they also know how to build up the feeling of the album. The band makes a risky jump forward on this album, because now every instrument, detail and sound is recorded live. This is palpable from the very first moment. ‘Edge of Blade’ starts with a bang when Ariën deals out his first hits and when his batteries are activated they won’t turn off again. It shows that Epica has the guts to show a louder side of themselves again, back to Design Your Universe! (Nice choice!).

Epica Epic Metal Fest Klokgebouw Eindhoven 22-11-2015
*Epica just released this new video!*
“Universal Death Squad” is the first track heard by the public. The firm sound is very present here already, so that no one will be surprised when the album is released. In this song all the guitars, bass and drums are flogged so that it is one of the most energetic tracks on the album. A lyric video was made for this as well, which made it visually attractive too. The lyrics in the video weren’t even that neccesary, beause it is also a nice live video, that shows the band in a small setting where they don’t need big video productions. The music is the focus point, as it should be. The firm guitarwork will have been a pain in the ass for Mark, because Isaac didn’t hold back on this track. He may even have pushed himself to the limit, which could have been extra motivation for both to make it perfect. And they did, but the best riff of the record is still to come.
Time for a personal favorite: “Divide and Conquer”. It stands out beautifully in every respect. It is like a very well cut diamond, it shines from every angle.

Epica Turbinenhalle Oberhausen 27-10-2015
the choir forming a union with the frontwoman,the rhythmic drums, two guitars pushing each other to unknown heights in a kind of battle, Rob’s bass keeping it all together or the unique way that band and producer always know how to add strings to the whole without overdoing it. The song is briljant.
SHINE!
“Beyond the Matrix” opens with a choir and a nice drum rhythm which leads into a nice headbanging track. Yes, sometimes less complicated is complicated enough. The song is very suitable for newcomers. It’s easy to clap, headbang and sing to if you just follow Rob. However, one of the best bits is still to come, because after about 3 and a half minutes there is a solo of Simone that strikes deep in the heart. For a moment everything stops and there is nothing to do but to feel the beauty.
-Nothing for a moment-
And on, because no one but Coen could have written “Once Upon a Nightmare”. His genius has managed to create freedom in these seven minutes that takes you to higher ground. The changes between the small, intimate setting and the band at full speed move seemlessly. It seems like a ballad at first, but that is not the case after all. A deep bow for this man.

Epica L’Aéronef Lille France 09-11-2015

Epica Turbinenhalle Oberhausen 27-10-2015
The track flows effortlessly into “Dancing in a Hurricane”. The track is edgy, and that is a credit to the band, because not all bands dare to go this way, whereas Epica has been exploring this side for a while now. The addition of the extra live musicians has been a great move, but it would be even greater to bring them on tour! It would be a great extra to the live show. The experience while listening to The Holographic Principle is unique and it could be the same on stage.
You are sensing that the end is near, and it is on the regular album, but on the Deluxe edition and on the Apple Music/iTunes version there are some acoustic tracks as well.

Epica L’Oylmpia Parijs (FR) 29-01-2015
Epica is not just a regular band anymore, they haven’t been for years really, but with The Holographic Principle they push the boundaries even further. A boundary that is already out of reach for many artists, but seems even more impossible now. Epica is lord and master in this, and all other universes, with and without hologram. With a lot of thanks to Sandlane Recording Facilities and Joost van den Broek for the amazing production, without him it wouldn’t have sounded like this!
The Holographic Principle is available from the 30th of september via the webshop of the band in many different editions. You can order it on CD or Vinyl, but it is also available for pre-order on iTunes/Apple Music.

Epica L’Aéronef Lille France 09-11-2015
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