Epica - The Phantom Agony (Expanded Edition) (2021)
Artist: Epica
Title: The Phantom Agony (Expanded Edition)
Year Of Release: 2003/2021
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Quality: 320 kbps | FLAC (tracks)
Total Time: 01:55:17
Total Size: 269 mb | 763 mb
WebSite: Album Preview
Tracklist:Title: The Phantom Agony (Expanded Edition)
Year Of Release: 2003/2021
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Quality: 320 kbps | FLAC (tracks)
Total Time: 01:55:17
Total Size: 269 mb | 763 mb
WebSite: Album Preview
01. Epica - Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)
02. Epica - Sensorium
03. Epica - Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers , Pt. 4)
04. Epica - Feint
05. Epica - Illusive Consensus
06. Epica - Façade of Reality (The Embrace That Smothers , Pt. 5)
07. Epica - Run for a Fall
08. Epica - Seif Al Din (The Embrace That Smothers , Pt. 6)
09. Epica - The Phantom Agony
10. Epica - Veniality
11. Epica - The Phantom Agony (Single Version)
12. Epica - Triumph of Defeat
13. Epica - Adyta (Orchestral Version)
14. Epica - Sensorium (Orchestral Version)
15. Epica - Cry for the Moon (Orchestral Version)
16. Epica - Basic Instinct (Orchestral Version)
17. Epica - Run for a Fall (Orchestral Version)
18. Epica - The Phantom Agony (Orchestral Version)
19. Epica - Veniality (Orchestral Version)
20. Epica - Feint (Piano Version)
21. Epica - Cry for the Moon (Single Version)
22. Epica - Run for a Fall (Single Version)
Dutch guitarist/vocalist Mark Jansen unveiled his highly anticipated post-After Forever undertaking a new orchestral metal project named Epica via 2004's The Phantom Agony album. Clearly patterned on Jansen's former band, Epica fuses his deathly croaking with the angelic tones of a classically trained mezzo-soprano named Simone Simons, over a lush foundation of symphonic power metal. However, as compared to After Forever's pre-established blueprint (and unfortunately, continual comparisons are inevitable here) songs like "Sensorium," "Cry for the Moon," and "Illusive Consensus" tend to prioritize guitars over keyboards, while making greater use of full-on choir backdrops. And although she is a gifted operatic talent by any definition, lead vocalist Simons simply lacks the sheer vocal prowess and versatility of After Forever's Floor Jansen. Whether this is the case by nature or design, one feels her talents are being underutilized; but then, perhaps Jansen didn't want her monopolizing the proceedings like the aforementioned Floor (although they apparently have no problem objectifying her sensual image on the album's cover). Furthermore, additional embellishments such as spoken word recitals, lyrics decried in Latin and Arabic, and complicated religious and philosophical exhortations featured on the likes of "Façade of Reality," "Seif al Din," and the preposterously overwrought title track make the whole bloated work almost too pretentious to stomach. And for all of this grand conceptualizing (The Phantom Agony's intricately intertwined movements indeed amounting to a concept album), what you have here is a samey-sounding LP by symphonic metal standards: lyrically engaging and brave of vision, to be sure, but disturbingly short on songwriting chops, and ultimately devoid of the genre's dramatic and defining peaks and valleys of emotion. Having said all that, The Phantom Agony's daunting palette of colors is vast enough to probably convert a few disciples to the group's cause.