Best Dutch Thing After The Orange Eleven

**LeftEyeNine** · 06-18-2006, 01:53

..is Epica, of course..

The brilliant symphonic metal band from Netherlands was formed in 2003. The groups consists of :

Simone Simons (Vocals)
Mark Jansen (Guitars, grunts & screams)
Ad Sluijter (Guitars)
Jeroen Simons (Drums)
Coen Janssen (Synths and piano)
Yves Huts (Bass guitar)

Band has 4 albums. I'd recommend "We Will Take You With Us" album in case you want to give them a shot. If you can get along with distortion, railed along angelic vocals with spicy brutals, and you have a feeling for epic, orchestral music, this band will probably be the best thing from Netherlands after the Orange Eleven for you as well (assuming you are into soccer

).

Have some taste of their samples here.

..And oh, vocalist Simone Simons is not famous only for her beautiful voice..

..Stunning..

**Husar** · 06-18-2006, 02:16

I guess it´s power metal since it´s not as bad as I usually expect metal to be.

Oh, wait, Saif al Din has a monster-voice.

Pity, the singer does look nice...

**Vladimir** · 06-18-2006, 02:19

Ummm, wow.

**LeftEyeNine** · 06-18-2006, 02:23

Branching of metal genres is quite complicated and relative, one says it is Doom another calls it Death and so on..What you say is true as well, Husar. Nightwish, The Gathering, Stratovarius are all power metal bands, all having epic sounds. Whatever..

Well I can't stand brutal vocals as well (GoreBag surprises, anyone?

), however the beauty of the band's sound in general allows me to handle that goblin-ish screams to a degree. And actually such "distorted" vocals are rare compared to similar metal bands. Don't let those screams scare you away from Epica

**LeftEyeNine** · 06-18-2006, 02:45

And I forgot to mention my favorites -that are ones generally praised : Feint (has an acoustic version as well) and Cry For The Moon are their pieces standing out.