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Review: Epica - The Quantum Enigma
Epica
www.epica.nl
The Quantum Enigma

Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Year released: 2014
Duration: 1:09:27
Tracks: 13
Genre: Symphonic Metal

Rating:
4/5


Review online: August 7, 2014
Reviewed by: MetalMike
Readers' Rating
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Rated 4.6/5 (92%) (5 Votes)
Review

I have been listening to Epica's The Quantum Enigma non-stop for the past week and there are a couple of things I have learned over that time. Epica remains one of the best Symphonic/Power/Gothic Metal bands in existence. As expected, the production is spotless and the album sounds fantastic. Front-woman Simone Simons' voice is in fine form as she weaves her emotive delivery into every song. The band has opted for a lot of "Carmina Burana"-style choirs on this album and, as much as I dislike the overuse of any one element, I can't help but get a thrill every time I hear one. The guitars, keyboards and drums are all perfectly balanced and Epica truly focuses on the "metal" with only a few strategic ballads and interludes. The Quantum Enigma is a "heavy" album, to be sure. "The Second Stone" has the best chorus, followed closely by "Omen – The Ghoulish Malady," and "Chemical Insomnia," which comes out of the slower track "The Fifth Guardian – Interlude" kicks off the second half of the album with a fantastic riff. There's a lot of good stuff going on here, but I find The Quantum Enigma to be just a bit less memorable than its predecessor, Requiem for the Indifferent. It just isn't quite as catchy or memorable.

The Quantum Enigma may not be the best Epica album, but it still beats a lot of other releases in this ever-increasingly competitive genre. It should not be missed by fans of Delain, Xandria, Leaves' Eyes, et al.

More about Epica...
Review: Consign to Oblivion (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Epica vs. Attack on Titan Songs (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: Requiem for the Indifferent (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: The Alchemy Project (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: The Divine Conspiracy (reviewed by Bruce Dragonchaser)
Review: The Phantom Agony (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: The Solace System (reviewed by MetalMike)
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