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[miko2]

Today's Song: Never Enough by Epica

Speaking of Dutch symphonic metal bands that weren't on iTunes until recently, I present for you Epica. These guys were formed when Mark Jansen left After Forever (another very good Dutch symphonic metal band) and teamed up with his then-girlfriend Simon Simons, a mezzo-soprano who was an unknown at the time. They named themselves after a cd by American power metal band Kamelot, and soon were wowing crowds with their own take on symphonic metal. I have one of their cds, and I consider them probably the most taleneted band in the genre, aside from Nightwish of course. And now that Nightwish has a new vocalist who isn't really an operatic style singer, many people are ready to hand the crown to Epica.

Some bands in this genre or in related progressive and power metal genres like to write whole cds as if they are soundtracks to some unknown fantasy movie. Epica took this one step further -- their cd "The Score -- An Epic Journey" is a fully-orchestrated non-rock soundtrack for the Dutch movie Joyride. It's a little jarring because it doesn't necessarily sound like the rest of what the band does -- as if Danny Elfman were writing his lovely orchestral film scores under his old band name Oingo Boingo. But it is impressive.

All that said, there's something about this band that just doesn't grab me. I think that their music is so artistically inclined, with so much emphasis on the symphonic and operatic qualities, that it winds up not actually being very compelling as rock music. Nightwish, after all is said and done, play a brand of highly polished power metal with pop music leanings that is quite easy to like. Their choruses have hooks, to put it bluntly. That's one thing that seperates Nightwish from Epica, and probably a reason why Epica will never achieve the same level of popularity.

Never Enough - Epica

Quietus - Epica
Dance of Fate - Epica
Consign to Oblivion - Epica