EPICA

Omega NUCLEAR BLAST

The be-all and end-all for symphonic metal?

BOTH MUSICALLY AND lyrically, symphonic linchpins Epica remain fully beholden to their name, but even in the adrenaline-fixated world of metal is it possible that they’re reaching saturation point? After nine albums Simone Simons and chums are showing no signs of letting up with Omega. Its 12 tracks of strings and hulking great choirs à la Carl Orff are wrapped around their omega point theory conceptual framework for maximum sensory explosion.

With so many layers of unadulterated bombast, it almost bursts with cinematic soundscapes that are balanced beautifully on the album’s more sensitive moment, , swelling with childlike emotion as it reaches its crescendo. By contrast, the Eastern-tinged – a flavour that Epica often apply to add a luxurious, otherworldly gleam to their sound – opts for their tried and tested fast-and-heavy tactic.