EPICA

Omega Alive

NUCLEAR BLAST

Dutch symphonic metal icons unveil their grand designs

EPICA APPROACH THEIR 20th anniversary with the confidence and grace of a band who know they’ve never compromised in pursuit of grandiose creative ambitions. Spread across over 90 minutes of sprawling, epic metal compositions as performed in a Belgium-based livestream earlier this year, Omega Alive sees the Dutch band exercise the fullness of their sound as they show just how they became one of symphonic metal’s most recognisable names.

As opposed to the more directly operatic stylings of Nightwish or gothic inclinations of Within Temptation, Epica’s strength has always been in how seamlessly the band blend imperious prog-tinged death metal with their classical components, fitting in as comfortably with the likes of Opeth or Oceans exemplifies this from the off, opening number going for broke with a sweeping metal composition that soars on the interplay between Simone Simons’ theatrical melodies and Mark Jansen’s apocalyptic growl.