General Information

Original Author: The Uncreator

Artist: Epica

Album: Consign To Oblivion

Genre: Symphonic Metal

Tracklist

01. Hunab K'u (A New Age Dawns - Prologue)
02. Dance Of Fate
03. The LAst Crusade (A New Age Dawns - Part 1)
04. Solitary Ground
05. Blank Infinity
06. Force Of The Shore
07. Quietus
08. Mother Of Light (A New Age Dawns - Part 2)
09. Trois Vierges
10. Another Me - In Lack'ech
11. Consign To Oblivion (A New Age Dawns - Part 3)

Sound

8 The first Epica album i bought 3 years ago which sent me on the wonderful journey through there soundscapes of the most majestic might and breathtaking beauty. While not on par with my other review of "The Divine Conspiracy", This album is still absolutely incredible.

Guitars

8 As always with Epica there riffs are very beefy and very heavy. They flow alongside the orchestrations (or vice versa) with seemingly no effort. The guitars are never based around complex solo's or leads, the riffs always act as another voice of an orchestra, Its never as if its a guitar playing over an orchestra, its an orchestra with a guitar in it, as another instrument among many. Nevertheless it will make your headbang, and your room shudder. Heavy and merciless to soft and mellow, to almost of state of non existence in its most subtle moments, its beautiful.

Bass

7 While most of the time the bass is following the orchestrations and guitars its still very cool. The riffs are solid and never let up. The bass work gets better throughout the album, Gracing the album as another wonderful figure in a painting. Not always noticeable, sometimes it must be sought out to be enjoyed.

Drums

8 One of my favorite aspects of Epica, there drums. One of the few bands where i can here just the drums (usually) and just say 'thats and Epica song!' They are very.....God forgive me for this, But they are EPIC. A War drum like sound, with the deep tone, fast double bass and groove based fills, always an element to be enjoyed!!

Vocals/ Mark Jansen

10 If you are not familiar with Epica, or are getting into them, know that they are usually identified with Simone Simmons, the female singer. But they have a demonic side as well, the guitarist, Mark Jansen, lends his ever evil growls and screams to this album. I believe i mentioned this on another review, but when Mark Jansen layers his screams over his growls the effect produced is astonishing, i love the tone of his voice, it makes the darkest moments of the songs really come alive.

Vocals/ Simone Simmons

10 If i could rate it 10,000 i would, Simone Simmons is not only one of the most incredible singers in the world, But she also has a talent not every singer possesses. She can sing but a few words and capture your soul. Her operatic voice is simply beyond description, if there are voices to angels then it is hers. Songs like 'Dance Of Fate' just circle your mind in wonderous beauty and brilliance, while songs like 'Quietus' and 'Trois Vierges' could put you into the deepest slumber, her phrasing is perfect, her vibrato is perfect, her enunciation is perfect, i mean this in all honestly when i say she is without flaw.

Lyrics

9 Yet another aspect of Epica which few bands match. Epica's main lyricists, Mark Jansen and Simone Simmons, produce astounding work, there use of words not only is vivid and alive, but there songs can speak to you on a personal level, they do with me quite a bit.

From "Dance Of Fate"

When darkness will reign and blind us all
Allegiance will bind us if we do not fall

We cannot tell when morning comes
Is there a choice to live another day?
It's hard to find a new direction in your fragile life
The precious time of your existence is now to come
Don't throw your life away by cheating time
Sugared placebos only fool your mind

Now I want the water to wash away all my sins
The wind to blow away my thoughts without meaning
The fire to burn away my thickened skin

When darkness will reign and blind us all
Allegiance will bind us if we do not fall

Novas portas pandimus

What is this pace, the type of dance?
I cannot tell which steps I have to take
I'd like to leave, just run away
My feet are tangled up
So hard to face the pace of the clock
What do you think; will it ever stop?
So will I fall and not get up?
I take it all in stride

Now I want the water to wash away all my sins
The wind to blow away my thoughts without meaning
The fire to burn away my thickened skin

Everything has a reason for its happening
Can't you tell it's your own spell and
Everyone has to dance this dance like anyone
Can't break free of destiny
We should open new doors and
Close the ones that we've left behind

Now I want the water to wash away all my sins
The wind to blow away my thoughts without meaning
The fire to burn away my thickened skin

When darkness will reign and blind us all
Allegiance will bind us if we do not fall

Novas portas pandimus
Et post nos occludimus

From "Consign To Oblivion"

How can we let this happen and
Just keep our eyes closed 'till the end
The only thing that counts is the prosperity of today
Most important to us is that our bills get paid
Our good intentions have always been delayed

How can we let this happen and
Just keep our eyes closed 'till the end
When we will stand in front of heaven's gate
It will be too late!
Try to unlearn all that you've learnt
Try to listen to your heart
No, we can't understand the universe
By just using our minds
We are so afraid of all the things unknown

A must we appease is the lust to get laid
Nothing really matters, just devouring our prey
Our good intentions have always been delayed so
Our generous acts have always come too late
How can we let this happen and
Just keep our eyes closed 'till the end
When we will stand in front of heaven's gate
It will be too late!

Try to unlearn all that you've learnt
Try to listen to your heart
No, we can't understand the universe
By just using our minds
We are so afraid of all the things unknown
We just flee into a dream that never comes true

Low to the ground we feel safe
Low to the ground we feel brave

Oblivisci tempta quod didicisti

Open your eyes, we're not in paradise
How can't you see this stress is killing me?
Fulfil your dreams; life is not what is seems to be
We have captured time
So time made us all hostages without mercy

Seemingly generous fooling ourselves
Selfishly venomous time tells
Too much thinking goes at the cost of all our intuition
Our thoughts create reality
But we neglect to be!
So we're already slaves of our artificial world
We shouldn't try to control life
But listen to the laws of nature

Open your eyes, we're not in paradise
How can't you see this stress is killing me?
Fulfil your dreams; life is not what is seems to be
We have captured time
So time made us all hostages without mercy

Low to the ground we feel safe
Low to the ground we feel brave

We all think we're generous
But we only fool ourselves
The only thing that matters is
Our way and our vision

Selfishly we're venomous
But you know the time tells us
There is more to life than our
Higher positions, race for perfection
Better, faster
We must return to the laws of the nature
Free ourselves from madness

Overall Impression

9 A Near perfect album. A canvas painted with majestic riffs, epic arrangements, beautiful and demonic vocals, heavy riffs, and great drumming. If you are a fan of any other Epica album, Nightwish, Therion, Or any Symphonic Metal band, this is an album for YOU!