As you said you like death metal, you will be happy to learn that Epica can go VERY HEAVY. For a really heavy song I would suggest "The Essence of Silence" the official live version is amazing, but be prepared for growls. If you want to experience the full range of Epicas music in a single song, I would suggest "Chasing the Dragon - Retrospect" going from beautiful ballad slowly but surely into black / death metal and back in just 7 minutes. For something heavier without the growls I would suggest "In All Conscience". Or you can go all the way back to the start, "Cry for the Moon" I would suggest the version from Omega Alive, as its my personal favourite version.
Great to see you doing some Epica. Suggestion for another shot would be ‘Once upon a Nightmare’ from the Omega Alive show or for a ballad it has to be the amazing ‘Rivers’ ft Apocalyptica from this same AFAS Live show.
+1 for ‘Rivers’. ❤ I have a weak spot for that song and the AFAS Live version in particular. Simone is absolutely perfect on that one (as she is on this video - Unleashed). 😊
Enjoyed your reaction. Highly recommend you go and watch the live version from their 10th anniversary Retrospect concert. This performance is from their headlining tour of Europe last year and is fantastic but the orchestra and choir are backing tracks. With backing tracks you don't get the full frequency spectrum of teh orchestral instruments. At the Retrospect concert the orchestra and choir are live and on stage with the band so you get the full wall of sound. It is even more epic and beautiful. Next Epica, Essence of Silence live from Brussels or Once Upon a Nightmare from Omega Alive or Sirens - of Blood and Water, official music video or you can go for their magnus opus, Kingdom of Heaven, Part 3. Since you mentioned Death Metal you should checkout Myrkur. Female fronted Black Metal/Folk Band from Denmark. She is one of the singers in Epica's Sirens of Blood and Water. Started as a Black Metal project and slowly moved towards traditional Nordic folk music. I would start with Ulvinde music video to get a feel for her Black Metal influenced music. Then you can checkout her more folk influenced music like Ella and Leaves of Yggdrasil from her Folksange album and then Like Human and Mothlike from her latest album Spine. Here is a little treat of her singin in a Kulning style. ru-vid.comV0EzDOCcUHI?si=YMhuoAzIEzPcNUe7. Kulning is a traditional style of singing used by Swedish womens on farms to call home cattle from the pastures.
@@purplebutterflywithabrokenwing And btw, Unleashed from the Retrospect concert is 2013, while the AFAS version that you reacted to, is 2023, so you can compare them 10 years apart if you watch both versions.
I will suggest Apocalyptica, they are a finnish Band, that plays Instrumental with Cellos, and have a lot of Collabs with different Singers, here are a couple of suggestions. Apocalyptica feat. Simone Simons - Rise Again (Live in London). ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dCplcb8NaJA.html Apocalyptica feat. Elize Ryd - What We are up Against ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PRnJLx2HnAw.html And Epica - Sirens of Blood and Water feat. Charlotte Wessels & Myrkur (official Video, I don't believe they have a live version) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-svGQ-q9gx68.html
@@purplebutterflywithabrokenwingCan you do it maybe next week? 🙂 While you still have "Unleashed" in your head. Please don't wait... It's better to focus on one band and do several songs in a row. And with Epica, I guarantee you that there's a lot to choose from. I mean dozens of great songs. It's good that you like death metal, etc., because Epica can get pretty heavy. Definitely heavier than Nightwish. I would strongly suggest at least these three next: Epica - The Essence of Silence (Official Live video) Epica - The Obsessive Devotion (Official Live video) Epica - A Phantasmic Parade (Official European Tour Principle Aftermovie)
I WISH this band had a larger US following, because the feeling at these huge venues must be incredible. But I hope they do one more small-medium tour here... I need to make it to the next one.
Well they played in the US in 22 but as an opener for Sabaton great show but only for an hour set and was to short but This band is so different seen them 5 Times and wow some band members actually meet and talk with the fans before and after the show got to chat with guitarist the drummer and the keyboard player that was awesome 😎
'Rivers' featuring Apocalyptica is a must. Closely followed by 'The Skeleton Key', 'Kingdom of Heaven pt3' and 'Beyond The Matrix' please. New subscriber.
Cool reaction! Next to Dutch Epica (from my small country) there are way more awesome Dutch metal bands to discover! Blackbriar, Delain, The Gathering, Within Temptation, God Detroned, Pestilence.....
I have never thought of my playlist as bipolar. I do go from Slaughter to Prevail to Marina And The Diamonds though. You should check out KANINE - DAMAGED or maybe DeathbyRomy - Hellhound feat. Jazmin Bean.
Hello. I strongly advise you to watch the song “Rivers” from the same concert, it’s simply magically beautiful, Simone’s voice accompanied by cellos: Epica feat Apocalyptica - Rivers (live at the AFAS)
This is one of Epica most beautiful performances from their 10th anniversary tour Live orchestra , choir and a surprise Chasing the dragon ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dx-FsHAQHp8.htmlsi=3-3r5ozIlUiwBQ6C
Great reaction. One of my favourite things about their live videos is how much fun they have together. Don't know how this didn't end up on my dash for three weeks, but glad it got here eventually. My personal favourite is Kingdom of Heaven pt. 1 live in Mexico ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PF56D9mrlck.htmlsi=GZfHZ6xB9Ds2y16C it's a fan made video.
Epica is my all-time favorite metal band. I've seen them live about 5 times. Most recently in 2022 when they opened for Sabaton in Philly. All the other times were when they were the headliners.
And that is how you fall in love with a band at first sight (or listen lol) They are something else Check out also the performance of this song 11 years before in the Retrospect show, with live full orchestra and choir And of course continue with more songs. Anything is amazing.
Epica and Simone are another symphonic metal veterans. Interestingly, Tarja was instrumental in Simone's decision to study classical singing. At age of 15, she listened to Nightwish's second album, Oceanborn, for first time. Simone was so impressed with Tarja's vocals that she started taking classical singing lessons. As we can see in Epica, her mastery of classical vocals came in handy.
Not always! Retrospect sound mixing isn't that good in some songs. For someone who is listening for the first time, studio version with lyrics may be better.
I forgot Epica was a thing! Last song by them I listened to was "Take me away" and that was years ago! Also, if you want an interesting band to listen to that has some amazing costumes, and rather unique style of music, I suggest Heilung, and the thumbnail for their song "Norupo" has a good image of the lead female singer's costume, as well as being a good starting place to hear their style. Also The Hu, with their song Wolftotem.
What's "Take me away"? Did you mean "We Will Take You With Us"? That's not a song but a live TV studio session from 2004. Beautiful. Simone was just 19 back then and her soprano was still somewhat undeveloped but also the most unique I've ever heard. There is now a high quality digitally remastered full HD version of that gem available on youtube!
@@Roman_137 No, I just checked, and I think its because the record the song is on has "Epicon" on the cover art that I misremembered. Its Globus who did it, not Epica.
Yeah Epica is a great band, live even better! I was at that concert and it was great. It was a doubleshow with Acalyptica, so please react to Epica ft Apocalyptica with Rivers from the same show!
