ROADIE REACTIONS | "Epica - Sancta Terra feat. Floor Jansen (Live)" 

I think their song Kingdom of Heaven live could blow your mind. Quite the symphonic metal masterpiece

You mentioned the connection between Floor and Simone, as well as Floor and Mark (both were in After Forever) but the connection doesn't end there. Simone is married to Oliver Polotai, the keyboards player of another metal band : Kamelot (in fact she was pregnant during this show which is why she didn't headbang as violently as Floor did xD ) . Very early Epica (then named Sahara Dust) was in fact Kamelot's support band during their Epica tour (from their namesake album), and it is from Kamelot's Epica album title that the name of the band comes from. Kamelot was the support band during Nightwish's 2012 Imaginaerum US tour, during which then-Nightwish-vocalist Anette Olzon fell ill minutes before their Denver show. Kamelot's session vocalists Elize Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz covered for Anette and the show went on while she was hospitalized. Nightwish's decision to go forward with the show upset Anette and she publicly criticized the band on her blog. This was the last straw in Anette's and Nightwish's already troubled relationship and days later, the band fired her, with Floor acting as her replacement for the remainder of the tour. We know the rest of the story. Elize Ryd was also considered by Nightwish as a vocalist - way back in 2005 when they fired their first vocalist, Tarja Turunen. They thought Elize was too young and inexperienced at the time and went with Anette instead. Elize went on to found her own band, Amaranthe. Unrelated to this, on their first album with Anette, Nightwish released a song titled Amaranth. Is your heads spinning yet? XD

One reason for why Floor and Simone's voices mesh so well is that they trained under the same vocal teacher: Amanda Somerville

Barely 30 seconds into the music, 10 seconds into the main riff: _"Oh no... not ye-- ... you gotta resist for little whi-- ... just... ... oh... Oh dear._ _He succumbed to the headbang already._ _The final roundup is just going to be a video of his chiropractor visit."_

The plastic shield is also because the drums can set up a resonance inside the bodies of hollow instruments. If placed wrong or not shielded it will change the sound of the orchestra instruments. A sound engineer commented about this on a Within Temptation (Black Symphony) concert where they also have a full orchestra and choir.

"sooo into the video that I forgot the MAIN REASON I DO THIS REACTIONS" ... LOVED THAT TANK! there's no better way to react to this!!!! Keep up the good work Man!!!

Acustic is for "Design Your Universe" - one of two their best songs. Must react that one.

I love the fact that you have Nightwish music playing in the background :D

Next: Design Your Universe(Live Restropect)

From the same show "Stabat mater dolorosa" also with Floor.

Fact to know: Simone was pregnant in this show. Let's go!

I remember watching this for the first time live on my laptop! It was my first ever livestreamed show and if I remember correctly it was 5€ to see the stream. I've done a lot of these this year, but in 2013 it was not the norm! Since it was their 10th anniversary, they wanted to include as much fans as possible and managed to get their show streamed! Simone was in the early stages of her pregnancy here, they made it public a few weeks after this show. Floor wasn't the only guest, former band members Yves Huts (bass), Jeroen Simons (Drums) and Ad Sluijter (Guitar) joined the band on stage for the song Quietus, replacing the current members just for that song.

Taaaaaaank! Great reaction! 🎧🎼📣❣ You're banging A LOT during this... as you should be 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻 and I really enjoyed listening to this with you!....... "Aw, is that it?" 😁👍🏻 Man, this song is so good, it's like, the anthem of humankind or something! I am so glad you have an appreciation for Symphonic Metal, it generates such powerful music and I think the world needs much more of it. It's reactors like yourself though that are the torch bearers for this genre, so my biggest thanks is for that ❤🤘🏻 Greetings from Namibia 🌃⛲⚔🇳🇦🤘🏻

Design Your Universe next, please? From the same concert

C'mon tank,break down what the orchestra's playing too 🤣

As you may remember from a previous comment I made, I spent some time as a live sound man. I can't even imagine what it's like to mix all that. Full orchestra, full voice choir, and a metal band all in one hit. The equipment for all that must be phenomenal. Way over my old head these days.

If you like orchestra on the stage, I highly recomend to watch some Within Temptation. The Black Symphony concert is epic! Start with Our solemn hour!

That was a really epic presentation in perfect harmony. Thank you for an also perfect reaction as usual. In my opinion the voices of Simone and Floor fit together perfectly, bedded into a breathtaking orchestral masterpiece. I love it

Nice catch with the shield behind the drummer, never noticed it!! And I've watched this video a lot!!!

Thanks for the info about the clear screen setup behind the drummer - like an idiot I’ve been thinking all this time that it was to prevent an orchestra member from being potentially skewered in the head from a random flying drumstick. 😂😂😂

I won't say anything about this, it'll be a surprise :) EPICA - Stabat Mater Dolorosa w/Floor Jansen (Retrospect 10th Anniversary DVD I)

Glad you liked Epica! They and Nightwish were the gateway into my love of metal via Pandora back in the day and I have not regretted a moment of that. Thanks for reacting to this, glad you had such a good time!

I love this song so much & just all the hair! It's awesome

Whenever I see Floor, I'm always waiting for a Tank Fact on a piece of production . . . the fan in front of Floor to give the epic hair flying effect haha

How beautyfull can a song be. Orchestra, choir, band and two godess singers. Great reaction my friend! Goosbumps over and over again.

I really needed this, this was an awful day but you, Simone and Floor made it better :) Let's gooooo!

Holy balls, the production value on this show... out of this world. This song sounds a lot like classic After Forever in a very good way; it has that middle eastern vibe Mark Jansen often brings to the table and I've missed hearing Floor sing to it. She and Simone really vibe together!

I always thought that rock and classical music added to each other. Just like the contrast between heavy brush strokes and light and darkness and light itself. The contrast between the two styles brings out the best quality of both and invoke a strong emotional response. Good job and review as always - enjoyed it.

Thanks for the info Tank. You always find something of note to comment about. That drummers shield was there all the time anid i missed it. Nice!!!

Cheers to the Drummer who hammered this out flawlessly like a machine. Cheers you beast.

Loved it, Tank! That you forgot about the gear until the end is awesome. A testament to how powerful a performance Epica puts on.

What a great song, and having Floor featured is a bonus! You should also check out Soilwork's "Let This River Flow" live from Helsinki. Which also features Floor Jansen!!! 🤘🤘🤘

Thank you, I have wondered for a long time why the shield around drummers. Have noticed at concerts and various youtube videos.

Aaaaaah YES!!! My favorite 2 singers singing together in one of my top favorite bands! Can't wait for this one!!!

First this epic performance and tomorrow the Nightwish Wednesday. Sweeeeeet :)

This is the moment when acoustic guitars are brought to a fixed base. To play the song design your universe. At the beginning of the song, both guitarists start with acoustic guitars and then quickly switch to the electric guitars they put around their necks. This concert belongs to 2013. Simone is three months pregnant at this concert. And one of the best epica concerts. In the 39th minute of the concert, one of the violinists comes to isaac and they start playing the presto song, which of course the orchestra accompanies them in the background, which is wonderful. This concert is worth seeing in full.

Wow I have seen this video a thousand times and never noticed the plastic behind the drummer!?! Great reaction Tank!

I am regularly amazed at the things you notice and how much knowledge you have of instruments and stage works. It is fun to learn from you.

So glad to see someone in stage tech witness the magic that happened in this performance.

Back in the days Floor and Simone often guested each others bands on different festivals and I believe I saw ReVamp, Epica and one more band with a wild Female singer - on tour once. One big family of top female singers - crist they good👍🤘🤘

You do a great windmill yourself ! love the combination of orchestra, classical singing and metal music. It is epic!

I'm so glad you did this, thank you!!

Awesome reaction awesome song! Btw earlier today I thought for a moment that was Wednesday and I couldn't find a Tank's Nightwish reaction programmed for today and I freaked out

Wow I honestly had my doubts to whether any other female singer could ever compare to Floor’s insane abilities but yea I actually really love this woman’s voice as well, just incredible together my god, and let’s not leave out the amazing orchestra and choir, I mean u just know when u see this coming into any live performance u freakin KNOW ur about to see something GRRREAT!!! MAGICAL!!

You always confuse the hell out of me lol but in a good way meaning with all the stuff on stage and instruments and stuff. One of my favourite vids from Epica here, Cheers tank! \m/

An audio engineers nightmare to get all those mics set and blended for the band singers choir and orchestra. Terrific job.

Oh man what a power duo, these girls are out of this world and Tank thank you so much for this cover and introducing me to Epica, killer band now firmly placed on my fav playlists. Super reaction video like always! keep up the good work and stay safe :)

Epic band epic show epic everything epica plus floor it doesn’t get any better than that epic reaction again bro 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻

Oh, wow, I did not know the orchestra and choir was hungarian until now. :D Nice. T(h)anks for the fun Tank facts again.

The trillogy has been completed: Julia, You, and now Chase! Each breakdown adds more to the richness of the music when you listen to it without critique! Great job!!!

'Sancta Terra' (Holy Ground?) won't ever get out of my head, ever!

Let's go for the definitive metal+orchestra corssover. Septicflesh live with orchestra in the Infernus Sinfonica DVD. "Dark Art" is a good song to start with.

Good one Tank. Loved it. Hope you are doing great! Peace.

This was appropriately very epic! Did you ever see the video of Over The Hills and Far Away where Tarja and Floor are singing together? It is for sure a floortargasm!

don't know if you are still reading this, but yeah this show was something else, i was there live and it is firmly in my top 3 shows i have seen in my life. Epica is criminally underrated and even myself sometimes forget they exist, but without fail everytime i am reminded of them im am pleasantly 'surprised' and Floor is just a wonderfull person, besides crazy talented also very kind, had a conversation with her after one of her shows before she joined nightwish, had a signature of her on the back of my phone for years

Floor actually did another song with Epica during this concert.

great reaction as always, tnx tank

I woulda loved to have actually been there, but I'm still immensely grateful to Epica for streaming the whole thing. I was in my dorm in college some thousands of miles or so away glued to my laptop screen for those 3 hours. Biggest concert I've ever "been" to, and probably will be to

This was a definitely a great, almost 3 hours long "crème de la crème" explosive show. But if you like the metal blend with other genres, try their show "The Classical Conspiracy" from Miskolc, Hungary 2008. They have played the metal versions of Verdi, Vivaldi, Dvořák, Prokofiev, Händel, Grieg and the movie instrumental soundtracks as Spider Man, The Empire Strikes Back and Pirates of the Caribbean. I'm sure you'll love it 💥🔥👌

This was an amazing concert... I wish I had been able 2 have seen it live.

Oh I was waiting for this one!! Great that you finally go to it.... looking forward to seeing/hearing your thoughts on this one.

Took too long to get to that one. :-) Another band with orchestra on stage is Within Temptation - Black Symphony Live. songs: Angels, Jiliian, Our Solemn Hour or the ballad Somewhere with Anneke van Giersbergen (inspirer of Floor Jansen, collaboratoor of Devin Townsend and Ayeron)

I can still remember being at this concert, sigh it's been a while since I saw them live. Last was in Osaka, Japan. One of my all time favorite bands, with Within Temptation and Nightwish

thank you for the reminder i need to listen to more Epica. :)

YES!! I’ve been waiting to see your reaction of this!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Love Nightwish background music! Epica is an amazing band!! Great reaction

I love how metal singers have chemical reactions I began to admire Epica when I saw Simon singing with Roy Khan of Kamelot exquisite they are

The concert was in an old industrial complex "Klokgebouw" (Philips) Eindhoven, Netherlands. Like 20 miles from my home and i wasn't there:( But i saw other great acts there like Devin Townsend, Opeth, Mesjuggah and many more:) Eindhoven is metal capitol of the Netherlands,back in the days known for Dynamo Open Air festival and ofcourse Philips lightning, buzzing toothbrushes, mri-scans, the cd, hifi and stuff...

Nice reaction, thank you. Don't think they were roomies, think they were in music school together and became friends. Have seen vidoe of them singing at the piano with wine after dinner at one of their homes before Floor moved to Sweden. Fun fact....Simone's mic stand is shaped as an S.

Oh damn, Insomnium! Haven't heard that song in ages. Excellent taste in music man :D

Quite a achievement from that orchestra and choir, almost 3 hours with some quick songs like unleashed with the pyro.. must have been quite a experience. And they played the 2 acoustic ones at the beginning of "design your universe" great song btw..hint hint

Don't know why, I never listened to much Epica, but damn do I love it when I hear them

🤘🤘❤🤘🤘😁✌🏼🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Excellent as always!!!!.

"Design your Universe" and "Unleashed" are best two songs from retrospect imo Tank, but as I told Chase "Chasing the Dragon" is Simone's best vocal work

they brought a bunch of acoustics out. each guitar player had one for the opening of "Design Your Universe". excellent song.

It is so nice to see when you discover bands I've been hearing for ten years ore more.

This whole show was amazing. Suggesting Design Your Universe from it. Or Monopoly on Truth, with the orchestral intro, which starts the show off really well.

drummer is insane. the two ladies are harmonising so good. interesting, how floor is able to adapt her voice to simones voice.

I sent this link to my brother during lockdown. His reaction was one word: INSANE. 😎😎

The entire Retrospect show with the orchestra & choir is fire. 🔥

Thank you for more Epica! Very good live, if you get the opportunity GO! One of these days you need to react to Therion, arguably considered the founding fathers of Symphonic Metal. They where releasing albums with this sound back in the mid 90's with symphony, choir, and operatic vocals. Unfortunately not many live shows exist in good quality. Plus most studio tracks the songs contain only operatic vocals, so live shows sound completely different. Defiantly something that warrants a live vs studio comparison in the review. Therion's sound is not for everyone and each album's concept can vary the symphonic element. Please put this band on your radar as they play a role in the history of Symphonic Metal. Best albums in my opinion release from 1995-2007, they changed the sound a bit after that and many fans dropped off. A new album is coming out and the track released has the classic sound so they may be returning to their older style. The 2007 tour probably has the best quality recordings online. Just remember the live show will sound VERY different from the album. I know you prefer live shows, but IMO to truly appreciate Therion the studio recordings should be included in any review. Some personal favorites: Cults of the Shadow - Theli, Rise Of Sodom And Gomorrah - Vovin, Via Nocturna - Deggial, Ginnungagap - Secret of the Runes, An Arrow From The Sun - Lemuria

Stabat Mater Dolorosa is another duet by them. After forever was the first band with Floor with guitar player and founder Mark Janssen. He left and formed Epica. His girlfriend then was Simone. Simone is one of the main singers on the new Ayreon album Transitus. Keyboard player, Joost van den Broek, is now keyboard player in Ayreon.

I Can't hear this song too many times. I'm in love with these Divas. FLOOR! 😍

Martyr of the Free World - Epica. This is the song that got me into symphonic rock 🎸 Let’s go! 💪 And question, when are you coming out with merch! 🤣🙌❤️

One of the orchestra's French horns was a Lidl. Hand-made in Brno, Czech..... I had one the same!

do the full show !! only 3 hours i was there! this show is still the best i see live !!

This is how it sounds when the heavens open up and the angels come down.

The acoustic guitar at the end was probably for Design Your Universe, another amazing song by Epica. And yes, the reaction you did for Poet and the Pendulum was Wembley. And speaking of Wembley, please, please do The Greatest Show on Earth from Wembley. Tampere is amazing but Wembley is just extra special. I promise you won’t regret it.

Man was that epic! Enjoyed every single bit of it :D

Great performance, cheers Tank loved it.

Aaaaaw man, as usual, we keyboardists are passed by. What was he playing?? Never mind, even though the huge logos are taped off, it is clearly a Roland Fantom 'G8'. Thanks for the reaction, I have only discovered this band in recent weeks, but have been a Nightwish fan for a while. Even bought a ticket for the recent VIRTUAL concert (O: I see Epica is going to do something similar soon to support a new release. (Omega)

The whole choir really gives this song and other in this live show a big uplift in what singing can do! More choir metal is needed ;) I really have to wonder why Finland does not have huge amouth of heavy metal choirs? :)

One of my favorites! It’s so beautiful I can’t stand it! Keep rockin’ it out! 🤘🏻❤️

Ofcourse we like this video! Live orchestra and choir with this kick-ass band is awesome ❤🤘❤👊

After forever... energize me...equally destructive

FINALLY! I was wondering when you were gonna react to this one. Let's gooooooo!

WOOHOOO!!! Thanks for this Tank 😁 You’ll love other songs from this show 😉 Definitely check out Unleashed (pyro over the crowd indoors??), Design Your Universe, and Chasing the Dragon (acrobats!) 👍 Have a fantastic day 🤘😎🎸

Thanks for getting back to Epica. Please do more. Universal Death Squad (Lyric Video), Kingdom Of Heaven (Lyric Video), Unleashed (Live Video), Abyss Of Time (Official Video). Fun surprise gear wise in Abyss.

Simone has such a great voice, I love it when Ayreon feature her in songs too!

this duo...i really wanted to leave a comment about this but...ill just say thank you tank well chosen im all in for more epica ... ... and more floor ofc she has a new cover out from frozen its great