From the moment I first heard Epica in September 2005, I was hooked. The Dutch symphonic metal band's most recent offering, The Divine Conspiracy, is just a confirmation that I'll be under their spell for many more years to come. It's like all elements of Epica's sound have been upgraded: soprano Simone Simons is more confident, expressive and experimental with her vocals, the guitars are boosted up in the mix, Mark Jansen's lyrics are more brilliant than ever, and the choir is insane. And lest we forget, session drummer Arian van Weesenbeek (of God Dethroned) contributes nothing but brutality with blast beats and rhythms notably more complex than what can be found on previous Epica works.

With that said, it's easy to assume that all die-hard Epica fans will continue being die-hard Epica fans. If anything, Epica's entire fanbase will love them even more now -- no exceptions.

Well, that's not necessarily the truth. When I tell you that The Divine Conspiracy is heavy music, I sincerely mean that IT IS HEAVY MUSIC. It has been interesting to witness Epica's fanbase expanding, turning the heads of even black-metal devotees. Yes, there are numerous melodic elements incorporated into the music as well (they couldn't truly be Epica without melody), but The Divine Conspiracy is most fit for headbanging.

Don't label it as "dumb metalhead" music quite yet though. The Divine Conspiracy is indeed a concept album, and it tells an interesting tale: Imagine God is testing us all with releasing a variety of religions upon the world. Holy wars are started, people bicker over what is right and wrong, what is sinful and what is proper, people kill each other in the name of their god(s). One day though, everyone gets down to the core of things and sees the true essence of all religions. It is at this point that they realize religions aren't too dissimilar from each other.

The journey gets going with "Indigo," a prologue that begins peacefully, the choir gently singing; soon it gets louder and more theatrical, only to jump right into the album's first 'real' song, "The Obsessive Devotion." Arien's drumming immediately steals the spotlight as the thick heavy rhythms collide beautifully with sharp guitar riffs and Simone and Mark's dueling vocals. As in many Epica songs, there's a Middle-Eastern flair which supplies a groove. I'm most fascinated by how smoothly "The Obsessive Devotion" transitions so wonderfully from Simone to guitarist Mark Jansen's aggressive screams to the goosebump-evoking Latin chants of the choir. People new to Epica may be startled at how well these seemingly different musical elements mix.

"Menace Of Vanity" opens with a chunky keyboard melody, giving way to one of the most metallic and head-snapping rhythms of Epica's career thus far. This song is all about the drums, bass, and Mark's shrieks of fury. Then there's "Chasing the Dragon," which fools the listener for a few minutes into thinking it's a peaceful ballad of solitude and beauty. Enter the blast beats, raging guitars, and more Mark Jansen and it becomes one of the album's heaviest and most unique entries.

The chaotic, intense "Death of a Dream" is another highlight. It features guest growls from After Forever guitarist/grunter Sander Gommans, and this song's storyline, based on a true story, is particularly interesting: an Islamic woman marries a nonreligious man, then is murdered by her own disapproving brother. Guaranteed to be remembered as a true Epica classic for years to come, "Fools of Damnation" opens with Arabic chanting and Simone's ethereal vocals. It is occasionally reminiscent of the early Epica song "Seif al Din," and its dark, progressive atmosphere may also bring to mind Prison of Desire-era After Forever.

Despite being pleasant enough, "Safeguard to Paradise" brings little to the piano-vocal ballad front that we've not seen before on a symphonic metal album. Don't get me wrong, this song is entirely listenable. I just feel that it lacks the magic of earlier Epica ballads such as "Trois Vierges" or, most particularly, "Run For A Fall." Completely compensating for this momentary lapse into 'less-than-perfect' is the album's title track, which is truly epic in every sense of the word. Yes, "The Divine Conspiracy" is only three seconds short of fourteen minutes in length, and I savor every second of it. The theatrical opening makes great use of the choir's whispered Latin chants, while the bombastic chorus contains some of Mark Jansen's simplest, yet most effective, lyrics to date:

Reach out, touch infinity
Life is just a memory
Time is not the entity
Like it used...to be

The divine conspiracy
Opens up reality
Time is not the entity
Like it claims...to be

Ah, gotta love the Dutch.

The Divine Conspiracy is a must-have for fans of symphonic, progressive, heavy female-fronted metal. I don't know how else to say it. Those who enjoy the Mark Jansen era of After Forever, in addition to previous Epica releases, will truly flip out over The Divine Conspiracy. Given its complexity, it's shocking how easy it is to listen to over and over. Through its many layers and its occasionally alarming heaviness, it has an accessibility that can only be defined as Epica. Trust me when I say that these melodies will linger in your mind for months.

Album of the year.


Related Works:

After Forever - Prison of Desire
Epica - We Will Take You With Us
Epica - Consign to Oblivion
Epica - The Score: An Epic Journey





Recommended: Yes