Name: The Divine Conspiracy
Brand: Nuclear Blast
SKU: 846886
Price: 10.85 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

The Divine Conspiracy

By Epica (Recorded By)

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2 Customer Reviews

Format

CD (1 Disc); Stereo

Release Date

1 August 2007

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£10.85

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£16.83

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Ships from UK Estimated delivery date: 28th Mar - 1st Apr from UK

2007 release, the third studio album from the Dutch Symphonic Metal band. The concept that guides the songs is that God created many different religions for humanity to figure out and overcome them so as to discover that, in nature and essence, they were all in fact the same one (hence the name,"The Divine Conspiracy").

Genre: Popular Music

Epica - Divine Conspiracy [CD]

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EAN

0727361195625

Writer

Epica (Recorded By)

Producer

Sascha Paeth, Sacha Paeth, Epica

Country

USA

Studio/Live

Studio

Label

Nuclear Blast

Dimensions

12.7 x 14.9 x 0.6 centimeters (0.04 kg)

Performer Notes

Lyricists: Amanda Somerville; Sascha Paeth.
Personnel: Olaf Reitmeier (vocals, baritone, acoustic guitar); Linda Van Summeren, Bridget Foggle (soprano); Simone Simons (mezzo soprano); Amanda Sommerville, Cinzia Rizzo (alto); Previn Moore (tenor); Amanda Somerville (spoken vocals, background vocals); Jeff Wade (spoken vocals); Ad Sluijter (guitar); Melvin Edmondsen (bass instrument); Yves Huts (bass guitar); Sascha Paeth (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Sascha Paeth.
Recording information: Smash Recordings, Liessel, The Netherlands (11/2006-02/2007); The Gate Studio, Wolfsburg, Germany (11/2006-02/2007); The Huts Studio, Antwerp, Belgium (11/2006-02/2007).
Editors: Olaf Reitmeier; Ad Sluijter.
Photographer: Rudy DeDoncker.
After two albums of generally finely crafted symphonic metal, Dutch ensemble Epica decided to indulge their orchestral kinks to the fullest with 2005's metal-free The Score: An Epic Journey, but they are back to their usual, genre-meshing stomping grounds with 2007's The Divine Conspiracy, which many fans will likely consider their proper third opus. Whatever the case may be, the album gets under way with the entirely symphonic "Indigo" prologue, before slamming into the metallic portion of the program with "The Obsessive Devotion." This, in typical Epica fashion, showcases not only the angelic soprano of Simone Simons, but also a manly baritone choir and ever more demonic death grunts from bandleader Mark Jansen -- all of them juggling lyrics in English and Latin! As with all of The Divine Conspiracy's -- and indeed Epica's -- best tracks (here including "Fools of Damnation" and "Sonata Terra"), the attraction ultimately hinges on exploring the sonic contrasts of light and dark; the punishing intensity of those elephantine guitar riffs and hyperactive drumming cast against the soaring, layered sweetness of the orchestrated strings and keyboards. Remove these contrasts and the fireworks they ignite, and largely uniform offerings like the ballads "Safeguard to Paradise" and "Chasing the Dragon" (overlong, featuring a brief black metal freak-out, and not about a great big lizard, believe it or not) simply leave one wanting more. Similarly, Epica still struggle to compete with hit-penning machines like Nightwish or Within Temptation when it comes to commercial singles with overpowering hooks (see the merely serviceable "Never Enough"). And just when you think Epica had escaped the shadow of the band that spawned them, After Forever, along comes the ambitious but uneven four-song suite titled "The Embrace That Smothers," which, actually originated in Jansen's former group (even though its first five installments appeared on Epica's debut). All that being said, give Epica credit for staying the course (winding as it may be) long enough to deliver the crowning achievement of their career thus far in The Divine Conspiracy's colossal, multi-faceted, 14-minute title track, which closes this LP. Now, if they can only maintain that stellar form for the duration of their next album, things could get really interesting. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Professional Reviews

Kerrang (Magazine) (p.48) - "Wallowing in self-confidence, Epica have moved into the premier league of this burgeoning genre..."

2 Reviews

5 out of 5 | From 2 Customer Ratings

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By Y. on July 5, 2010

Dutch Symphonic metal band Epica is one of my favourite female fronted band, they were fromed in early 2003. When Mark Jansen break away from the band After Forever, he formed this new band. Their Fourth full-length album has some change with their debut. Attractive melodies with angelic voice, the band now is perfect! Anybody like Nightwish, Lacuna Coil etc. should try this.

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By Daniela on April 3, 2008

Another fantastic CD by Epica, I don't even know what else there is to say! Like always, Epica deliver an amazing collection with soaring vocals by Simone Simons and stunning music! If you like the old Nightwish and Tarja- you'll love this band! A must have for anyone who loves symphonic metal!

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