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| Simone Simons of Epica, Copyright Pete Troshak |
Trocadero Theater
Philadelphia, PA
10/25/12
Epica’s music is built on contrasts. Classical influences and the operatic soaring mezzo-soprano voice of Simone Simons vs. the rough growling vocals of guitarist/singer Mark Jansen and the band’s relentless, pounding riffs and rhythms. The band was tight and powerful, rattling the grand old building with a display of roaring metal thunder. Simons’ voice was in excellent form as usual, soaring sweet above the din to the roof of the one hundred forty year old venue and rolling out over the crowd in emotional waves.
The band kick-started their 80 minute set with the twisting and turning “Monopoly on Truth”, a new track that represents the light and shade of the band as well as anything in their catalog. They followed with ten more tracks of roller coaster highs and lows, hitting on selections from all five albums. The main set ended on with an explosive duo – a stirring rendition of “Sancta Terra” immediately followed by their first single, “The Phantom Agony”, which sacrificed no power despite being a decade old. They returned for the encore with the fantastic new “Storm the Sorrow” and followed it up with the gypsy tinged “Quietus” and finishing with a crushing “Consign to Oblivion”. It was a fitting end to a epic show that proved that the band’s name is more than just a name, it’s a goal they aim for and hit.
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Setlist:
Monopoly on Truth
Sensorium
Unleashed
Martyr of the Free Word
The Obsessive Devotion
Cry for the Moon
Sancta Terra
The Phantom Agony
Encore:
Storm the Sorrow
Quietus
Consign to Oblivion
