Epica (album)
Encyclopedia
Epica is the sixth full-length album
by metal
band Kamelot
. It was released on January 13, 2003 through Noise Records
. It was the first concept album
by Kamelot. Most of the lyrics were written before the actual music was composed. This album, along with its sequel The Black Halo
, is loosely based on the story of Goethe
's Faust
. The album inspired the naming of the band Epica
after its release.
Limited edition version contains a bonus track:
Japanese version contains a bonus track:
, Mephisto
and God make a bet; if Mephisto can claim the soul of Ariel, God's favorite man, then he will be allowed to reenter Heaven. But if Mephisto fails, he must be condemned to Hell forever. Musically, we are given scattered glimpses of the events to come through distorted fragments of lyrics, accompanied by an erratic strings ensemble.
opening pierced with simplistic keyboard chords. He introduces himself to Ariel, and proposes a deal: He will serve Ariel in life, fulfill all his desires, and grant him all manner of worldly power--on the condition that, when Ariel dies, Mephisto keeps his soul. Though the offer is tempting, Ariel is initially wary.
-like progressions), the last of his doubts are banished; he accepts Mephisto's friendship and consents to his deal--with one modification: If Ariel ever experiences a moment in which he is so content that he wishes to linger there forever, only then will Mephisto keep his soul. Mephisto grudgingly accepts this modified contract.
portrays the warmth and love that still remains between them, even after all their years apart. The two lovers hold each other close and spend the winter night together in the nearby Town. During this night, Helena conceives Ariel's child--though neither is aware of this.
announces Helena's actions of the previous night. Her body has been found in the River, and discovered to be with the child.
It is here that the story of Epica properly ends, though there are two additional bonus track
s. Ariel's tale is continued in The Black Halo
.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
. It was released on January 13, 2003 through Noise Records
Noise Records (Germany)
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
. It was the first concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
by Kamelot. Most of the lyrics were written before the actual music was composed. This album, along with its sequel The Black Halo
The Black Halo
There is also a short hidden track in the pregap. Rewinding from "March of Mephisto" on some CD players reveal a couple entering a theatre and being told that they have "just made it to the second act", referring to The Black Halo as the second album in a two-part concept.- March of Mephisto :In...
, is loosely based on the story of Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
's Faust
Goethe's Faust
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust is a tragic play in two parts: and . Although written as a closet drama, it is the play with the largest audience numbers on German-language stages...
. The album inspired the naming of the band Epica
Epica (band)
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
after its release.
Characters
- Ariel (Roy KhanRoy KhanRoy Sætre Khantatat , is a Norwegian singer. Commonly known as Roy Khan or simply Khan, he is the former vocalist for the symphonic power metal band Kamelot. He co-wrote most of Kamelot's songs with the band's guitarist and founder Thomas Youngblood since he joined the band.-Personal life:Roy began...
) – Ariel is an ever-searching person. A prominent young alchemist, he has become disappointed with the inadequacy of science and religion to answer his questions, and seeks the universal truth that they have failed to provide. He feels that this truth is the only thing that can make his life worthwhile. - Helena (MariMari (singer)Mari Youngblood , also called Mari, is a female soprano vocalist. She is mostly known for her role as Helena on Kamelot's Epica and The Black Halo albums, along with her live performance on One Cold Winter's Night album and DVD. Mari has also performed as lead in numerous musicals, including...
) – Helena and Ariel grew up together, and she is the only person Ariel has ever truly loved. She represents innocence and all that is pure and good. - MephistoMephistophelesMephistopheles is a demon featured in German folklore...
(Roy KhanRoy KhanRoy Sætre Khantatat , is a Norwegian singer. Commonly known as Roy Khan or simply Khan, he is the former vocalist for the symphonic power metal band Kamelot. He co-wrote most of Kamelot's songs with the band's guitarist and founder Thomas Youngblood since he joined the band.-Personal life:Roy began...
) – Mephisto is the archangel who most loved God. Thus, when God ordered all the angels to bow before mankind, Mephisto refused, proclaiming that his loyalty was to God alone. For this, he was cast out of Heaven. He appears in many different shapes and guises, and is never quite what you'd expect--rational and sophisticated, yet tricky and deceptive. He desperately yearns to be with God again--and it is this yearning that sets the events of Epica into motion.
Track listing
- "Prologue" – 1:07
- "Center Of The Universe" – 5:27
- "Farewell" – 3:41
- "Interlude I - Opiate Soul" – 1:10
- "The Edge Of Paradise" – 4:09
- "Wander" – 4:24
- "Interlude II - Omen" – 0:40
- "Descent Of The Archangel" – 4:35
- "Interlude III - At The Banquet" – 0:30
- "A Feast For The Vain" – 3:57
- "On The Coldest Winter Night" – 4:03
- "Lost & Damned" – 4:55
- "Helena's Theme" – 1:51
- "Interlude IV - Dawn" – 0:27
- "The Mourning After (Carry On)" – 4:59
- "III Ways To Epica" – 6:16
Limited edition version contains a bonus track:
- 17. "Snow" – 4:21
Japanese version contains a bonus track:
- 17. "Like The Shadows" – 3:45
Prologue
Based on the "Prologue in Heaven" from Goethe's FaustGoethe's Faust
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust is a tragic play in two parts: and . Although written as a closet drama, it is the play with the largest audience numbers on German-language stages...
, Mephisto
Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles is a demon featured in German folklore...
and God make a bet; if Mephisto can claim the soul of Ariel, God's favorite man, then he will be allowed to reenter Heaven. But if Mephisto fails, he must be condemned to Hell forever. Musically, we are given scattered glimpses of the events to come through distorted fragments of lyrics, accompanied by an erratic strings ensemble.
Center of the Universe
We are introduced to Ariel's "always searching" mind. He guesses that, at some point, on the verge of death, someone must have known the truth he seeks. Without that truth, he feels alone in his homeland--the center of his universe. A moment of calm enters Ariel's raging mind (represented musically by a melodic duet) in which he decides that, having exhausted every venue of knowledge in his homeland, the answers must lie somewhere else.Farewell
Ariel bids farewell to his old life. He burns all bridges and cuts ties with everyone he has ever known--including Helena. Finally, he rejects God, who is apparently unable to remedy the questions and afflictions of the human condition. Eager to begin his quest, he boards the next available ship and sets sail across the ocean, never to return.Interlude I - Opiate Soul
This interlude marks the passage of time as Ariel spends many years traversing the wide world in search of truth.The Edge of Paradise
Grasping at straws after years of fruitless travels, Ariel has turned to the occult and hallucinogenic drugs (represented through slow, meandering vocals and an exotic Arabesque melody), to which he has developed an addiction. Under the influence of these practices, he experiences a brief vision of Mephisto, though, as of yet, he knows nothing of the fallen angel or his divine bet. Ariel realizes that his current lifestyle will not lead him to the great answer, which he still desires as much as ever.Wander
In despair, Ariel gives up his search and wanders, alone and aimless, throughout the wilderness of winter (the season in which the rest of this tale will take place). He reminisces about Helena, longing to return once again to the youth they spent together.Interlude II - Omen
This slow, soft instrumental interlude marks Ariel's darkest hour, in which he prepares to take his own life. But Mephisto, his bet not yet won, has other plans.Descent of the Archangel
Bathed in a halo of moonlight, Mephisto descends in angelic glory to Ariel. This is represented musically through a haunting saxophoneSaxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
opening pierced with simplistic keyboard chords. He introduces himself to Ariel, and proposes a deal: He will serve Ariel in life, fulfill all his desires, and grant him all manner of worldly power--on the condition that, when Ariel dies, Mephisto keeps his soul. Though the offer is tempting, Ariel is initially wary.
Interlude III - At the Banquet
Ariel suddenly finds himself transported to Mephisto's glorious castle, where the fallen angel is holding a feast in his honor. The revelrous mood is set through the upbeat tempo as Mephisto makes his entry to the banquet hall.A Feast for the Vain
Ariel enjoys a night of gluttony, revelry, and pleasurable company at Mephisto's hand. Awestruck and overwhelmed by the splendor and glory (shown musically through almost WaltzWaltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
-like progressions), the last of his doubts are banished; he accepts Mephisto's friendship and consents to his deal--with one modification: If Ariel ever experiences a moment in which he is so content that he wishes to linger there forever, only then will Mephisto keep his soul. Mephisto grudgingly accepts this modified contract.
On the Coldest Winter Night
Leaving Mephisto's castle, Ariel runs into, of all people, Helena, who, unbeknownst to him, has been searching for him these past years. A moving acoustic bassDouble bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
portrays the warmth and love that still remains between them, even after all their years apart. The two lovers hold each other close and spend the winter night together in the nearby Town. During this night, Helena conceives Ariel's child--though neither is aware of this.
Lost & Damned
After tarrying in the Town with Helena for a time, Ariel decides that, with the newfound power Mephisto has brought him, it is time to continue on his quest. But he is unwilling to subject the pure and good Helena to the hardships of his journey and the seductive ways of Mephisto. And though he loves Helena, he holds his sought-after answers more valuable than the bond they share. In his words, "Love means nothing to me, if there is a higher place to be." So, though he still loves Helena and Helena alone, he leaves her. The discord between the two is portrayed by a fast-paced drum beat punctuated by slower keyboard chords.Helena's Theme
Distraught, Helena vows that she will love Ariel even in death, and drowns herself--and, by extension, the child in her womb--in the nearby River. At the prayer of the River Spirit, both Helena and the unborn child ("Alena") ascend to Heaven.Interlude IV - Dawn
As dawn rises, the Town CrierTown crier
A town crier, or bellman, is an officer of the court who makes public pronouncements as required by the court . The crier can also be used to make public announcements in the streets...
announces Helena's actions of the previous night. Her body has been found in the River, and discovered to be with the child.
The Mourning After (Carry On)
In a dream, Ariel witnesses the twofold death. His dread is confirmed by the Town Crier. He is shocked and bewildered both by Helena's death, and the death of the child, of whom he had no knowledge. Overwhelmed with loss and loneliness, he grieves for Helena, yet he knows that he must carry on in his quest. After all, if he fails, then what did she die for? It would be a dishonor to her memory not to fulfill the task for which he left her, and compelled her to take her own life.III Ways to Epica
Mephisto encourages Ariel to continue his quest, rationalizing Helena's death as a cost of "playing with fire." He asks for Ariel's trust and berates him for his grief, proclaiming all human emotions, which are born in passion, as ultimately destructive. Helena, now in Heaven, declares that love is the only thing that humans can truly know, and that, against it, the forces of darkness can never prevail. Ariel, in despair, blames God for his sorrow. His guilt for the part he played in Helena's death consumes him, and he feels that he is beyond redemption.It is here that the story of Epica properly ends, though there are two additional bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
s. Ariel's tale is continued in The Black Halo
The Black Halo
There is also a short hidden track in the pregap. Rewinding from "March of Mephisto" on some CD players reveal a couple entering a theatre and being told that they have "just made it to the second act", referring to The Black Halo as the second album in a two-part concept.- March of Mephisto :In...
.
Line-up
- Roy KhanRoy KhanRoy Sætre Khantatat , is a Norwegian singer. Commonly known as Roy Khan or simply Khan, he is the former vocalist for the symphonic power metal band Kamelot. He co-wrote most of Kamelot's songs with the band's guitarist and founder Thomas Youngblood since he joined the band.-Personal life:Roy began...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Thomas YoungbloodThomas YoungbloodThomas Youngblood is the guitarist, founding member and one of the main creative forces behind the progressive/symphonic power metal band Kamelot from Tampa, Florida. He began playing guitar at the age of 15 and in 1991 founded Kamelot with Richard Warner...
– guitarsElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Glenn Barry – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Casey GrilloCasey GrilloCasey Grillo, born October 16, 1976 in Enid, Oklahoma, is the drummer for the symphonic power metal band Kamelot. He has two older siblings, a brother and a sister, who are also drummers...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Guest musicians
- KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and orchestral arrangementsOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
– MiroMichael RodenbergMichael Rodenberg, nickname Miro, is a German keyboardist and musical producer known for working with power metal bands such as Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, Heavens Gate, et al... - Female vocals – Mari YoungbloodMari (singer)Mari Youngblood , also called Mari, is a female soprano vocalist. She is mostly known for her role as Helena on Kamelot's Epica and The Black Halo albums, along with her live performance on One Cold Winter's Night album and DVD. Mari has also performed as lead in numerous musicals, including...
- Additional guitars – Sascha PaethSascha PaethSascha Paeth is a German guitarist, bassist, musical producer, and mixer known for working with heavy metal bands such as Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After Forever, Epica, et al...
- Guitar soloGuitar soloIn popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
on "Descent of the Archangel" – Luca TurilliLuca Turilli (musician)Luca Turilli is an Italian musician and composer. He is one of the founders of the symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. He also worked on a trilogy of solo albums as Luca Turilli... - Keyboards – Günter Werno and Jan P. Ringvold
- Choir vocalists – Robert Hunecke-Rizzo, Cinzia Rizzo, Annie and Herbie Langhans
- BandoneónBandoneónThe bandoneón is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It plays an essential role in the orquesta típica, the tango orchestra...
on "Lost & Damned" – Fabricio Alejandro - Rodenberg Symphony Orchestra
- Acoustic bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
on "On the Coldest Winter Night" – Olaf Reitmeier - DjembeDjembeA djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
on "On the Coldest Winter Night" – Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - Master of CeremoniesMaster of CeremoniesA Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
on "At the Banquet" and river spirit on "Helena's Theme" – John Wilton - D-bass on "On the Coldest Winter Night" – Andre Neygenfind