Omega | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 26 February 2021 | |||
Recorded | January – May 2020 | |||
Studio | Sandlane Recording Facilities (Rijen) Bader Studios (Weil der Stadt) Casterly Rock Studio (Serradifalco) Smecky Music Studios (Prague) Sint Antonius Kerk (Overlangel) Sandip Banerjee's Studio (Kolkata) Kevin Codfert's Studio (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence) PaulyB Studios (Tampa) The Grid (Montreal) | |||
Genre | Symphonic metal | |||
Length | 70:16 | |||
Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
Producer |
| |||
Epica chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Omega | ||||
|
Omega (stylized as Ωmega) is the eighth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released on 26 February 2021 via Nuclear Blast. [1]
Simone Simons had stated on 1 February 2020 that pre-production for the next album had been completed. [2] On 11 March 2020, the band entered the studio to begin recording their album, while in turn released studio vlogs showing the album making process for the studio album. [3] [4]
Mark Jansen had said in an interview that the album's release date could be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the recording sessions. [5] It was reported that on 17 April 2020 that Simone Simons had finished recording vocals for the new album. [6] Mark Jansen later confirmed on September 2, 2020 that the album had been recorded, mixed and mastered with orchestrations and choir having been wrapped up before the band began recording. [7]
On 6 January 2021, it was confirmed that Vicky Psarakis and Zaher Zorgati would provide guest vocals on the album, for the songs "Twilight Reverie – The Hypnagogic State" and "Code of Life". [8]
In the fourteenth vlog documenting the production of the album which was released on the band's YouTube channel on 9 February 2021, Jansen discussed the concept of the album itself: "We as humanity, we were drifting apart like competition, you see that in the corporations' competition. And while we in fact, flourish while we are working together." Regarding the album title, he stated additionally: "There was the Omega Point theory that comes to the surface in the lyrics and the Omega Point theory, is dealing about the scientific speculation and spiritual view that we are, fated to spiral towards one point of divine unification." [9]
When asked about the theme behind the seventh track "Freedom – The Wolves Within", Jansen stated that the song is "based on an old story of a fight between two wolves. What we want to be and what we want to reflect on the world around us depends on which wolf we feed and also the degree of control we have over our inner wolves." [10]
According to Jansen, "Kingdom of Heaven, Part III – The Antediluvian Universe" is the final part of the "Kingdom of Heaven" series. He stated: "This is the third and final 'Kingdom of Heaven' song. It's our eighth studio album. The number eight is also very spiritual because if you put it on the side, it's the infinity symbol. 'Kingdom of Heaven' is about life after death, and it's also number eight on the album. So there is a lot of hidden symbolism on the album and in the artwork. The big life question, 'What is the true meaning of life?' How do we navigate through life within ourselves? We are all 'yin and yang.' We are all made out of light and dark. We all have this labyrinth within ourselves in which we have to navigate ourselves. We hopefully find our way out of the labyrinth and don't get lost within the labyrinth of ourselves." [11]
According to Simons, the ninth track "Rivers" symbolizes the calmness and at the same time the uncertainty in life, the ebb and flow. She stated that the calm water represents peace, and a strong river stream means that you "have to face challenges and swim against the tide of life." [12]
On 9 October 2020, the first single off of the album, "Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity", was released with an official videoclip. [13] The second single off of the album, "Freedom – The Wolves Within", was released on 27 November 2020 along with a music video. [14] Both singles had amassed over three million streams online since their release. [15] A music video for the acoustic version of "Abyss o' Time" was released on 18 December 2020. [16] The third single, "Rivers", was released on 22 January 2021 along with a visualizer video. [12] A music video for "Omegacoustic", an acoustic version of "Omega – Sovereign of the Sun Spheres" was released on 15 February 2021. [17] [18] Another videoclip, for "The Skeleton Key", was released on the same day as the album. [19]
On 29 April 2021, the band announced that they would be performing a livestream event titled Omega Alive in support of the album which took place on 12 June 2021. The livestream event featured the biggest production with visual surprises as well as songs from the album. [20] [21]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Distorted Sound | 8/10 [22] |
Folk N' Rock | [23] |
Kerrang! | [24] |
Metal Hammer | [25] |
Sonic Perspectives | 9.2/10 [26] |
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics upon the album's release.
Distorted Sound scored the album 8 out of 10 and said: "Where previous albums The Quantum Enigma and The Holographic Principle often delved into scientific principles, Omega opts to take a personal, individual approach to these themes. Drawing heavily on the Emerald Tablets of Thoth the Atlantean , a 20th-century work by occultist Maurice Doreal, and on individual experiences, the band weave these concepts and their music together into what can only accurately be described as epic. This level of scale and ambition is nothing new for Epica but after five years without new music and emerging into a world changed beyond all recognition since they last recorded, Omega stands as both a fitting conclusion to the trilogy that started with The Quantum Engima and as the bold start of a brand new era." [22]
Kerrang! gave the album 4 out of 5 with writer Steve Beebee stating: "Omega proves that as bombastic as symphonic metal gets, it's no different to any other genre in that, ultimately, it's all about the songs. And these songs are Epica's best." [24]
Metal Hammer gave the album a positive review and stated: "Never ones to disappoint, Epica once again reach their epic quotient on Omega without choking, perhaps proving that too much of a good thing is a good thing." [25]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Alpha – Anteludium" | Mark Jansen | Mark Jansen, Epica | 1:38 |
2. | "Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity" | Jansen | Jansen, Epica | 5:20 |
3. | "The Skeleton Key" | Simone Simons | Rob van der Loo, Epica | 5:06 |
4. | "Seal of Solomon" | Jansen | Jansen, Epica | 5:28 |
5. | "Gaia" | Simons | Ariën van Weesenbeek, Epica | 4:46 |
6. | "Code of Life" | Simons | Coen Janssen, Epica | 5:58 |
7. | "Freedom – The Wolves Within" | Jansen | Jansen, Epica | 5:37 |
8. | "Kingdom of Heaven, Part III – The Antediluvian Universe"
| Jansen | Isaac Delahaye, Mark Jansen, Epica | 13:24 |
9. | "Rivers" | Simons | Van der Loo, Epica | 4:48 |
10. | "Synergize – Manic Manifest" | Simons | Delahaye, Epica | 6:36 |
11. | "Twilight Reverie – The Hypnagogic State" | Jansen | Jansen, Epica | 4:29 |
12. | "Omega – Sovereign of the Sun Spheres"
| Jansen | Delahaye, Epica | 7:06 |
Total length: | 70:16 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Rivers" (acapella) | 4:34 |
2. | "Abyss O' Time" | 4:13 |
3. | "Omegacoustic" | 4:29 |
4. | "El Código Vital" | 3:51 |
Total length: | 17:07 |
Credits for Omega adapted from liner notes. [27]
Epica
Additional personnel
| Choir – Kamerkoor PA'dam
Children's Choir – Zangschool BrabantTalent
|
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Additional orchestra
Production
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [28] | 15 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [29] | 6 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [30] | 14 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [31] | 7 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [32] | 18 |
French Albums (SNEP) [33] | 49 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [34] | 4 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [35] | 74 |
Japanese Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [36] | 90 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [37] | 113 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [38] | 11 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [39] | 21 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [40] | 12 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [41] | 5 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [42] | 22 |
UK Albums (OCC) [43] | 73 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [44] | 7 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [45] | 4 |
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever.
Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitars of metal with different elements of orchestral classical music, such as symphonic instruments, choirs and sometimes a full orchestra, or just keyboard orchestration.
The discography of Trivium, an American heavy metal band, consists of ten studio albums, three extended play, two demo albums, 42 singles and 34 music videos. Formed in Orlando, Florida in 1999, the group's first recording lineup included vocalist and guitarist Matt Heafy, bassist Brent Young and drummer Travis Smith, who together released Ember to Inferno on Lifeforce Records in 2003. After the addition of guitarist Corey Beaulieu and new bassist Paolo Gregoletto in place of Young, the band signed with Roadrunner Records and released Ascendancy in 2005, which reached number 151 on the US Billboard 200. It also reached number 79 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The Crusade followed in 2006, peaking at number 25 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the UK Albums Chart. The album's second single "Anthem " reached number 40 on the UK Singles Chart and topped the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart, while its third single "The Rising" was the band's first to register on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, reaching number 32.
The Classical Conspiracy is the second live album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. The recorded live show took part in Miskolc, Hungary on 14 June 2008 in the framework of the Miskolc Opera Festival, where the Swedish symphonic metal band Therion had done a similar show a year before. Epica performed on stage with a 40-piece orchestra and a 30-piece choir, entirely composed of Hungarian musicians conducted by Zsolt Regos. The expanded ensemble played classical music, excerpts from operas and movie soundtracks, as well as Epica's songs. The album was released on 8 May 2009 through Nuclear Blast Records.
Design Your Universe is the fourth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, released on 16 October 2009. It was the first album to feature officially new band members Isaac Delahaye on guitar and Ariën van Weesenbeek on drums.
Requiem for the Indifferent is the fifth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released on 9 March 2012. The album was the first to feature solos by keyboardist Coen Janssen, which very rarely occur on the band's other releases, and was the final album to feature original member Yves Huts on bass guitar.
Enslaved is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Soulfly. It was recorded in fall 2011, mostly in Tallcat Studios in Phoenix, Arizona. Zeuss produced this album. This is the first album to feature Asesino frontman Tony Campos on bass, and the only album to feature former Borknagar drummer David Kinkade on drums, and their last studio album to be released through Roadrunner Records.
The discography of Epica, a Dutch symphonic metal band, consists of eight studio albums, two track commentary albums, five live albums, six extended plays, one soundtrack, forty-three singles and one other release.
The Quantum Enigma is the sixth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released by Nuclear Blast in Europe on 2 May 2014, in the UK on 5 May, and in the US on 6 May. It is their first studio album with new bassist Rob van der Loo, who replaced Yves Huts in 2012.
Endless Forms Most Beautiful is the eighth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released on 25 March 2015 in Japan, 27 March in Argentina and most of Europe, 30 March in the UK and 31 March in the US. The album is the band's first featuring singer Floor Jansen and the first with Troy Donockley as a full-time member. It was also the first without drummer Jukka Nevalainen, who took a break from the band due to severe insomnia. Drumming was by Kai Hahto of Wintersun and Swallow the Sun. The album includes only five Nightwish members, despite its being their first album release as a sextet.
Akróasis is the fourth album by German technical death metal band Obscura. It was released on February 5, 2016 through Relapse Records. A music video was released for the album's title track on November 19, 2015. A second music video for the song "Ten Sepiroth" was released through VEVO, MTV & VH-1 on June 20, 2016.
The Holographic Principle is the seventh studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, released on 30 September 2016. The album was produced by Joost van den Broek and mixed by Jacob Hansen. The release date along with the album's title and cover was revealed on Epica's website on 3 June 2016, the tracklisting was revealed on 17 June 2016.
Epica vs Attack on Titan Songs is the second EP by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, featuring covers of songs based on the anime Attack on Titan. The EP arranges selected songs originally written and composed by Revo of the Japanese band Linked Horizon with Epica's flair for heavy and massive-sounding songs with a classical motif. It was released on December 20, 2017, originally in Japan, and was released worldwide on July 20, 2018.
The Great War is the ninth studio album by Swedish power metal band Sabaton. It was released on 19 July 2019. It is the first studio album to feature guitarist Tommy Johansson. Like many of Sabaton's albums, it is a concept album, this time about World War I, often known as the Great War. The songs cover multiple stories from the war, including those of Manfred von Richthofen, T.E. Lawrence, Alvin York, the Attack of the Dead Men, the Battle of Verdun, and others.
Extreme Power Metal is the eighth studio album by British power metal band DragonForce, released on 27 September 2019. It is the band's last studio album to feature longtime bassist Frédéric Leclercq and the first not to feature longtime keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov, who left the band in 2018; Epica keyboardist Coen Janssen recorded keyboards for the album as a session member. The lead single "Highway to Oblivion" was released on 30 July 2019. The band embarked on a world tour in support of the album following its release. Music videos for "Troopers of the Stars" and "Strangers" were filmed, but not released until two years later, on 27 August 2021 and 25 October 2021, respectively. In 2022, the band continued touring the album after their last tour's cancelation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 29 November 2022, the music video for "The Last Dragonborn" was released, being the first music video with new bassist Alicia Vigil.
Quadra is the fifteenth studio album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released on February 7, 2020. It is a concept album based on numerology, the number four and its significance as depicted on Quadrivium. The band went to Sweden to work with producer Jens Bogren for the recording of Quadra.
Apocalypse & Chill is the sixth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Delain. It was released on 7 February 2020 via Napalm Records.
Human. :II: Nature. is the ninth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 10 April 2020 by Nuclear Blast. It is the band's first double album, with the second CD complete with orchestral music rather than metal.
The Awakening is the thirteenth studio album by American power metal band Kamelot. The album was released on March 17, 2023, via Napalm Records. It is the band's first studio album in five years, following 2018's The Shadow Theory, making this the longest gap between two studio albums by Kamelot.
Vermillion is the debut solo album by the Dutch singer Simone Simons, lead singer of Epica. It was released on 23 August 2024.