Requiem for the Indifferent

Last updated

Requiem for the Indifferent
Epica - Requiem for the Indifferen 2012.jpg
Studio album by
Released9 March 2012
RecordedSeptember–November 2011
StudioGate Studio, Wolfsburg, Germany,
The Huts Studio Antwerp, Belgium,
CFJ Studio, Oss, The Netherlands
Genre Symphonic metal
Length72:51
Label Nuclear Blast
Producer Sascha Paeth & Epica
Epica chronology
Design Your Universe
(2009)
Requiem for the Indifferent
(2012)
The Quantum Enigma
(2014)
Singles from Requiem for the Indifferent
  1. "Storm the Sorrow"
    Released: 3 February 2012

Requiem for the Indifferent is the fifth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released on 9 March 2012. [1] 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.

Contents

Background

Title

According to Mark Jansen, "This title refers to the end of an era. Mankind can no longer stick their head in the sand for the things that are happening around us. We are facing many challenges. There is an enormous tension between different religions and cultures, wars, natural disasters and a huge financial crisis, which is getting out of control. More than ever we will need each other to overcome these problems. As we are all connected; the universe, earth, nature, animals and human beings, this period in time will be the prelude to the end for those who still don't want to, or simply won't see it. A Requiem for the Indifferent but also a possibility for a new beginning with great new chances!" [1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Sonic Seducer favourable [4]

General response to Requiem for the Indifferent was positive. AllMusic stated that the album "is a typically elaborate and ambitious affair, incorporating copious amounts of choral work and classical arrangements into the band's neatly established blend of goth, progressive, power, and symphonic metal." [3] Natalie Zed of About.com staff considers Requiem for the Indifferent "a transitional album for the band", which tries to expand their musical range experimenting with "weird" riffing and new combination of vocals, while "losing none of the richness that has gained them fans." [2]

Track listings

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Karma (Prelude)" Mark Jansen Jansen, Coen Janssen, Simone Simons 1:32
2."Monopoly on Truth"Jansen, Simons Isaac Delahaye, Jansen, Simons7:11
3."Storm the Sorrow"SimonsJanssen, Simons5:12
4."Delirium"SimonsJanssen, Delahaye, Simons6:07
5."Internal Warfare" (Dedicated to the victims of the 2011 Norway attacks)SimonsJansen, Delahaye, Janssen, Frank Schiphorst, Jack Driessen 5:12
6."Requiem for the Indifferent"JansenJansen, Delahaye8:34
7."Anima (Interlude)" Jansen1:24
8."Guilty Demeanor"JansenJansen3:22
9."Deep Water Horizon"SimonsJansen, Delahaye, Janssen, Driessen6:32
10."Stay the Course"JansenJansen, Delahaye, Simons4:25
11."Deter the Tyrant"JansenDelahaye, Jansen6:37
12."Avalanche"SimonsJansen, Delahaye, Simons6:52
13."Serenade of Self-Destruction"SimonsJansen, Delahaye, Janssen9:52
Total length:72:51
2xCD Boxed Set Deluxe & European Bonus Track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
14."Nostalgia"JansenJansen3:26
Total length:76:17
North American Bonus Track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
15."Twin Flames" (Soundtrack Version)JansenJansen5:02
Total length:81:19
iTunes/LP Bonus Track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
16."Twin Flames" (Regular Version)JansenJansen4:47
Total length:86:06
Not Released Tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
17."Deter the Tyrant" (Grunt Version)JansenDelahaye, Jansen6:37
Total length:96:21
Disc 2 (2xCD Boxed Set Deluxe Only) [Instrumental Versions]
No.TitleLength
1."Karma"1:33
2."Monopoly on Truth"7:10
3."Storm the Sorrow"5:11
4."Delirium"6:07
5."Internal Warfare"5:12
6."Requiem for the Indifferent"8:33
7."Anima"1:25
8."Guilty Demeanor"3:21
9."Deep Water Horizon"6:32
10."Stay the Course"4:26
11."Deter the Tyrant"6:37
12."Avalanche"6:52
13."Serenade of Self-Destruction"9:51
Total length:72:51

Personnel

Credits for Requiem for the Indifferent adapted from liner notes. [5]

Epica

Additional personnel

Epica Choir

Production

Editions

There was an error with all physical copies of the album's first edition, in which track 13, "Serenade of Self-Destruction", is an instrumental version without Simons and Jansen's vocal tracks. As compensation, Nuclear Blast Records decided to make the track (with the vocals) available as a free download. The glitch was corrected in the digipak versions. [6] This instrumental version has a small part of vocals from Simone Simons at the very beginning, [7] which makes it different from the total instrumental song released separately, on which you only hear the piano at the beginning.

To date there are nine different editions of the album: [8]

Singles

Storm the Sorrow

On 3 February 2012, the band released on iTunes the single "Storm the Sorrow", characterized by melodic vocal lines and electronic influences. [14] The video, shot in the middle of the same month in Amsterdam, was released on 24 April. [15]

Charts

Chart (2012)Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart [16] 33
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) [17] 30
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia) [18] 27
Czech Albums Chart [19] 49
Dutch Albums Chart [20] 12
Finnish Albums Chart [21] 37
French Albums Chart [22] 35
German Albums Chart [23] 26
Japanese Albums Chart [24] 172
Norwegian Albums Chart [25] 37
Portuguese Albums Chart [26] 36
Swedish Albums Chart [27] 53
Swiss Albums Chart [28] 14
UK Albums Chart [26] 112
US Billboard 200 [29] 105
US Top Rock Albums [29] 29
US Independent Albums [29] 15
US Top Hard Rock Albums [29] 7

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