The Alchemy Project

Last updated

The Alchemy Project
Epica - The Alchemy Project.png
EP by
Released11 November 2022
RecordedApril 2022
StudioSandlane Recording Facilities, Rijen, Netherlands
Genre Symphonic metal
Length35:54
Label Atomic Fire
Producer
  • Joost van den Broek
  • Epica
Epica chronology
Ωmega
(2021)
The Alchemy Project
(2022)
Singles from The Alchemy Project
  1. "The Final Lullaby"
    Released: 16 September 2022
  2. "The Great Tribulation"
    Released: 12 October 2022

The Alchemy Project is the third EP by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It features seven songs, all co-written and performed with guest artists. [1] The lyrical content mainly deals with apocalyptic themes (with the exception of "Sirens - Of Blood and Water").

Contents

Background, composition and release

The EP was announced on September 16, 2022 with the release of its first single, "The Final Lullaby" (featuring the band Shining). Rob van der Loo stated that the song was intended to be a "mash-up" between the two bands' sounds, for which he "would come up with some riffs that would be typical Shining and they would do the complete opposite". The band also teased that the EP would include the "heaviest death metal track we’ve ever recorded": "Human Devastation". [2]

On the release date of the EP on November 11, 2022, [3] the band also uploaded a music video for the song "Sirens - Of Blood And Water", which features both Charlotte Wessels (Delain) and Amalie Bruun (Myrkur). [4] The song stems from Simons and Wessels' shared fascination of The Little Mermaid, and is told from the perspective of the protagonist's sisters. [5]

The album cover was designed by German visual artist Stefan "Heilemania" Heilemann. [6]

Track listing

The Alchemy Project track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Great Tribulation" (featuring Fleshgod Apocalypse)
  • Jansen
  • Simons
  • Francesco Paoli
  • Francesco Ferrini
  • Epica
5:03
2."Wake the World" (featuring Phil Lanzon and Tommy Karevik)
  • Lanzon
  • Simons
  • Epica
  • Rob van der Loo
  • Lanzon
  • Epica
6:11
3."The Final Lullaby" (featuring Shining)
  • Munkeby
  • van der Loo
  • Ole Vistnes
  • Epica
5:12
4."Sirens - Of Blood and Water" (featuring Charlotte Wessels and Myrkur)
  • Wessels
  • Simons
  • Wessels
  • Simons
  • van der Loo
  • Epica
4:17
5."Death Is Not the End" (featuring Frank Schiphorst and Björn "Speed" Strid)
  • Jansen
  • Schiphorst
Jansen5:14
6."Human Devastation" (featuring God Dethroned and Sven de Caluwé)
  • Ariën van Weesenbeek
  • Jansen
  • Henri Sattler
  • van Weesenbeek
  • Epica
2:57
7."The Miner" (featuring Asim Searah, Niilo Sevänen, and Roel van Helden)
  • Searah
  • van der Loo
  • Epica
  • van der Loo
  • Searah
  • Epica
6:57
Total length:35:54

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for The Alchemy Project
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [7] 60
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [8] 194
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [9] 40
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [10] 39
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [11] 35

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References

  1. "Epica Announces 'The Alchemy Project'". Blabbermouth.net . 16 September 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  2. "Pre-order New Mini-album, 'The Alchemy Project' + New Single, "The Final Lullaby" (feat. Shining) Out Now! | EPICA Official Website". Epica.nl. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  4. "EPICA - "Sirens - Of Blood And Water" feat. Charlotte Wessels & Myrkur (Official Music Video)". YouTube.com. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  5. "Hear the Sirens' Call as 'The Alchemy Project' is Out Today! | Epica Official Website". Epica.nl. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  6. "EPICA – new EP & music video for 'The Final Lullaby (feat. Shining)'! | Atomic Fire Records". Label.AtomicFire-Records.com. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  7. "Austriancharts.at – Epica – The Alchemy Project" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Epica – The Alchemy Project" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  9. "Dutchcharts.nl – Epica – The Alchemy Project" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Epica – The Alchemy Project" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  11. "Swisscharts.com – Epica – The Alchemy Project". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024.