Epica
| a.k.a. | ex-Sahara Dust |
|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands |
| Formed | 2003, Reuver, Limburg, Netherlands |
| Genres | Symphonic Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal |
| Labels | Transmission Records, Nuclear Blast Records |
| Years active | 2002-2003 (Sahara Dust), 2003-present |
| Website | https://www.epica.nl/ |
Line-up (members)
- Simone Simons : Vocals (2003-present)
- Mark Jansen : Rhythm Guitars, Orchestrations, Harsh Vocals (2003-present)
- Isaac Delahaye : Lead Guitars, Harsh Vocals (2009-present)
- Rob van der Loo : Bass (2012-present)
- Ariën van Weesenbeek : Drums, Vocals (grunts, spoken word) (2007-present)
- Coen Janssen : Keyboards, Piano, Orchestrations (2003-present)
Former members
- Yves Huts : Bass (2003-2012)
- Jeroen Simons : Drums, Percussion (2003-2006)
- Ad Sluijter : Lead Guitars (2003-2008)
Epica Lyrics (2)
Epica Discography
| Album title | Lyrics | Type | Released | Rating | Votes | Reviews | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
The Phantom Agony (2003) |  |
 |
Studio | 2003-06-05 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| The Phantom Agony (2003) | Single | 2003-10-29 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Feint (2004) | Single | 2004-01-08 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Cry for the Moon (2004) | Single | 2004-05-13 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| We Will Take You with Us (2004) | |
|
Video | 2004-09 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| We Will Take You with Us (2004) | |
|
Live | 2004-09 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
 |
Consign to Oblivion (2005) | |
|
Studio | 2005-04-21 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Solitary Ground (2005) | Single | 2005-04-25 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
The Score - An Epic Journey (2005) | |
|
Studio | 2005-09-08 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Quietus (Silent Reverie) (2005) | Single | 2005-10-28 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Road to Paradiso (2006) | |
|
Compilation | 2006-05-08 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| After Forever / Amorphis / Epica / Gotthard (2007) | |
|
Split | 2007 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Never Enough (2007) | Single | 2007-08-10 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
The Divine Conspiracy (2007) | |
|
Studio | 2007-08-28 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Hi Five: Female Fronted Metal (2007) | |
|
Split | 2007-10-26 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| The Classical Conspiracy - Live in Miskolc, Hungary (2009) | |
|
Live | 2009-05-08 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Live at Wacken (2009) | |
|
Live | 2009-07-31 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Epica & Jägermeister Memory stick (2009) | |
|
EP | 2009-10-10 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
 |
Design Your Universe (2009) | |
|
Studio | 2009-10-16 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Martyr of the Free Word / From the Heaven of My Heart (2009) | |
|
Split | 2009-10-30 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| This Is the Time (2010) | Single | 2010-10-14 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Storm the Sorrow (2012) | Single | 2012-02-07 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Requiem for the Indifferent (2012) | |
|
Studio | 2012-03-09 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Best Of (2013) | |
|
Compilation | 2013-10-14 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Unleashed (2013) | Single | 2013-10-25 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Retrospect (10th Anniversary) (2013) | |
|
Video | 2013-11-08 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Classical Goes Metal (2014) | |
|
Split | 2014-01-28 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| The Essence of Silence (2014) | Single | 2014-03-14 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Unchain Utopia (2014) | Single | 2014-04-04 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
The Quantum Enigma (2014) | |
|
Studio | 2014-05-02 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| The Three Goddesses (2014) | |
|
Split | 2014-08-07 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Live at the AB (2015) | Single | 2015-09 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Fight Your Demons (2016) | Single | 2016 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Universal Death Squad (2016) | Single | 2016-07-29 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
The Holographic Principle (2016) | |
|
Studio | 2016-09-30 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Edge of the Blade (2016) | Single | 2016-09-30 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Solace System (2017) | Single | 2017-06-23 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Solace System (2017) | |
|
EP | 2017-09-01 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Epica vs. Attack on Titan Songs (2017) | |
|
EP | 2017-12-19 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Beyond the Matrix: The Battle (2018) | Lyrics | Single | 2018-10-26 | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| Kingdom of Heaven (2019) | Single | 2019-09-06 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Acoustic Universe (2019) | |
|
EP | 2019-10-04 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| The Quantum Enigma (B-sides) (2020) | |
|
EP | 2020-09-11 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Abyss of Time - Countdown to Singularity (2020) | Single | 2020-10-09 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Freedom - The Wolves Within (2020) | Single | 2020-11-27 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Abyss o' Time (2020) | Single | 2020-12-18 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Abyss of Time (2020) | |
|
EP | 2020-12-27 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Rivers (2021) | Single | 2021-01-22 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Omega (2021) | |
|
Studio | 2021-02-26 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Omegacoustic (2021) | |
|
EP | 2021-02-26 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| The Skeleton Key (2021) | |
|
EP | 2021-05-03 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Unchain Utopia (Omega Alive) (2021) | Single | 2021-09-08 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Skeleton Key (Omega Alive) (2021) | Single | 2021-10-07 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Kingdom of Heaven. Pt. 3 The Antediluvian Universe (Omega Alive) (2021) | |
|
EP | 2021-11-03 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Omega Alive (2021) | |
|
Live | 2021-12-03 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Omega Alive (2021) | |
|
Video | 2021-12-03 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sensorium (Live at Paradiso) (2022) | Single | 2022-06-03 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Last Crusade (Live at Paradiso) (2022) | Single | 2022-07-11 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Run for a Fall (Acoustic) (2022) | Single | 2022-08-11 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Live at Paradiso (2022) | |
|
Live | 2022-09-02 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| We Still Take You with Us - The Early Years (2022) | |
|
Boxed set | 2022-09-02 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| The Final Lullaby (2022) | Single | 2022-09-16 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Great Tribulation (2022) | Single | 2022-10-12 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Alchemy Project (2022) | |
|
EP | 2022-11-11 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Rivers (Live at the AFAS Live) (2023) | Single | 2023-03-09 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Unleashed (Live at the AFAS Live) (2023) | Single | 2023-06-06 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Consign to Oblivion (Live at the AFAS Live) (2023) | Single | 2023-07-27 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Beyond the Matrix (Live at the AFAS Live) (2023) | Single | 2023-08-31 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Live at AFAS Live (2023) | |
|
Live | 2023-10-06 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Arcana (2024) | Single | 2024-11-13 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
 |
Aspiral (2025) | |
|
Studio | 2025-04-11 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Avatar - The Final Incarnation - (2025) | Single | 2025-12-11 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| The Ghost In Me - Danse Macabre (2026) | Single | 2026-01-16 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Eye of the Storm (Live at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam) (2026) | Single | 2026-03-05 | - | 0 | 0 |
Additional notes
ormed as Sahara Dust by Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever in 2002.
Epica is named after the 2003 Kamelot album. The bands have a close relationship and Mark Jansen and Simone Simons have made various guest appearances at Kamelot gigs. Simone also performed guest vocals on Kamelot's albums "The Black Halo," "Ghost Opera," and "Poetry for the Poisoned". Roy Khan, the ex-lead singer of Kamelot, also did vocals for Epica on the song "Trois Vierges".
During 2007, the band used Ariën Van Weesenbeek and Koen Herfst as alternating live drummers. Van Weesenbeek also played drums on "The Divine Conspiracy" as a session musician. On December 3rd, 2007, the band announced that Van Weesenbeek had joined the band as a full-time member.
Amanda Somerville (Aina, Avantasia) filled in for Simone Simons on tour in 2008 while she received treatment for MRSA.
Epica is named after the 2003 Kamelot album. The bands have a close relationship and Mark Jansen and Simone Simons have made various guest appearances at Kamelot gigs. Simone also performed guest vocals on Kamelot's albums "The Black Halo," "Ghost Opera," and "Poetry for the Poisoned". Roy Khan, the ex-lead singer of Kamelot, also did vocals for Epica on the song "Trois Vierges".
During 2007, the band used Ariën Van Weesenbeek and Koen Herfst as alternating live drummers. Van Weesenbeek also played drums on "The Divine Conspiracy" as a session musician. On December 3rd, 2007, the band announced that Van Weesenbeek had joined the band as a full-time member.
Amanda Somerville (Aina, Avantasia) filled in for Simone Simons on tour in 2008 while she received treatment for MRSA.