The first single from the album was released on August 10, 2007 entitled " Never Enough", accompanied by a music video and the second single, " Chasing the Dragon," was released in 2008 without an accompanying video. The band announced on July 17, 2019 that a Gold Edition of their album Design Your Universe would come out on 4 October 2019 in support of its tenth anniversary, along with a tour. [66] [67] Omega and The Alchemy Project (2020–present) [ edit ] Simone Simons performing with Epica in 2023 Epica performs a blend of symphonic metal, [3] [4] [5] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] [94] gothic metal, [93] [95] [96] [97] progressive metal, [3] [4] [5] [88] [98] death metal [3] [5] [91] [94] and, more rarely, thrash metal, [5] [93] power metal [89] [93] and folk metal. [92]

MetalItalia.com, ed. (28 July 2016). "Epica: il nuovo album "The Holographic Principle" traccia per traccia e intervista a Simone Simons!". a b c d e "Dutch Album Charts > Epica" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21 . Retrieved 2012-03-21. In September 2007, Epica headlined their first tour through North America and released their third album, The Divine Conspiracy, this time on a new label, Nuclear Blast. That December, Ariën van Weesenbeek was announced to be Epica's permanent new drummer. The band toured North America again in April 2008 with Into Eternity and Symphony X, this time with Amanda Somerville because Simone had contracted a staph infection ( MRSA). It was released on September 7, 2007 through Nuclear Blast in Europe. The concept that guides the songs is that God created many different religions for humanity to figure out and overcome them so as to discover that, in nature and essence, they were all in fact the same one (hence the name, "The Divine Conspiracy"). [29] Aside from the concept of such a conspiracy, The Divine Conspiracy finalizes The Embrace That Smothers, which began in After Forever's Prison of Desire (Prologue and parts I-III) and continued in Epica's The Phantom Agony (parts IV-VI). In short, The Embrace That Smothers is a collection of 10 songs (Prologue and parts I-IX), which talks about the dangers of organized religion. Epica Announces 'The Alchemy Project' ". Blabbermouth.net. 16 September 2022 . Retrieved 8 November 2022.Choir, Alto Vocals [Altos] – Annemarie Verburg, Annette Vermeulen, Cecile Roovers*, Karen Langendonk Choir, Bass Vocals [Basses] – Angus van Grevenbroek, Jan Douwes, Jan Hoffmann (4), Martijn De Graaf Bierbrauwer Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever. See also: ex-Fifth, ex-Soulcatcher, ex-Freak Neil Inc., ex-Form, Rob van der Loo, ex-Delain, ex-Mayan, ex-Exivious, ex-Sun Caged, ex-Triple 7, ex-Hangover Hero

Simone Simons had stated on February 1, 2020 that pre-production for the next album had been completed. [68] On March 11, 2020, the band had entered the studio to begin recording their new album, while in turn released studio vlogs showing the album making process for their upcoming eighth studio album. [69] [70] On April 29, 2021, in support of Omega, the band announced that they would be performing a livestream event titled Omega Alive, which took place on June 12, 2021 [78] [79] and was released on several audio and video formats on December 3, 2021. [80] Musical style [ edit ] The contrast between Simone Simons' operatic vocals and Mark Jansen's death grunts is a feature of Epica's music. The Great Tribulation feat. Fleshgod Apocalypse
• Wake the World feat. Phil Lanzon (Uriah Heep) & Tommy Karevik (Kamelot)Cursed With Oblivion. "Interview with Mark Jansen, Simone Simons and Ad Sluijter of Epica". Xs4all.nl/~cursed. Archived from the original on 16 January 2008 . Retrieved 30 March 2008. Epica The Phantom Agony Review and Interview at Musical Discoveries". Musicaldiscoveries.com . Retrieved 5 October 2020. Choir, Soprano Vocals [Sopranos] – Alfrun Schmidt*, Annemieke Nuijten, Frédérique Klooster*, Martha Bosch In the 20 years of their existence, EPICA has never shied away from challenges, twists and turns, weathering every storm and pushing the symphonic metal genre to heights no one even dared to believe in. Since 2002, the band featuring singer Simone Simons and her longtime musical partner Mark Jansen has released eight highly innovative and cinematic albums, has toured the world over and has left its mark as one of metal’s most prolific, most cherished and most admired success stories forever. Epica Announce Design Your Universe 10th Anniversary North American Dates, Epica.nl. August 7, 2019. Retrieved on 2019-08-07.