Epica

On 31 January 2027 Epica will perform at the Royal Theatre Carré in Amsterdam. Since 2002 the band around guitarist and songwriter Mark Jansen has been forging a sound in which symphonic layers collide with death influences and gothic hues. Simone Simons’s mezzo-soprano carries the melodies, set against growls and razor-sharp riffs; keyboardist Coen Janssen, guitarist Isaac Delahaye, bassist Rob van der Loo and drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek propel the whole forward with choir and orchestral arrangements, tight rhythms and pronounced drama.

Live, Epica presents those contrasts without ado: from short, almost acoustic moments of calm to massive passages, enriched by electronic details and progressive turns. Thematic engagement with philosophy, religion and science remains a recognizable thread. Drawing on material from more than two decades, from The Phantom Agony to Omega, the band offers a set that neatly summarizes their trajectory and brings the essence of their symphonic metal into focus.