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Omega (Epica album)

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Omega
Studio album by
Epica
Released26 February 2021
RecordedJanuary – May 2020
StudioSandlane Recording Facilities (Rijen)
Bader Studios (Weil der Stadt)
Casterly Rock Studio (Serradifalco)
Smecky Music Studios (Prague)
Sint Antonius Kerk (Overlangel)
Sandip Banerjee's Studio (Kolkata)
Kevin Codfert's Studio (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence)
PaulyB Studios (Tampa)
The Grid (Montreal)
GenreSymphonic metal
Length70:16
LabelNuclear Blast
Producer
  • Joost van den Broek
  • Epica
Epica chronology
Epica vs Attack on Titan Songs
(2017) 		Omega
(2021) 		The Alchemy Project
(2022)
Singles from Omega
  1. "Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity"
    Released: 9 October 2020
  2. "Freedom – The Wolves Within"
    Released: 27 November 2020
  3. "Rivers"
    Released: 22 January 2021
  4. "The Skeleton Key"
    Released: 26 February 2021

Omega (stylized as Ωmega) is the eighth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released on 26 February 2021 via Nuclear Blast.[1]

Production

[edit]

Simone Simons had stated on 1 February 2020 that pre-production for the next album had been completed.[2] On 11 March 2020, the band entered the studio to begin recording their album, while in turn released studio vlogs showing the album making process for the studio album.[3][4]

Mark Jansen had said in an interview that the album's release date could be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the recording sessions.[5] It was reported that on 17 April 2020 that Simone Simons had finished recording vocals for the new album.[6] Mark Jansen later confirmed on September 2, 2020 that the album had been recorded, mixed and mastered with orchestrations and choir having been wrapped up before the band began recording.[7]

On 6 January 2021, it was confirmed that Vicky Psarakis and Zaher Zorgati would provide guest vocals on the album, for the songs "Twilight Reverie – The Hypnagogic State" and "Code of Life".[8]

In the fourteenth vlog documenting the production of the album which was released on the band's YouTube channel on 9 February 2021, Jansen discussed the concept of the album itself: "We as humanity, we were drifting apart like competition, you see that in the corporations' competition. And while we in fact, flourish while we are working together." Regarding the album title, he stated additionally: "There was the Omega Point theory that comes to the surface in the lyrics and the Omega Point theory, is dealing about the scientific speculation and spiritual view that we are, fated to spiral towards one point of divine unification."[9]

Composition

[edit]

Influences, style and themes

[edit]

When asked about the theme behind the seventh track "Freedom – The Wolves Within", Jansen stated that the song is "based on an old story of a fight between two wolves. What we want to be and what we want to reflect on the world around us depends on which wolf we feed and also the degree of control we have over our inner wolves."[10]

According to Jansen, "Kingdom of Heaven, Part III – The Antediluvian Universe" is the final part of the "Kingdom of Heaven" series. He stated: "This is the third and final 'Kingdom of Heaven' song. It's our eighth studio album. The number eight is also very spiritual because if you put it on the side, it's the infinity symbol. 'Kingdom of Heaven' is about life after death, and it's also number eight on the album. So there is a lot of hidden symbolism on the album and in the artwork. The big life question, 'What is the true meaning of life?' How do we navigate through life within ourselves? We are all 'yin and yang.' We are all made out of light and dark. We all have this labyrinth within ourselves in which we have to navigate ourselves. We hopefully find our way out of the labyrinth and don't get lost within the labyrinth of ourselves."[11]

According to Simons, the ninth track "Rivers" symbolizes the calmness and at the same time the uncertainty in life, the ebb and flow. She stated that the calm water represents peace, and a strong river stream means that you "have to face challenges and swim against the tide of life."[12]

Release and promotion

[edit]

On 9 October 2020, the first single off of the album, "Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity", was released with an official videoclip.[13] The second single off of the album, "Freedom – The Wolves Within", was released on 27 November 2020 along with a music video.[14] Both singles had amassed over three million streams online since their release.[15] A music video for the acoustic version of "Abyss o' Time" was released on 18 December 2020.[16] The third single, "Rivers", was released on 22 January 2021 along with a visualizer video.[12] A music video for "Omegacoustic", an acoustic version of "Omega – Sovereign of the Sun Spheres" was released on 15 February 2021.[17][18] Another videoclip, for "The Skeleton Key", was released on the same day as the album.[19]

On 29 April 2021, the band announced that they would be performing a livestream event titled Omega Alive in support of the album which took place on 12 June 2021. The livestream event featured the biggest production with visual surprises as well as songs from the album.[20][21]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Distorted Sound8/10[22]
Folk N' Rock[23]
Kerrang![24]
Metal Hammer[25]
Sonic Perspectives9.2/10[26]

The album received generally positive reviews from music critics upon the album's release.

Distorted Sound scored the album 8 out of 10 and said: "Where previous albums The Quantum Enigma and The Holographic Principle often delved into scientific principles, Omega opts to take a personal, individual approach to these themes. Drawing heavily on the Emerald Tablets of Thoth the Atlantean, a 20th-century work by occultist Maurice Doreal, and on individual experiences, the band weave these concepts and their music together into what can only accurately be described as epic. This level of scale and ambition is nothing new for Epica but after five years without new music and emerging into a world changed beyond all recognition since they last recorded, Omega stands as both a fitting conclusion to the trilogy that started with The Quantum Engima and as the bold start of a brand new era."[22]

Kerrang! gave the album 4 out of 5 with writer Steve Beebee stating: "Omega proves that as bombastic as symphonic metal gets, it's no different to any other genre in that, ultimately, it's all about the songs. And these songs are Epica's best."[24]

Metal Hammer gave the album a positive review and stated: "Never ones to disappoint, Epica once again reach their epic quotient on Omega without choking, perhaps proving that too much of a good thing is a good thing."[25]

Track listing

[edit]
Omega track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Alpha – Anteludium"Mark JansenMark Jansen, Epica1:38
2."Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity"JansenJansen, Epica5:20
3."The Skeleton Key"Simone SimonsRob van der Loo, Epica5:06
4."Seal of Solomon"JansenJansen, Epica5:28
5."Gaia"SimonsAriën van Weesenbeek, Epica4:46
6."Code of Life"SimonsCoen Janssen, Epica5:58
7."Freedom – The Wolves Within"JansenJansen, Epica5:37
8."Kingdom of Heaven, Part III – The Antediluvian Universe"
  • I. "Ātman"
  • II. "Sri Yantra"
  • III. "Halls of Amenti"
  • IV. "Duality"
  • V. "The Chikhai Bardo – Navigating the Afterlife Realms"
  • VI. "The Flower of Life – The Cosmic Spiral"
JansenIsaac Delahaye, Mark Jansen, Epica13:24
9."Rivers"SimonsVan der Loo, Epica4:48
10."Synergize – Manic Manifest"SimonsDelahaye, Epica6:36
11."Twilight Reverie – The Hypnagogic State"JansenJansen, Epica4:29
12."Omega – Sovereign of the Sun Spheres"
  • I. "The Omega Point"
  • II. "The Hounds of the Barrier"
  • III. "The Apocalypse of the Illuminated Soul"
    		• JansenDelahaye, Epica7:06
    Total length:70:16
    Disc 2: Omegacoustic
    No.TitleLength
    1."Rivers" (acapella)4:34
    2."Abyss O' Time"4:13
    3."Omegacoustic"4:29
    4."El Código Vital"3:51
    Total length:17:07

    Notes

    [edit]
    • The earbook edition of the album includes a third disc (Opus Ωmega, containing the orchestral versions of disc one) and a fourth disc (Ωmega Instrumental, containing the instrumental versions of disc one).

    Personnel

    [edit]

    Credits for Omega adapted from liner notes.[27]

    The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Adam Klemens – orchestral conductor
    • Marie Dvorská – violin
    • Petr Pavlíček – violin
    • Jana Hřebíková – violin
    • Milan Lajčík – violin
    • Miluše Kaudersová – violin
    • Bohumil Kotmel – violin
    • Petra Bohm – violin
    • Karla Lobovská – violin
    • Karel Vidimský – violin
    • Miloš Černý – violin
    • Iva Jaške Příhonská – violin
    • Libor Kaňka – violin
    • Miroslav Kosina – violin
    • Anna Lundáková – violin
    • Ondřejka Dlouhá – violin
    • Igor Lecian – violin
    • Jiři Sládek – violin
    • Stanislav Rada – violin
    • Lukáš Cach – viola
    • Miroslav Novotný – viola
    • Tomáš Kamarýt – viola
    • Boris Goldstein – viola
    • Jaromír Páviček – viola
    • Milan Souček – viola
    • Martin Adamovič – viola
    • Marek Elznic – cello
    • Pavel Běloušek – cello
    • Ctibor Příhoda – cello
    • Kryštof Lecian – cello
    • Vojtěch Masnica – double bass
    • Rostislav Dvrdík – double bass
    • Tomáš Josífko – double bass
    • Jiři Skuhra – flute
    • Zdeněk Rys – oboe
    • Aleš Hustoles – clarinet
    • Luboš Hucek – bassoon
    • Marek Zvolánek – trumpet
    • Svatopluk Zaal – trumpet
    • Martin Pavluš – trumpet
    • Stanislav Penk – trombone
    • Aleš Vopelka – trombone
    • Tomáš Bialko – trombone
    • František Pok – French horn
    • Jiři Lisý – French horn
    • Jan Mach – French horn
    • Pavel Jirásek – French horn
    • Luděk Hrabec – tuba

    Additional orchestra

    • Jeroen Goossens – flute, bass flute, piccolo, clarinet, ney, bansuri, low whistle, tin whistle
    • Sandip Banerjee – sitar, santoor, sarod, bansuri, didgeridoo, tabla, pakhwaz, mridangam, ghatam, tavil, ganjira, dafli, gang
    • Igor Hobus – orchestral snare drum, orchestral toms, gong, suspended symbal, cymbal a due, congas

    Production

    • Joost van den Broek – engineering, editing, mixing, vocal arrangements, arrangements, orchestral arrangements, congas, additional samples and effects
    • Jos Driessen – engineering, editing
    • Jens Kothe – engineering
    • Jan Holzner – engineering
    • Kevin Codfert – engineering
    • Christian Donaldson – engineering
    • Darius van Helfteren – mastering
    • Stáňa Vomáčková – translator
    • Josef Pokluda – contractor
    • Jérôme Bailly – co-writer (tracks 1, 2, 11)
    • Sascha Paeth – vocal arrangements
    • Ben Mathot – orchestral scoring
    • Adam Denlinger – English coach, lyrical advice
    • Jaap Toorenaar – Latin translations
    • Gjalt Lucassen – Latin translations
    • Stefan Heilemann – art direction, design, photography
    • Tim Tronckoe – photography
    • Ferdinando Scavone – photography
    • Ettore Maria Garozzo – photography
    • Emir Medic – styling

    Charts

    [edit]
    Chart performance for Omega
    Chart (2021) Peak
    position
    Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28] 15
    Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] 6
    Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] 14
    Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] 7
    Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] 18
    French Albums (SNEP)[33] 49
    German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[34] 4
    Italian Albums (FIMI)[35] 74
    Japanese Albums (Billboard Japan)[36] 90
    Japanese Albums (Oricon)[37] 113
    Polish Albums (ZPAV)[38] 11
    Portuguese Albums (AFP)[39] 21
    Scottish Albums (OCC)[40] 12
    Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 5
    Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[42] 22
    UK Albums (OCC)[43] 73
    UK Independent Albums (OCC)[44] 7
    UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[45] 4

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ "EPICA To Release 'Omega' Album In February". Blabbermouth.net. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
    2. ^ "EPICA Completes Pre-Production For New Album". Blabbermouth.net. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
    3. ^ "EPICA Begins Recording New Album". Blabbermouth.net. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
    4. ^ "EPICA Release Album #8 Studio Vlog, Part 5: Orchestra (Video)". BraveWords. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
    5. ^ "EPICA's New Album Will Likely Be Delayed By Coronavirus Pandemic". Blabbermouth.net. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
    6. ^ "EPICA's SIMONE SIMONS Completes Recording Vocals For New Album". Blabbermouth.net. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
    7. ^ "EPICA's New Album Is 'Recorded, Mixed And Mastered'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
    8. ^ "Interview - EPICA : jour, nuit !". MetalFrance.net. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
    9. ^ "EPICA Discuss Ωmega Concept And Artwork In New Video". BraveWords. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
    10. ^ Wiggins, Keavin (30 November 2020). "Epica Release 'Freedom - The Wolves Within' Video". antiMUSIC. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
    11. ^ "EPICA Releases Music Video For 'Skeleton Key'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
    12. ^ a b "EPICA Releases Official Visualizer For New Single 'Rivers'". Blabbermouth. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
    13. ^ "See Epica's Lavish Video for New Song "Abyss of Time"". Revolver. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
    14. ^ "EPICA Releases Music Video For New Single 'Freedom - The Wolves Within'". Blabbermouth. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
    15. ^ "EPICA // Dutch Symphonic Metal Act Talk All Things 'Omega'". Hysteria Magazine. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
    16. ^ "EPICA: 'Abyss Of Time'-Akustik-Video ist online". Rock Hard Megazine. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
    17. ^ "Epica Launches "OmegAcoustic" Single | EPICA Official Website". Epica 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
    18. ^ "EPICA Drops Acoustic Version Of 'Omega' Title Track". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
    19. ^ "EPICA Launch Music Video For "The Skeleton Key"; Ωmega Album Available Today". BraveWords. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
    20. ^ "EPICA Announces 'Omega Alive' Global Streaming Event". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
    21. ^ "EPICA Announce 'Omega Alive' Livestream Event". KNAC. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
    22. ^ a b "ALBUM REVIEW: Omega - Epica". Distorted Sound Magazine. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
    23. ^ Jeff (12 February 2021). "Epica – Omega Album Review". Folk N Rock. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
    24. ^ a b Beebee, Steve (23 February 2021). "Album review: Epica – Omega". Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
    25. ^ a b Wright, Holly (24 February 2021). "Epica's Omega is a glorious hymn to symphonic metal excess". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
    26. ^ Melgar, Alejandro (12 February 2021). "Epica – Omega (Album Review)". Sonic Perspectives. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
    27. ^ (2021). "Omega liner notes". In Omega [CD booklet]. Nuclear Blast.
    28. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Epica – Omega" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
    29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Epica – Omega" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
    30. ^ "Ultratop.be – Epica – Omega" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
    31. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Epica – Omega" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
    32. ^ "Epica: Omega" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
    33. ^ "Lescharts.com – Epica – Omega". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
    34. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Epica – Omega" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
    35. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 9 (dal 26.2.2021 al 4.3.2021)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
    36. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales | Charts". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 8 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
    37. ^ "Epica – Omega" (in Japanese). Oricon. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
    38. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
    39. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Epica – Omega". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    40. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
    41. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Epica – Omega". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
    42. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Epica – Omega". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    43. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
    44. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    45. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
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