Epica
Epica performing at the 2022 3-Majówka festival in Wrocław, Poland
Background information
Also known as	Sahara Dust (2002)
Origin	Reuver, Limburg, Netherlands
Genres	Symphonic metal
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Transmission, Nuclear Blast, Atomic Fire
Spinoff of	After Forever
Members	Mark Jansen Coen Janssen Simone Simons Ariën van Weesenbeek Isaac Delahaye Rob van der Loo
Past members	Yves Huts Ad Sluijter Helena Michaelsen Jeroen Simons
Website	www.epica.nl

Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever. Originally formed as a symphonic metal band with gothic influences, Epica later incorporated strong death metal elements into their sound.^[1][2][3] Starting with their third album, progressive metal influences also became evident.^[1][4][5] Additionally, the band often incorporates thrash metal and groove metal riffs, black metal elements (particularly in drumming techniques), power metal sections, and influences from Arabic music.^{[6][7][8][9][10]} Some songs also incorporate electronic elements, djent transitions, and folk metal melodies inspired by Middle Eastern, Chinese, and Celtic traditions.^[11]

Epica is also known for its attention to vocal melodies, which contrast with the heavy instrumentation by weaving catchy, sophisticated, and emotionally expressive lines.^[12][13] The band's sound prominently features a combination of soprano vocals, performed by Simone Simons, and growled vocals, provided by Mark Jansen. They primarily write their own lyrics, which explore philosophical, psychological, spiritual, moral, scientific, environmental, socio-political, global, topical, and personal themes. Epica is also recognized for its extensive use of orchestral arrangements and operatic choirs.

In 2003, Epica released its debut album, The Phantom Agony, through Transmission Records. Consign to Oblivion followed in 2005, debuting at No. 12 on the Dutch charts. After Transmission's bankruptcy, the band signed with Nuclear Blast and released its third studio album, The Divine Conspiracy, in 2007, which charted at No. 9 in the Netherlands. Design Your Universe (2009) brought the band even greater success, debuting at No. 8 on the Dutch Albums Chart and charting across Europe, while also receiving widespread critical acclaim. Epica's fifth studio album, Requiem for the Indifferent, was released in 2012. Well received by critics, it achieved international success, entering the US Billboard 200 at No. 104 and Japan's Oricon Albums Chart at No. 172.^[14]

At the beginning of May 2014, the band released their sixth album, The Quantum Enigma, which was a huge international success, debuting at No. 110 on the US Billboard 200 and peaking at No. 4 in Epica's homeland of the Netherlands.^[15][16][17] In June 2015, Epica was awarded the Music Export Award, which is given to the Dutch act with the most international success in the past year.^[18] Their seventh album, The Holographic Principle, was released in September 2016 to continued international success, matching the peak chart position set by its predecessor in the Netherlands.^[19] The band released their eighth album, Omega, in February 2021.