Epica
Album by Kamelot
Released	2003
Recorded	Recorded at Gate Studio (Wolfsburg, Germany) June-October 2002
Genre	Power Metal
Length	52:12
Label	Noise Records
Producer(s)	Sascha Paeth and Miro
Professional reviews
Metal storm (10/10) link The Metal Observer (9.5/10) link Prog4you.com (8/10) link
Kamelot chronology
Karma (2001)	Epica (2003)	The Black Halo (2005)

Epica is a full-length album released in 2003 by the Metal band Kamelot. Image File history File links The cover of the album Epica by Kamelot This image is the cover of an album or single. ... An album is a collection of related audio tracks, released together commercially in an audio format to the public. ... Kamelot, clock wise from top left: Roy Khan, Thomas Youngblood, Casey Grillo, Glenn Barry Kamelot is a power metal [1] band from Tampa, Florida, founded by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Genres of Cuban music and other popular music A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... A record label is a brand created by companies that specialize in manufacturing, distributing and promoting audio and video recordings, on various formats including compact discs, LPs, DVD-Audio, SACDs, and cassettes. ... Noise Records is a German record label founded by infamous German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1984 as an expansion of the concept of his label Aggressive Rock Produktionen. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the performers, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Kamelot, clock wise from top left: Roy Khan, Thomas Youngblood, Casey Grillo, Glenn Barry Kamelot is a power metal [1] band from Tampa, Florida, founded by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. ... Karma is a full-length album released in 2001 by the Metal band Kamelot. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Black Halo is power metal band Kamelots seventh full-length album. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kamelot, clock wise from top left: Roy Khan, Thomas Youngblood, Casey Grillo, Glenn Barry Kamelot is a power metal [1] band from Tampa, Florida, founded by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. ...

This album is the first story-based album made by Kamelot: most of the lyrics were written before the music. Epica stands for an epic tale, but also the epicenter of our (inner) universe, our minds our souls and our dreams. It's where all of life's unexplainable questions are answered.

The album is loosely based on Faust written by Goethe. The album also inspired the naming of the band Epica after its release. Faust (sometimes Latinized as Faustus) is the protagonist of a popular German tale of a pact with the Devil. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (?) (IPA: ) (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German novelist, dramatist, poet, humanist, scientist, philosopher, and for ten years chief minister of state at Weimar. ... The band Epica Epica is a Dutch goth metal band which puts emphasis on the use of operatic elements, also employing death grunts and song passages in the Latin language. ...

Main Characters

• Ariel - an eversearching person, seeking balance and truth. Ariel is not satisfied with the answers religion and science can provide. He burns all bridges and sets out on a journey to find the balance he feels is missing in his life; The ultimate truth that could make life worthwhile.
• Helena - the representation of good. She is the only girl Ariel has truly loved. They have been separated for years when they finally meet again after a gathering at Mephisto’s castle. On Epica she represents innocence and all that is good.
• Mephisto - the representation of evil. Mephisto, who appears in different shapes and disguises, gives evil and cynicism a name in the story. He is never quite what you’d expect the devil to be, apparently rational and sophisticated, always tempting and seductive. Mephisto portrays the true weaknesses in us all as human beings.

Track list and Plot

1. Prologue
2. Center of the Universe
3. Farewell
4. Interlude I - Opiate Soul
5. The Edge of Paradise
6. Wander
7. Interlude II - Omen
8. Descent of the Archangel
9. Interlude III - At the Banquet
10. A Feast for the Vain
11. On the Coldest Winter Night
12. Lost & Damned
13. Helena's Theme
14. Interlude IV - Dawn
15. The Mourning After (Carry On)
16. III Ways to Epica

Snow (limited edition bonustrack)

Like the Shadows (japanese bonustrack)

1. Prologue

This is the intro to the album where the listener is being placed in a dreamlike sequence. It sets the atmosphere, but it’s also a reference to "Prologue in Heaven" in the book it is inspired by (Faust). Faust (sometimes Latinized as Faustus) is the protagonist of a popular German tale of a pact with the Devil. ...

2. Center of the Universe

This song is an extension of the Prologue, and is directing the listener into his own mind or the "inner universe", where all questions may possibly be answered. (This is the first song on the album, but actually the last song that was finished for Epica.)

3. Farewell

The journey begins; In Farewell, Ariel burns all bridges and leaves everything he knows behind. He cannot find the answers he’s looking for in science or religion, and wants to explore the world on his own. (This song was made on a stormy night in Florida in the summer of 2001.)

4. Interlude I (Opiate Soul)

This piece tries to describe the darkness and desperation one can feel having fallen into human addiction.

5. Edge of Paradise

Ariel is on the edge. His encounter with the great world has been anything but successful. In foreign countries far away from home, he experiments with alternative ways to find happiness and peace, but is slowly loosing his grip on life. (Kamlot chose the mixture of Arabic scales and Gregorian-like choirs to portray the temptations, pleasures and pitfalls of hazardous reality escape.) Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Scale (botany) Scale (zoology) Scale (medical) Scale (music) Scale (measurement) Scale (chemical) Scale (social sciences) Scale (spatial) Scale (computing) Order of magnitude Logarithmic scale Scale model Architects scale Engineers scale This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same... For information on the calendar, see: Gregorian Calendar For the music style, see: Gregorian chant For medieval usage see: Gregorian reform For the music group see: Gregorian (music group) For the University in Rome: Gregorian University This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise...

6. Wander

In his desperation, Ariel seeks back to a time where love and youth were carrying him on a wave of promises. He understands that these dreams are only sentimental wishes. Life has no longer a purpose for him.

7. Interlude II (Omen)

At this point Ariel is determined to take his own life. The melody is a reference to Helena’s death scene later on the album.

8. Descent of the Archangel

When Ariel is at his lowest, Mephisto as he wishes to call himself, appears in the pale moonlight. Ariel is very surprised as the devil seems to be nothing like what he had expected; In the shape of a beautiful woman, Mephisto politely explains Ariel what he could bring to his life. (Luca Turilli from Rhapsody plays the first half of the guitar solo on this song.) Luca Turilli (born 5 March 1972) is one of the founders of the symphonic power metal band Rhapsody. ... Art and literature Generally, a rhapsody is an effusion, such as a speech, letter, or poem, that is composed impromptu under the excitement of the moment—or appears so—and has intuitively rather than logically connected thought, without a structured argument. ... The guitar is often used to provide rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment to a voice or other instrument, or is used as an integral part of an ensemble. ...

9. Interlude III (At the Banquet)

Many of people are gathered at Mephisto’s castle, where Ariel has been invited. He arrives slightly late, but just in time to see his host’s remarkable entrance.

10. A Feast for the Vain

At the big party Ariel make friends with everybody and has the time of his life. With women, drinks, and food, Mephisto covers any carnal need. At the end of the song Ariel signs the deal that will be fatal.

11. On the Coldest Winter Night

After the party, Ariel suddenly meets Helena, the girl from his youth. They share a short, but intense moment together. (This song has a strong reference to cold (as opposed to Wander which refers to summer) that symbolically describes Ariel’s change after his meeting with Mephisto. It was recorded live in the studio with djembe and D-bass.))

12. Lost & Damned

Helena approaches Ariel to tell him that she’s pregnant, but is unsuccessful. Ariel is convinced that the pact he has with Mephisto will cause her too much pain and suffering. Even if he could be with her he would rather seek a higher goal than love. At least that is what he believes at this point in the story. He tells her decisively to forget all about him and leave. (The tango-like verse in this song is an attempt to musically describe the tension between Helena and Ariel. Fabricio Alejandro is featured on the bandoneon.)

13. Helena’s Theme

Helena drowns herself in a river. (A stunning performance by the American singer, Mari, beautifully supported by Rodenberg Symphony Orchestra.)

14. Interlude IV (Dawn)

The town crier reads the news about Helena’s death. (Guest appearance by Ian Parry (Elegy/Consortium Project)).

15. The Mourning After

Ariel hears about Helena having taken her own life; consequently their unborn child dies. He mourns deeply, but hopes that they will meet again on the other side.

16. III Ways to Epica

This song closes part I of the concept. It sums up the album with Mephisto clearly representing evil and cynicism, whilst Helena reappears as an angel representing good. Ariel is still somewhere in the middle; still searching balance and ultimate truth.

Line-up

• Roy Khan - vocals
• Thomas Youngblood - guitars
• Glenn Barry - bass
• Casey Grillo - drums

This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Casey Grillo (born October 16, 1976) is the drummer for the power metal band Kamelot. ...

External links

• Official site