EPICA — The Holographic Principle (review)

EPICA — The Holographic Principle album cover Album · 2016 · Symphonic Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Kev Rowland
I can’t put my finger on it, but there is definitely something that lifts this 2016 album to a higher plane than the one that came out just two years earlier. The intensity is still at the very high level, but Simone seems to be more in control on this one, as opposed to sometimes being swept away. It is bombastic, it is massively over the top, and the guitars have reined in just ever so slightly, although at times they still race off like bolting horses that have been given their heads. It is an overpowering aural assault on the senses, and I love it. The closest way I can think of describing it is like being at a version of Handel’s “Messiah” with full choir and orchestra, but with Slipknot also being involved!

I was playing these two albums back to back the other day, and even without looking I knew when this one had started as there is a definite lift, a step up in just about everything. Symphonic over the top progressive metal just doesn’t get any better than this. This is not something that can be played as background music, but rather demands full attention of the listener at all times, as this is all-consuming, and not for the fainthearted. I really do hope that the guys decided to come down to this part of the world for a show one day, as they must be incredible in concert. This is essential, nothing more, nothing less.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Silent Echoes Death Metal
GRUESOME
Buy this album from MMA partners
Rivers Of Nihil Technical Death Metal
RIVERS OF NIHIL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Birthing Metal Related
SWANS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ascension Gothic Metal
PARADISE LOST
Buy this album from MMA partners
A Vivid Depiction Of Collapse Metalcore
WOUNDED TOUCH
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

HORSE the band "Bunnies"
HORSE THE BAND
Tupan· -43 second ago
HORSE The Band - Shapeshift
HORSE THE BAND
Tupan· -44 second ago
HORSE the band- A Million Exploding Suns (HD)
HORSE THE BAND
Tupan· -38 second ago
HORSE The Band - Lord Gold Throneroom
HORSE THE BAND
Tupan· -27 second ago
PARADISE LOST - Silence Like The Grave (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
PARADISE LOST
adg211288· 1 day ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed