Epica laugh at Phantom Agony

Epica singer Simone Simons admits she laughs when she listens to the band's 2003 debut album The Phantom Agony.

But she’s proud of their evolution over the past 11 years, and insists she wouldn’t change any step of their musical progress.

Simons tells CrypticRock: “When I listen back to the first record I laugh, because we sound so young and naive. But it also had something magical about it – many fans says it’s their favourite Epica record, even though we don’t sound like that any more.”

The Dutch outfit’s sonic changes have mirrored their personal ones. “We’ve added new band members who have contributed to the sound,” she says. “The goal for each record is to be better than the previous record.”

The approach has led them to sixth full-length outing The Quantum Enigma, released last month via Nuclear Blast. Simons says: “We decided to use more Asian melodies – that’s a new element and I find it refreshing.”

But she believes each album means as much to the band as it does to the fans. “Everyone has their own special memories attached to each record – I have the same,” she notes.

Epica are currently touring Europe in support of The Quantum Enigma, and return to the UK on December 6 for a show at the Forum in London.

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.