Image credit: Cujo359This lovely lady is Simone Simons, of the symphonic metal band Epica. I saw them last Sunday.
Image credit: Cujo359If you're wondering what symphonic metal might sound like, its instrumentals are a cross between the old hair metal bands of the '80s with some symphonic elements. The description probably doesn't help much, but then that's been the case with most bands that have tried to meld rock and classical music. Simons has a wonderful voice. If you check the Wikipedia entry on Epica I linked to, you'll note that one of the band credits is "rhythm guitar, grunts, sceams", which is a pretty accurate description of some of the accompanying vocals. It's an interesting sound, and fun to listen to. I'm not sure I'd want to make a steady diet of it, though.
As you can see, some of the visuals were very nice.
If you want to see more of Epica, there are more of my pictures at Dana Hunter's blog.
As always, click on the pictures to enlarge. Have a nice Sunday.
3 comments:
Epica is available on iTunes and is part of what is known as "Goth Metal" Other bands include "Within Temptation," "Evanescence," "Nightwish," "Tarja" and others. The music is an interesting mash-up of a big orchestral sound mixed with big pyrotechnic rock. It always on the knifes' edge of falling into bombast. When fronted by a female singer it stands or falls on her abilities.
If you like your music big, slightly overwrought, and dramatic it can be a good listen. Its Achilles heal is its lack of subtlety. It is definitely not for everyone and can be an acquired taste.
I stumbled into an Apocalyptica show in St. Petersburg Russia in early 2000. Who would have ever thought that a handful of Finns clad in leather and armed with cellos could prompt one to raise the devil's horns into the air...well it did. (And i'd seen Metallica live as early as "...And Justice for All".
It is a strange beast, symphonic metal, but it can be super cool too. I'll pass the link along to my metalhead (and playing guitarist) brother.
The Wikipedia entry said "symphonic metal", James, and we all know Wikipedia is never wrong. ;-) Actually, before Epica came on, there were four warmup bands. They sounded so similar to me that only the vocal styles distinguished them. Epica was a bit different, but mainly because they occasionally used synthesizers that sound like symphony instruments. And yes, subtlety is something I'd never accuse them of.
Thanks, Lex. In spirit, these bands remind me a bit of Blue Oyster Cult, in that they tend to dwell on dark things like evil, death, and heartbreak.
Anyway, fun in limited doses, at least for me.
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