Interviews News
Reviews Articles
Giveaway

Shoutbox
Events Now online Today
Advertisement
Advertise on MS
Charts Top 200 Top of 2013

Epica - The Phantom Agony
Band info | Discography | Timeline | Bio and logos | Videos | Trivia | Edit album



Buy for
$63.95
(8 items)
Release date: 2003
Style: Symphonic metal

Rating:
8.6 | 463 votes

Owners:
566 have it
53 want it


01. Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)
02. Sensorium
03. Cry For The Moon (The Embrace That Smothers - Part IV)
04. Feint
05. Illusive Consensus
06. Façade Of Reality (The Embrace That Smothers - Part V)
07. Run For A Fall
08. Seif Al Din (The Embrace That Smothers - Part VI)
09. The Phantom Agony
10. Veniality [bonus]
11. Triumph of Defeat [Japanese bonus]

Review
Lyrics (11)


Additional info
Also as Digibook.

Bonus track for Japan:
10. Triumph of Defeat (Instrumental) (03:58)

"The Embrace That Smothers" concept actually began on the After Forever album "Prison of Desire."

The songs of 'Cry For The Moon' and 'Illusive Consensus' are re-recordings of tracks with the same names from the 'Cry For The Moon' demo the band released while they where still called 'Sahara Dust'.

This album's lyrics are mostly based on events that happened during the writing of the album.
"Cry for the Moon" is based on the abuse of children by Catholic priests. It has been released as a single in 2004.
"Feint" was written after the murder of Pim Fortuyn.
"Façade of Reality" is based on the September 11, 2001 attacks. It features two fragments from a speech by Tony Blair.
"Run for a Fall" expresses Mark's frustrations towards his former band After Forever.
"Seif al Din" is about Islamic fundamentalism.

The song "Illusive Consensus" is featured in the South Korean movie "Baramui Fighter" ("Fighter In The Wind").

Staff review by
Malcolm

Rating:
9.0 		I guess that no one hasn't heard that Mark Jansen had to leave After Forever in April 2002; it was quite big news in the Metal world.
And then did his little side project, Sahara Dust become his fulltime band, Good or bad? Well, I guess good, now we have two bands in the same genre, even if I like Epica a bit more than After Forever.

Read more ››
published 02.12.2003 | Comments (8)

Found in 17 lists
Top lists

~Starchild~ The Encyclopaedia of Beautiful Metal Ballads  | #100
E.Mols86 A List Of Great Debut Albums  | #75
E.Mols86 My Top 50 Albums Of All Time  | #16
E.Mols86 The Best (Gothic) "Beauty And The Beast" Albums  | #4
Dark†SymphonY The Ultimate Symphonic Metal Albums  | #12
Atrus Some Of The Best Albums Of All Time (In No Particular Order)  | #27
Laneth Great Debuts In Symphonic/Gothic Metal  | #9
Întunecatul My Top 50 Of All Time  | #33
More lists with this album (17) | Create a list! ››



Comments

‹‹ Back to the Albums
Comments: 9  
Users visited: 345  
Search this topic:  


Akerfeldt - 06.05.2010 at 12:42  
Rating: 9 This is an excellent gothic metal or symphonic metal album!! The growl and clean vocals are perfect and the guitars riffs give some much power with the symphonic parts. Great music from a very good band. Everyone that like gothic metal must listen this album!!
Wishmaster - 21.08.2010 at 16:44  
  I don't get it? Why do a lot of people criticize Simone's vocals on this album? I think her vocals aren't so bad on this album. It's just an opinion, I guess...
Wishmaster - 21.08.2010 at 16:47  
 
Written by Akerfeldt on 06.05.2010 at 12:42

This is an excellent gothic metal or symphonic metal album!! The growl and clean vocals are perfect and the guitars riffs give some much power with the symphonic parts. Great music from a very good band. Everyone that like gothic metal must listen this album!!


I agree. Btw, this is symphonic metal, but they don't mind being called a gothic metal band.
Laneth - 16.07.2011 at 08:30  
Rating: 8
Written by Guest on 21.08.2010 at 16:44

I don't get it? Why do a lot of people criticize Simone's vocals on this album? I think her vocals aren't so bad on this album. It's just an opinion, I guess...


She was around 18 years old when this was released, and it's in my knowledge that she begun singing at age 15; that's only 3 years of experience. I'm guessing that she just hadn't solidified her style quite yet.
musicalkaratekid - 22.01.2012 at 16:51  
Rating: 9 Rekindled my love for this band...such a great album.
Echonia - 08.10.2012 at 21:09  
Rating: 10 One of the best symphonic metal albums (not gothic). And a great debut. Everything is perfect for me. Choirs , guitars , violins , lyrics. Simone was 17-18 years old so she was a litle bit unexperienced but her voice was so peaceful and angelic. I love her.
'Facade of reality' , 'Phantom Agony' and of course 'Cry for the moon' are the highlights!
Malaghost - 12.10.2012 at 20:33  
Rating: 9 My all time fav in the genre.
E.Mols86 - 21.10.2012 at 18:05  
Rating: 10 A masterpiece, as well as my absolute favourite album of Epica. It blows every other album out of the water, even Design Your Universe. Lyrically it's the best as well.
mayoarm - 22.12.2012 at 16:32  
Rating: 10 This is a perfect album in what it's trying to do. The seemingly simplistic, catchy songwriting is incredible. Everything fits together perfectly to form the ultimate gothic metal album.

Advertise on Metal Storm


Login or register to post here.



Similar topics

Forum Topic Similarity Started
Reviews Epica - The Phantom Agony 7.5 12.07.2006 by The Alchemist
Interviews Epica - The Phantom Agony (Song by Song) 7.5 16.08.2006 by The Alchemist
Albums Epica - The Classical Conspiracy 5.5 27.03.2011 by The Shape 1973
Albums Epica - The Score 5.5 24.03.2012 by AngelofDeth
Albums Epica - This Is The Time 5.5 03.10.2010 by The Night Wisher



Hits total: 6011 | This month: 77
Useful links
  Contact us | Staff | FAQ | Advertise on MS



Join us on
©2000-2013 Metal Storm
design & programming by Ivan