There is more than one artist known as Epica: ONE Epica formed in the Netherlands. They are a symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen, subsequent to his departure from After Forever. Their songs largely deal with philosophical topics, including science, religion and world events. Official Website: http://epica.nl/ Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/epica Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epica In 2003, Epica's debut album The Phantom Agony was released through Transmission Records. Consign to Oblivion followed in 2005 and debuted at No. 12 in the Dutch charts. They moved labels to Nuclear Blast following Transmission's bankruptcy and in 2007 released their third studio album The Divine Conspiracy, which charted at #9 in the Netherlands. 2009's Design Your Universe was met with yet greater success, debuting at #8 in the Dutch Albums Chart, and charting across Europe, also garnering much critical acclaim. Epica's fifth studio album Requiem for the Indifferent was released in 2012. Well-received by critics, it met with international success, entering the USA's Billboard 200 at #104 and Japan's Oricon Albums Chart at #172. On March 23, 2013, Epica celebrated their 10th anniversary with a huge live event, called Retrospect, at the Klokgebouw, Eindhoven, hosting a live orchestra from Hungary along with special guests Floor Jansen and former Epica members Ad Sluijter, Jeroen Simons, and Yves Huts. During the show a DVD release of the show was confirmed. Discography The Phantom Agony (2003) We Will Take You With Us [Live] (2004) Consign to Oblivion (2005) The Score - An Epic Journey [Soundtrack] (2005) The Divine Conspiracy (2007) The Classical Conspiracy [Live] (2009) Design Your Universe (2009) Requiem for the Indifferent (2012) Retrospect [Live] (2013) The Quantum Enigma (2014) The Holographic Principle (2016) Current members: Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, unclean vocals Coen Janssen – keyboards, synthesizer, piano Simone Simons – lead vocals Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums, spoken words Isaac Delahaye – lead guitar, backing vocals Rob van der Loo – bass Former members: Yves Huts – bass Ad Sluijter – guitars Jeroen Simons – drums Helena Iren Michaelsen – lead vocals Iwan Hendrikx – drums Dennis Leeflang – drums TWO The Italian prog rock band active in the 90s who released the album Confini in 1995. - Alessandro Secchi / vocals - Alessandro Mantelli / keyboards, programming - Alessandro Crovato / guitars - Flavio Miotto / bass, guitars - Gianni Ghezzo / drums THREE Epica is a three person progressive/trance group from Russia.

Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

In early 2010 versatile musician Mark Jansen (Epica, After Forever) started a project together with keyboardist Jack Driessen (After Forever) and guitarist Sander Gommans (After Forever) to produce some heavy and technical death-metal combined with Jack's trademark symphonic arrangements. After writing some music together, Sander couldn't find the time to go for it anymore. Mark then asked guitarist Frank Schiphorst if he was interested in filling the gap. And he was. When Mark, Jack and Frank got together, great chemistry emerged. Songs started popping out in no time, combining neck-wrecking technical death-metal riffing with huge melodic symphonic parts on thunderous drums topped by Mark's complex and thought-provoking lyrics through his brutal in-your-face grunts and screams. As the project evolved beyond expectations, the three members decided to turn it into a band and really go for it. Ariën van Weesenbeek (Epica), Isaac Delahaye (Epica, God Dethroned) and Jeroen Paul Thesseling (Obscura, Pestilence) completed the line-up. A new metal-machine was born; MaYaN. As the music asked for more, brainstorming on vocalists for clean parts was done and resulted in a collaboration with the guests; Floor Jansen (After Forever, Nightwish, Revamp), Simone Simons (Epica), Henning Basse (Metalium) and the revelation and one of the biggest Italian Opera talents; Laura Macrì. Demos were sent to Nuclear Blast, the first and best record label that came up for releasing the music. After listening to the demos their enthusiasm lead to a record-deal. Again a great step to success. MaYaN hired the Gate Studios with renowned producer Sascha Paeth to record their first album called Quarterpast, to be released in May 2011. After the recordings, bassist Jeroen's very busy schedule didn't allow him to join for the planned live shows. He was replaced by Rob van der Loo (Epica).

Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

For the last couple of months, Off The Cross has been showing everything they’ve got on big and small stages in Belgium & The Netherlands. Everyone keeps asking how to describe the genre of the band. Well, the answer is simple: LOUD! Now, Off The Cross is ready to hit the road and present their first full album: DIVIDED KINGDOM. Off The Cross will bring raw music to a fucked up world. We hope you are ready for this! Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.