Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

REQUIEM FOR THE INDIFFERENT

Epica

Progressive Metal


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Epica Requiem For The Indifferent album cover
3.56 | 92 ratings | 6 reviews | 18% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

Write a review

Buy EPICA Music
from Progarchives.com partners
Studio Album, released in 2012

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Karma (1:32)
2. Monopoly On Truth (7:11)
3. Storm The Sorrow (5:12)
4. Delirium (6:07)
5. Internal Warfare (5:12)
6. Requiem For The Indifferent (8:34)
7. Anima (1:24)
8. Guilty Demeanor (3:22)
9. Deep Water Horizan (6:31)
10. Stay The Course (4:25)
11. Deter The Tyrant (6:36)
12. Avalanche (6:52)
13. Serenade Of Self Distruction (9:51)

Total time 72:49

Bonus tracks on 2012 LP edition:
14. Nostalgia (3:26)
15. Twin Flames (Regular Version) (4:47)

Bonus track on 2012 CD edition:
14. Twin Flames (Soundtrack Version) (5:02)

Line-up / Musicians

- Simone Simons / vocals
- Mark Jansen / rhythm guitar, grunts vocals, orchestral arrangements
- Isaac Delahaye / lead guitar, orchestral arrangements
- Coen Janssen / synthesizer, piano, choir arranger & conductor, orchestral arrangements
- Yves Huts / bass
- Ariën Van Weesenbeek / drums, grunts & spoken word

With:
- Simon Oberender / Gregorian voice (5)
- Amanda Sommerville / alto vocals, backing vocals, vocal coaching, arrangements
- Tanja Eisl / alto vocals
- Linda Janssen / soprano vocals
- Laura Macrì / soprano vocals
- Previn Moore / tenor vocals
- Christoph Drescher / bass vocals
- Sascha Paeth / arrangements, mixing & co-producer
- Michael "Miro" Rodenberg / orchestral arrangements

Releases information

Artwork: Stefan Heilemann

CD Nuclear Blast ‎- NB 2558-2 (2012, US) With a bonus track

2xLP Nuclear Blast ‎- NB 2558-1 (2012, US) With 2 bonus tracks
2xLP Nuclear Blast ‎- NB 2922-1 (2012, Germany) Instrumental version, limited edition

Thanks to sleeper for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
Edit this entry

Buy EPICA Requiem For The Indifferent Music



EPICA Requiem For The Indifferent ratings distribution


3.56
(92 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(18%)
18%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(37%)
37%
Good, but non-essential (29%)
29%
Collectors/fans only (11%)
11%
Poor. Only for completionists (5%)
5%

EPICA Requiem For The Indifferent reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by AtomicCrimsonRush
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Epica's "Requiem For The Indifferent" is an album that resonates with orchestral symphonic beauty and merges with the extreme end of death metal. It begins with a choir and full blown orchestral arrangement with swooping strings and horns on 'Karma'. There is a dense choral majesty like Magma or Therion choirs.

'Monopoly on Truth' breaks into intense metal distortion and Mark Jansen's metal rasping growls as intense as Mortification or Sepultura, and this is counterbalanced by Simone Simons' operatic vocals. 'Storm The Sorrow' is another heavy blaster with power chords and intricate riffs merged with symphonic layers. Simone is capable of some exquisite beauty on vocals such as with the very pretty 'Delerium'. This has lovely ribbons of flute, creating a mesmerising gorgeous atmosphere of tranquillity, that is so tranquilising,after all the shredding.

'Internal Warfare' is a tirade of Dream Theater metal riffs, off sync and punctuated with sudden stops in the rhythm with jarring effect. The time sig is fractured and there is a symphonic orchestra that is omnipresent beneath. The stirring choirs are also a key factor in the Gothic atmospheres generated. The growling vocals are disconcerting after all the classical references but they balance it out well. The fret melting lead work is battled out with high speed keyboard fingering. Soprano vocals emanate in the choir, complimented by Simone's vocals.

The highlight is the title track where Arabian flavours are joined by a fast complex razor sharp metal riff that blazes away, then growls now and then are heard along with Simone's angelic singing. The breaks are sudden and striking, the choirs get more forceful as the melody locks in with a fast cadence. The precision galloping riffs are exhilarating. The growls snarl venomously and the sig switches into a measured rhythm. The lead guitar arpeggios and pentatonic scale is extraordinary over breakneck drumming. Then it relaxes into a measured tempo with lovely shades of flute, and sweeping strings. Simone joins the melancholy atmosphere but it is short lived and Jansen's growls return sounding angry and evil. The choirs add a sense of grandeur and cap off a spellbinding track of immeasurable dexterity and intricacy.

'Anima' is a short piano and strings interlude, a calm in the eye of the storm, that is followed by 'Guilty Demeanour', an outbreak of thunderous metal. The horns and guitars open proceedings then a tempo of complex riffs locks in, the choirs are on standby coming in at the counterpoint of strings and bass, with an incessant pounding drum. The lyrics focus on dying for all, traditional Gothic themes, "burnt and crucified, haunted and if I belong, break my back against the wall."

Acoustics open 'Deep Water Horizon', with Simone's soloing very pretty and then it builds to a stirring chorus. This has a compelling melody and even when the metal riff begins to chug it retains a haunting beauty. Serrations of violins sweep through as the pace quickens and growls return briefly. The lead break is an incredible elegant melody soaring, then a speed metal tempo shreds through, until the final section that switches time sig yet again; an incredible song from Epica.

'Stay the Course' is one of the heaviest songs beginning with rasping vox and a darkened mood of choirs competing over crunching riffs. Simone balances out the gritty distortion with her high pitched resonances. It kind of sounds like Napalm Death infiltrated the London Symphony Orchestra and Mormon Tabernacle Choir; very bizarre and extremely heavy. It ends with Simone singing some nice melodies but this is all over the place and a genuine oddity.

'Deter The Tyrant' is another metal blaster that has Jansen's growls and operatic vocals interchanging throughout. There are some narrative dialogue samples that have some political connection, and again the time sigs change constantly and within there is a powerful melody.

'Avalanche' begins acoustically with Simone softly singing a dreamy melody, "in another time you left me for someone else to serve your every need and set your world apart, the strain is now unbearable." Growls come in, the dark side of the music punching a hole into the serenity. The rhythm gets faster and symphonic strings sweep over.

The last song is 'Serenade of Self-Destruction' opening with minimalist piano and birdsong vocals. Then the violins slice along with a pounding metal rhythm. Magma choirs are heard and then the growls return. It is a trademark sound of Epica that will either grow on the listener or make them run for cover. The battle between good and evil continues with Simone duelling with Jansen. The atmosphere grows with majestic choirs, male bass sections balanced with female opera sections. It is an effective device and overseeing all is Simone's constant acrobatics. The pace quickens in an instrumental break with massive riff gallops and orchestral arrangements of cinematic grandeur.

The one thing that keeps me inspired is the merging of the two mediums as both are at the extreme ends, at polar opposites usually, but the classical meets metal surprisingly works if it is handled correctly. Epica have mastered this style along with other Gothic female fronted metal artists. I am no fan of death metal growls, and when the growls come it feels dated as prog metal is slowly pulling out of this phase, but at least Epica balance their music with complex riffs, orchestration and beautiful female vocals. "The Divine Conspiracy" is better if you are after something conceptual and progressive. Epica's "Requiem For The Indifferent" is an album that will appease their fanbase and metalheads will adore it, along with those who enjoy Gothic metal blended with orchestral beauty with an angelic vixen at the helm.

Review by Warthur
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Although I am quite taken with some symphonic-inclined "Beauty and the Beast" metal - I quite like the debut by The Sins of Thy Beloved, for instance, though it's more gothic than symphonic - I've always found myself markedly underwhelmed with Epica's work. The fact that they've released an album called "Requiem for the Indifferent" seems to me an act of unintentional self-parody, since indifference is precisely what the album inspires in me.

Sure, the production is alright, the performances are up to scratch, in general it's not terrible, but at the same timethere's a certain soullessness to the proceedings. It feels to me that, in common with many symphonic acts, Epica realised they've hit on a style which, whilst it won't make them global megastars, at least consistently yields a reasonable level of commercial success (they might not be mainstream material in the UK but they've done alright in many of the European album charts, for instance) and so they're yet again going through the motions. An alright listen if you're into this style of metal, but hardly a classic, or even on its way to being a classic.

Latest members reviews

4 stars (This album is a lot like the new Cannibal Corpse album?not in style, just in the way I feel about it) Why I haven't gotten round to reviewing one of these guys albums yet is a mystery to me...cause I really do love this band. But sure, I'm reviewing all the new stuff now, so I might as wel ... (read more)

Report this review (#718482) | Posted by arcane-beautiful | Monday, April 9, 2012 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Well this is such a prestigious and experienced band in this area. Technically and excellent album....uhhh...so great musicians and arrangements. Beautiful vocals and better in my opinion than NightWish or Therion ones for Ex. Very good songs...ballads beautiful. So where is my disagreem ... (read more)

Report this review (#693287) | Posted by robbob | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 | Review Permanlink

5 stars If you're a fan of female fronted metal, or even if you're not but you're a fan of metal, there are probably two names that you first associate with the phrase "female fronted metal" - Nightwish and Epica. Epica have steadily risen from relative obscurity to being pretty definitive in the modern wor ... (read more)

Report this review (#684300) | Posted by dtguitarfan | Sunday, March 25, 2012 | Review Permanlink

5 stars the way to maturity With "Requiem For The Indifferent" Epica have finally succeeded in producing a goth-black metal album, that can compete with the legendary and brilliant Tristania album "Beyond The Veil". The album keeps up the ascending line and the band have matured into a true leading ... (read more)

Report this review (#679722) | Posted by Life Line Project | Friday, March 23, 2012 | Review Permanlink

Post a review of EPICA "Requiem For The Indifferent"

You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.