Epica "Omega"

Monumental isn't even a word strong enough to describe Epica's offering Omega. On their eighth full-length, the Dutch symphonic metal titans go all cinemascope, in a stunt both effortlessly and cunningly unleashing their biggest, grandest, flashiest opus yet.

Mind you, that's not lightly said for a band like Epica. Formed by composer Mark Jansen after leaving After Forever back in 2002, they quickly gained attention outside their home country, taking big steps towards becoming the leading symphonic metal superpower they have long proven to be. After their ambitious debut The Phantom Agony (2002) and the surprisingly eclectic sophomore work Consign To Oblivion (2005), the road took them to new heights via their first concept masterpiece The Divine Conspiracy (2007) and their global breakthrough Design Your Universe (2009). However, 2012's opus Requiem For The Indifferent, 2014's bedazzling The Quantum Enigma and their finest, most embellished effort yet, The Holographic Principle (2016), cemented their reputation as not only one of the hardest working metal bands in the business but also as one of the best. Period. On Omega, the final part of the metaphysical trilogy they began with The Quantum Enigma, they reclaimed the throne without so much as the blink of an eye.