Omega

Omega is Epica's eighth album, on which they meticulously crystallized symphonic grandeur and weighty riffs. It concludes the metaphysical trilogy that continued through The Quantum Enigma and The Holographic Principle. Their first new material in about five years, it is a dense record made after a writing camp where the members gathered together for the first time in a long while. Recording proceeded amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the band shared the process as studio vlogs. "Kingdom of Heaven, Part 3 - The Antediluvian Universe," over 13 minutes, is the grand culmination of the long-running suite. From the single "Abyss of Time" to the eerie "The Skeleton Key" and the oriental "Seal of Solomon," varied songs line up. Simone Simons's singing is given even wider space, and striking choruses stand out. Under Joost van den Broek's production, it is an accomplished work carving the band's maturity. The orchestration is given even more room to breathe, letting Simone Simons's voice shine.