The Quantum Enigma

The Quantum Enigma is Epica's sixth album, an important work that precisely fused orchestral grandeur with heavy riffs. It is the first album with bassist Rob van der Loo, and takes as its subject quantum physics, consciousness and the question of "what is reality." Steering toward a heavier, more modern sound, it announced the dawn of a new era for the band. It reached No. 110 on the US Billboard 200. It was the band's second US chart entry, and was mixed by Jacob Hansen. "The Quantum Enigma - Kingdom of Heaven Part II," over 11 minutes, is a meticulously constructed epic. Alongside the singles "The Essence of Silence" and "Unchain Utopia," incisive songs line up. A video was also made for "Victims of Contingency." With producer Joost van den Broek, it achieved a sound refined down to the details. A career-defining accomplishment where Simone Simons's singing and the group's unity stand out. Simons went into the studio just eight weeks after the birth of her first child.