Quantum Enigma

Personnel: Simone Simons (vocals); Annemieke Klinkenberg-Nuijten, Silvia da Silva Martinho, Alfrun Schmid, Frederique Klooster, Martha Bosch (soprano); Koert Braches, Daan Verlaan, Ruben de Grauw (tenor); Angus van Grevenbroek, Jan Douwes, Andreas Goetze (bass voice); Ariën Van Weesenbeek (spoken vocals, drums); Isaac Delahaye (guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar); Ben Mathot, Vera Van Der Bie, Jan de Jong, Judith Van Driel, Floortje Beljon, Marleen Wester, Loes Dooren, Merel Jonker, Emma Van Der Schalie (violin); Mark Mulder, Adriaan Breunis, Amber Hendriks (viola); Coen Janssen (piano, synthesizer); Rob Van Der Loo (bass guitar); Marcela Bovio (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Jacob Hansen.
Recording information: Sandlane Recording Facilities, Rijen, The Netherlands (10/2013-01/2014).
Director: Maria van Nieukerken.
Editors: Jos Driessen; Joost Van Den Broek.
Translators: Gjalt Lucassen; Jaap Toorenaar.
Arrangers: Epica; Joost Van Den Broek.
The sixth studio long-player from the Dutch symphonic metal outfit founded by multi-instrumentalist Mark Jensen, The Quantum Enigma offers up 13 new stadium-ready songs that skilfully balance the decibel-pushing, sonic crush of traditional European heavy metal, the opulence and refinement of classical music, and pure hook-filled pop. It's also the first Epica outing with bass player Rob Van Der Loo, who replaced Yves Huts shortly after the release of 2012's Requiem for the Indifferent. The Nuclear Blast-issued album was preceded by the singles "The Essence of Silence" and "Unchain Utopia." ~ James Christopher Monger