The Phantom Agony
| Professional ratings |
|---|
| Review scores |
|---|
| Source | Rating |
|---|
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Sea of Tranquility | [2] |
| Musical Discoveries | [3] |
| Metal Ship | [4] |
| Lords of Metal | [5] |
| Metal Reviews | [6] |
The Phantom Agony is the first full-length studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released in 2003 by the Dutch label Transmission Records. It is the first album recorded by guitarist Mark Jansen after his departure from the band After Forever. On this album, Mark Jansen continues with the collection of songs that make up "The Embrace That Smothers". The first three parts can be found on Prison of Desire (2000), After Forever's debut album, and the following three parts can be found on The Divine Conspiracy (2007), Epica's third album. These songs deal with the dangers of organized religion.[7]
The album was re-released on 23 March 2013, which coincided with Epica’s 10th anniversary Retrospect show, as a 2-disc expanded edition by Epica’s former record label Transmission Records.[8][9]
Track listings
|
| 1. | "Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)" | Simone Simons | Mark Jansen | 1:27 |
| 2. | "Sensorium" | Jansen | Jansen, Ad Sluijter, Coen Janssen, Simons | 4:47 |
| 3. | "Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers, Part IV)" | Jansen | Jansen, Sluijter, Simons | 6:44 |
| 4. | "Feint" | Jansen | Jansen, Sluijter, Janssen, Simons | 4:18 |
| 5. | "Illusive Consensus" | Simons | Jansen, Sluijter, Janssen, Simons | 4:59 |
| 6. | "Façade of Reality (The Embrace That Smothers, Part V)" | Jansen | Jansen, Sluijter, Simons | 8:10 |
| 7. | "Run for a Fall" | Jansen | Jansen, Sluijter, Janssen, Simons | 6:31 |
| 8. | "Seif al Din (The Embrace That Smothers, Part VI)" | Jansen | Jansen, Sluijter | 5:47 |
| 9. | "The Phantom Agony" | Jansen | Jansen, Sluijter, Yves Huts | 9:00 |
|
|
| 10. | "The Phantom Agony" (Single version, first single from this album) | Jansen | Jansen, Sluijter, Huts | 4:35 |
| 11. | "Triumph of Defeat" (On Japanese edition) | instrumental | Janssen | 3:58 |
|
|
| 10. | "Veniality" | 4:37 |
| 11. | "The Phantom Agony" (Single Version) | 4:33 |
| 12. | "Triumph of Defeat" | 3:54 |
|
|
| 1. | "Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)" (Orchestral Version) | 1:28 |
| 2. | "Sensorium" (Orchestral Version) | 4:53 |
| 3. | "Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers, Part IV)" (Orchestral Version) | 6:40 |
| 4. | "Feint" (Orchestral Version) | 4:18 |
| 5. | "Illusive Consensus" (Orchestral Version) | 5:02 |
| 6. | "Basic Instinct" | 4:07 |
| 7. | "Run for a Fall" (Orchestral Version) | 6:26 |
| 8. | "The Phantom Agony" (Orchestral Version) | 9:00 |
| 9. | "Veniality" (Orchestral Version) | 4:35 |
| 10. | "Feint" (Piano Version) | 4:53 |
| 11. | "Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers, Part IV)" (Single Version) | 3:30 |
| 12. | "Run for a Fall" (Single Version) | 4:29 |
Personnel
[10]
- Band members
- Simone Simons - mezzo-soprano
- Mark Jansen - guitars, grunts, screams, orchestral arrangements
- Ad Sluijter - guitars
- Coen Janssen - synths & piano, orchestral and choir arrangements
- Yves Huts - bass guitar
- Jeroen Simons - drums
- Additional musicians
- Olaf Reitmeier - acoustic guitars on "Feint" and "Run for a Fall", engineer
- Annette Berryman - flute on "Run for a Fall"
- Production
- Sascha Paeth - producer, engineer, mixing
- Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - orchestral arrangements
- Hans van Vuuren - executive producer, coordination and research
- Peter van 't Riet - mastering
|
- Epica Orchestra
- Thomas Glöckner - violin
- Andreas Pfaff - violin
- Tobias Rempe - violin
- Marie-Theres Stumpf - viola
- David Schlage - viola
- Jörn Kellermann - cello
- Cordula Rhode - cello
- Andrè Neygenfind - contrabass
- Epica Choir
- Melvin Edmonsen - bass
- Previn Moore - tenor
- Bridget Fogle - alto
- Cinzia Rizzo - alto
- Annie Goeble - soprano
- Amanda Somerville - soprano, vocal coach
|
Singles
The Phantom Agony
"The Phantom Agony" was the first single of the eponymous album. It was released in October 2003.
Track listing
- "The Phantom Agony" (Single Version) - 4:35
- "Veniality" - 4:36
- "Façade of Reality" - 8:17
- "Veniality" (Orchestral Version) - 4:37
Feint
Track listing
- "Feint" - 4:18
- "Feint (Piano Version)" - 4:53
- "Triumph of Defeat" - 3:56
- "Seif al Din" - 5:46
Cry for the Moon
"Cry for the Moon" is a symphonic metal song by Epica. It was the third single released from their debut album, The Phantom Agony.
Track listing
- "Cry for the Moon" (Single Version) - 3:33
- "Cry for the Moon" - 6:44
- "Run for a Fall" (Single Version) - 4:29
- "Run for a Fall" - 6:31
References
- ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Epica The Phantom Agony review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ↑ Popke, Michael; Pierce, Ken (28 April 2004). "Epica: The Phantom Agony". Sea of Tranquility.org. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- ↑ Elliot, Russell W. (2 March 2004). "Epica / The Phantom Agony". Musical Discoveries.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ↑ des Dragones, Elric (16 July 2010). "Chronique de The Phantom Agony" (in French). Metal Ship.org. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ↑ Barten, Michiel. "Epica - The Phantom Agony". Lords of Metal.nl. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ↑ "Epica - The Phantom Agony". Metal Reviews.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ↑ "Epica (Nld) - The Phantom Agony". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- ↑ "Epica - The Phantom Agony (Expanded Edition)". Epica.nl. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ↑ "Epica - The Phantom Agony (Expanded Edition)". discogs.com. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ↑ The Phantom Agony (CD sleeve). Epica. The Netherlands: Transmission Records. 2003.
