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