Epica - Once Upon a Nightmare (Omega Alive) | Reaction/First Listen!

[@jonathanratliff4780]

Masterpiece ballad. Epica does some of the most amazing complex symphonic metal and they also do some of the most incredible ballads as well. Done in a one shot take along with Rivers, which the two ballads were done back to back. There are many reasons you will continue to discover if you go down this Epica rabbit hole that based on my experience of many years of listening to all sorts of metal including symphonic metal (I am 64 yrs old), that I truly feel this is the greatest band of our time. And Siren Simone is everything. The word pitch in vocals is totally different than what you’re describing it comes from a very trained voice when you refer to pitch like Simone and Tommy Karevick from Kamelot have the most perfect pitch on the metal scene. You will find much of their catalog of music on the live productions are with orchestras and choirs which only adds to the magnificent compositions of this immense talent ridden band.

[@nikkireviews]

I agree, the whole band is just full of such amazing talent. Like I've said before, I didn't even know symphonic metal was a thing until recently, but I've been truly blown away by what I've heard. 🎵

[@rnowak85]

Great reaction to one of my favorite Epica songs. Inspired by the dark German fairytale about the Alder King or Erlking who steals the souls of children who linger to long in the woods by killing them with a single touch. The male voice here is the evil enchanter trying to lure the young traveler to his side with promises of power and tender care by his daughters. This was the second half of two songs filmed back to back, the previous song being an acapella version of Rivers. I do love the theatrics for this Omega Alive concert, especially since there was no audience. I watched a number of livestream concerts during the pandemic and while it was great to hear music, especially the Nightwish virtual concerts, it always felt off with out the crowd. The extra production in Omega Alive I think helped make up for some of that missing vibe of an audience. I have seen Epica live once in 2022 and also watched livestreams of their 20th anniversary concert (fantastic show, livestream video and audio were outstanding, best $14 I have ever spent) and their show at the Exit Festival in Serbia last year (whole concert is available on Epica's YT channel) and their stage production is not this over the top. Just some cool pyro and a huge video wall with great imagery similar to many other symphonic metal bands. Next Epica I would recommend Sirens- of Blood and Water, official music video. Inspired by the original Little Mermaid story by Hans Christian Andersen and also features Charlotte Wessels' and Myrkur's beautiful voices.

[@nikkireviews]

Thank you! I will have to check that one out! ☺️ And yeah, I think some of the extra special stage stuff definitely helped during the pandemic to make up for the lack of audience, I agree with you there! 😁

[@PaulSink]

Really loved the stripped down rawness at the beginning with the piano and guitar and the haunting feel throughout than the singing and the big build-up.

[@nikkireviews]

Yes! The build up is really what got me too! 🎵

[@chriso6719]

Love the slow build on this song. From the 2016 album, The Holographic Principle. Simone wrote the lyrics, yeah kinda creepy and dark, but sung beautifully. Coen wrote the music. The extra theatrics were nice for this online streamed concert, but might be a bit too much in a concert with an audience. Although fire is always good, crowd or no crowd. When you come back to EPICA, A song with a deep meaning, and one of their oldest songs, "Cry For the Moon" was also played at this show.

[@bobsuisse2]

"The Holographic Principle" not "The Divine Conspiracy" 😊😊😊 But both albums are fantastic!

[@chriso6719]

@@bobsuisse2 brainfart, fixed.

[@nikkireviews]

I will have to remember that one, I do love the deep ones. 🎵

[@chriso6719]

@@nikkireviews The full Omega Alive concert stream was just posted on EPICA's channel in April. "Cry For the Moon" starts at 1 hour 19 minute 28 second mark, ends at 1 hour 27 minute and 26 second mark, transitioning directly into "Beyond the Matrix"

[@nikkireviews]

​@@chriso6719 Thank you!

[@wildhoney126]

this song along with the previous one was filmed in one take and one camera movement. The song is simply gorgeous, in the original instead of a guitar plus piano duet there is a long beautiful orchestral introduction, but I also like the improvisation in this show

[@Columbasta]

Gorgeous performance by Simone (one of her best imo). It's the perfect balance between chest voice and head voice (you called it "operatic voice"). Let's forget abt mixed voice for clarity's sake. Same (higher) pitch can be done in both types of voices. There are moments here when you'd expect her to shift into head voice, but then she goes chest-dominant like nothing else which is stunning.

[@nikkireviews]

I never thought about it like that. Thanks for explaining!

[@rvanleersum3433]

Fully agree with you about the theatrics adding to the show and complete experience of the song(s). Keep up your reactions #Epica

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

My favourite bamd ever. and this is one of their best ballads. They have grown a Lot over the years.

[@dingodango7331]

I'd recommend you check out Kingdom of Heaven Part I and Omega - Sovereign of the Sun Spheres from the same concert. They are both 'angry dark' and have a lot going on musically and visually, so I think they might be more up your alley. People usually recommend the songs they like the most, instead of the ones that maybe you'd like more. Appreciate your reaction, your honesty is a breath of fresh air!

[@andreaswennberg9542]

I prefer some art in a music video. There is a reason for not going for the album recording. Fire dancer/ acrobat or some other sort of eye candy while listening to the song. A performance both for the ears and eyes are a dubbel joy. Epica have delivered on that a few times. Epica - chasing the dragon (Retrospect) is another one.

[@nikkireviews]

Thank you, I will check that one out! And I agree, eye candy is much better than just an album recording!

[@henri4843]

🤘💥

[@nikkireviews]

😁🤘🏻🎵

[@marianmarkx1153]

Incredibly beautiful performance! ❤ I recommand the song: Epica - Tides of Time ( lyrics) Elimeleh69 ( 12 jaar geleden) It' s one of my favorite songs of Epica😍

[@nikkireviews]

Thank you, I'll add it to the list! ☺️

[@bertwinblok9524]

Nikki if you still not become an Epican right now I think we give up you ever become one 😀😀😀

[@wannabedane4046]

I like the big shows from Epica with all the theatrics. They are not the only ones putting shows like this, of course. Omega Alive was their covid-19 virtual show and for me the best of all the virtual shows I saw during this period incl. Nightwish virtual show which was pretty amazing too. In contrast, I also like the raw show with a bundle of energy The Warning did for their fans during covid, of course, they did not have any budget either. Back to Epica, I recommand Rivers and Skeleton Key - next.

[@cgomes1607]

Ok. Time for you to stop justifying your first impression in Simone's voice 😂 You're not alone. Being such a special voice also makes it a taste to be slowly adquired for first listeners. Cheers 🎉

[@nikkireviews]

Okay no more. 🤫😂

[@gisohatt59]

You should react to Skeleton Key from this concert as well….

[@DerHerr-ni2wr]

🤘🤘

[@redguern]

I wonder if Taylor Swift and Adele have heard this?

[@christophschmedes5975]

THE PIANO PLAYER AND RHE GITARR PLAYER ARE Bandmaites od the band Epica

[@VeljkoNikolic-is5px]

What ISAAC and KOEN with SIMONE do, you can not comment, not at all. And others in EPICA.

[@VeljkoNikolic-is5px]

You like "the warnings" (small letters), but you do not like APOCALIPTICA, are you OK???????????

[@VeljkoNikolic-is5px]

You are to stupid, I am sorry!!!!!!!

[@Ale-7-q9n]

I have to admit that they have talent to do what they do but unfortunately many of these singers or bands use this style of music like other styles of music to deceive people as a kind of diabolical spell blinding the correct understanding of things and there it is the problem, that's why we must be careful with the things we listen to, I'm just saying, then each person decides what to listen to and what not to listen to, it's just advice, I hope you have a good and blessed day

[@damianvc31]

lol what the hell are you talking about

[@Ale-7-q9n]

@@damianvc31 im saying must have to be careful with the music we are listen to , there are evil spirits moving through some kind of music like these and some others , there are some kind of spells to catch you in it

[@bjdamn]

the best band in the world