Got Epica's two latest albums on mail yesterday. They can be described with two words: ingenious and fantastic. Listening to 'Design Your Universe' and especially 'Unleashed' and 'Martyr of the Free Word'. They make shivers run down my spine, and give me goosepumps. I now have an idea what aural orgasm means (some critic use the term when describing his experience of Nightwish's 'Once'). Extra credit for the unique art work done for the album's booklet. Not many are willing to spend time, energy and money for those in these times of electronic downloads.
And The Classical Conspiracy is just bloody great. I remember reading one of Tuomas Holopainen's interviews in which he said it would be interesting to do concerts with a live orchestra. Sorry, mate, but Epica did it first. And I love the sound of their songs that way, but even more I enjoy the symphonic metal versions of some of the most famous classical pieces and movie orchestrations. These include Verdi, Vivaldi and so on. Right now I'm, again, listening to The Imperial March from Star Wars V. It reminds me of the fun I had when playing the Lego Star Wars game where they had done a heavy metal version of this same song. ;) The first Lego SW game had a techno version of the song! :) The Pirates of the Caribbean medley is fantastic, too!
