Simone Simons, Floor Jansen, Anneke van Giersbergen, Lisette van den Berg, Sharon den Adel, Charlotte Wessels and many many other Dutch ladies are worldwide known! Yes, we Dutch have some very very metals in our waters!!!!

EPICA - Kingdom of Heaven (part 3) OMEGA ALIVE

BTW Epica’s female singer, Simone Simons, was also in the Ayreon video.

Dutch symphonic metal band, originally called Sahara Dust, formed in 2002 by guitarist ,and harsh vocalist, Mark Jansen after parting ways with his former band After Forever. Mark had co-founded AF, and it was the first band that Floor joined at age 16 (Mark and Floor are not related). Lead singer SImone Simons switched to this style of singing, from pop, in training after hearing Tarja in Nightwish. Knew Animal would love this drummer. His name is Arien Van Weesenbeek, nicknamed the Beast. Did you notice Coen Janssen's keyboard is on a track and slides across the stage. He sometimes just runs around the stage in between his keyboard parts. He also has a portable keyboard, and has done some crowd surfing while playing. Isaac Delahaye on guitar and bassist Rob van der Loo round out the current lineup. All of them take part in songwriting. The song is the title track for their 2nd album, and is often used as the show closer. Currently on tour in the USA , for their 8th record Omega, opening for Sabaton. As with Nightwish, they are great live. For more try The Skelton Key or Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 from last years Omega Alive virtual show. Beyaond the Matrix, also from this show at the Zenith. And you will probably want to hear a songs that Floor Joined them for at their Retrospect 10th anniversary show, Sancta Terra. That show had a full orchestra and choir on stage with them.

Where are you guys in the US? Epica was just playing in Atlanta, Georgia along with Sabaton about two or three days ago. Floor's husband, Hannes van Dahl is Sabaton's drummer 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

Welcome to the Dutch symphonic metal. I promise you haven't seen much yet.

The Netherlands is a tiny country but with a lot af realy great musicians and vocalists great reaction.....again

Epica Beyond the Matrix from the same show is a must see.

Hello and welcome to the amazing world of Epica! We are Epicans. 🙂 Epica was founded in 2002 by Mark Jansen, the growling guitarist. He is the mastermind of the band, though all bandmembers contribute to songwriting and 4 out of 6 have degree in music. The gorgeous female lead singer is Simone Simons (See-monah See-mons), a classically trained soprano as you can probably tell. She was Mark's GF many years ago when she joined then newly formed band. Epica music is symphonic metal with death metal elements. It's generally heavier than Nightwish but they also have several wonderful ballads and even acoustic versions of their metal songs. Their music is stunning and beautiful. I wouldn't be so quick in saying "I like Nightwish compositions more" after just one song 😁 I guarantee you Epica musical compositions are absolutely top notch, better than maybe 95% other bands in this subgenre. Epica is not about just a few big hits... They have dozens of songs that can blow your mind. You started your journey with one of their heaviest songs which has more growls than Simone's singing. In most other songs it's the other way around, mostly Simone and choir, then Mark's growls here and there. The duality between Mark's harsh vocals and Simone's angelic soprano is called "beauty and the beast". Epica music is very diverse, from heavy bangers to more radio-friendly songs to breathtaking ballads. Keep reacting to them and see for yourself. Please, do NOT stop after 2-3 songs, that would be a huge mistake. As a hardcore Epican, I would suggest the following to give you an idea of what Epica music sounds like: EPICA - Unleashed (Official Live) EPICA - Beyond the Matrix (Live at the Zenith) EPICA - Burn To A Cinder (Lyrics) - audio only EPICA - Second Stone - 2014 Aftermovie EPICA - A Phantasmic Parade (OFFICIAL EUROPEAN PRINCIPLE TOUR AFTERMOVIE) EPICA - The Phantom Agony (We Will Take You With Us-OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO) And many many more... I haven't included any ballads or longer epic masterpieces yet (apart from the last one on the list). Can you please write down these suggestions or save them somewhere so you know what to react to next?

Thank you so much, this is a great start to my weekend, first my favorite NightWish song and then Ayreon and now EPICA. 🙏🙏🙏 I was fortunate to have been at EPICA’s 20 years anniversary concert last month in the Netherlands, that was one hell of a show and I am going to see NightWish next month here I the Netherlands. I am so happy. Thank you again 🙏🫶🤘🇳🇱

Watch Wintersun: Sons Of Winter And Stars. Anorher Finnish metalband. Drummer Kai in this band plays drumms in Nightwish too.

Great reaction. This song is a "composition" similar to Nightwish's Ghost Love Score. They have many more songs that have more singing and less growling and more groove. Essence of Silence is one of them. The live retrospect show is a 3hr. concert with a full orchestra and choir backing them. I recommend the songs "unleashed" or Design your Universe". The most requested song from the retrospect show is "Santa Terra" which features Floor Jansen of Nightwish. They are all friends, and from the Netherlands. Floor and the guitarist/growling vocalist Mark Jansen formed Floor's 1st band "After Forever". Another symphonic metal band and another branch of the Floor Jansen rabbit hole, more on that later. Love you guys!

Epica forever and ever! Almost no band has such a diverse discography like this band has! This band reign supreme in the symphonic metal scene. They know how to combine black/death metal with big choirs and big orchestra's like no other band! For me they are the best!!

thank you for reacting to epica, try Design your universelive live retrospect next, they play with a full orchestra, it will give you guys goosebumps

You guys are so fast 😊 amazing work, keep going

Epica - Chasing The Dragon live Retrospect!

Ne Obliviscaris - And Plague Flowers The Kaleidoscope (Live in Colorado 2016)

hi guys nice react rivers another great song also chasing the dragon from retrospect live

🇬🇧 Norfolk digging with you ! Simone is a great friend of floor another Dutch goddess they sing together Beyond the matrix is a great one by Epica And Epica sometimes plays with a live orchestra!

More Epica! 😃 Essence of silence might be a Epica song for you 😁

I love Epica🥰, your reaction is rock🤘.. Now that you guys have reacted Nightwish💓, Epica❤, Liliac❤ and Ayreon❤ - List is getting bigger . - Sabaton, Rammstein, Wintersun, Within Temptation and others are waiting round the corner.. Don't worry, we help you guys with them👍

Greetings from Portugal! I appreciate a lot your rections. Specially to Nightwish and now Epica. You should check cry for the moon, Phantom Agony, storm of Sorrow, Skeleton Key, Sancta Terra (with Floor Jensen). I try this Ukranian band, Jinjer with music Piscis, they are an Ukranian band, check it please. Congrats for your chanel

Welcome to music outside of the USA not run yet by corporations deciding what music is and auto tune Simone and floor are good friends and have even sung some together God bless

This band is epic animal will love the drums this band kick ass heavy as hell keep rocking on a little to much growling for me I want to here more of her

If you like pyro (and 'pile driving') you might also enjoy Rammstein (you may already know this German band) 'Du Hast' Director's cut live video (also recorded live in Paris, France)

if you like the changes in the song i would give this one a try EPICA - Universal Death Squad (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO) And epica also has songs with multiple parts something that nightwish also has, try this one EPICA - KINGDOM OF HEAVEN PT 3 - (ΩMEGA ALIVE) (OFFICIAL VIDEO) even the drummer goes even harder in part of this song than you are now have seen

Another Dutch female vocalist to look at. She did one with Floor also.

They are touring now in the states together with sabaton. Also within temptation an other great dutch symphonick metal band is touring in the states with iron maiden i belief

Next Epica song: "The Essence of Silence" Live!

Simone is a Great Singer and a Friend of Floor. Take a Look as well to Sabaton. Floors Husband is there the Drummer.

So little time and so much to come. You guys rock a reaction.

Great reaction. I thought you would love EPICA! 🖤🤘

Hi ! Please do more EPICA! Much more! I'd like to hear your opinion on their compositions after hearing several songs, not just one :)

A successful wall of death, a massive circle pit, a moving keyboard...and all at the end of a full concert set! Oh...you want PYRO?! See Rammstein, Du Hast, Paris!

My absolute favorite band from the Netherlands - if you want to experience epic concerts, Epica is in the front row - way ahead! Side note: with Consigned to Oblivion (live at Zenith) I always test the super expensive sound systems in Porsche, Mercedes-Benz eca. Automobiles, when I - the potential customer - move into these overpriced car dealerships - very ... interesting situations and conversations have arisen.

I love to see Americans discover European Melodic and Symphonic metal. Like they discover a whole new world for the first time. Welcome to the family :)

It is so nice to see you, American people and muscisians, react to European (this band is Dutch, like Floor and Within Temptation) Metal. Floor still has very good contact with "her" guys and ofcourse her best friend Simone. The drummer is insanely good, actually they all are. They are friends for a long time (teens) Like Empu, Thuomas an Yuka from Nightwish. They all started in a small garage, the best school for muscisians :)

EPICA so many songs to check out an amazing band touring the world today

If you want to see a band with a live show that makes Epica's pyro look like candle light, try Rammstein. It is the currently the biggest, most insane concert tour in the world.

Nightwish is symphonic metal. Epica is Symphony set to Metal. Epica has grown to be the music my engineer-side wans to listen to. It is so technical and visceral/energetic at the same time. The drummer (Ariën van Weesenbeek) is like the technical side of NW's Kai, except Ariën appears to hang out around the coffee percolator a LOT more. Epica is another band that takes it's live sound very seriously. They have a great live show, with the symphony and huge chorus on backing tracks so the live concert-goer gets the full album-production experience. I'm learning to read everyone's face here pretty well, EXCEPT your bassist.... I'm no sure, but she is either a very analytical listener, OR, she's thinking "oh, how am I going to explain the new music setlist at the grandkid's Halloween party this year??? A little Ghost River and Epica mixed in. Oh, ntw, speaking of Halloween, Simone (the singer from Epica) and her husband (Oliver Palotai) made a home studio version of Danny Elfman's "This is Halloween". There's no fancy drumming, but it is full of fun vocals, and it captures the insane-asylum-style of Elfman's music. Music must be fun around that house... and can you imagine the performance potential their child (who makes a brief cameo in the song at the end) has in their DNA??? So much to be had in this world... I'm glad people like Simone, Epica, and Oliver are adding to it.

Ok, now do another 25+ year band, Within Temptation.

Aaaah fantastic. Brilliant band (amazing musicians, down to earth, like all Dutch metal queens). Cheers from tha Nether Laaands !

Epica IS symphonic metal at its very best. Give a listen to Design Your Universe from their Retropect show and their new collaboration songs from the Alchemy Project...pure perfection!

For the next one, my suggestion, Nightwish's greatest song - The Greatest Show On Earth (Live in Tampere).

..and now for something different......Symphonic metal meets rap....Within Temptation (yes, also Dutch) feat Xibit...'And we run' ....You will be pleasently surprissed....Keep on rocking 2nd hand....

A nice good job al of you, this a great songs, the diggin ite all just like you dide, alway a pleaser to see you geving comment. Love your all❤️❤️💪🤘🤘Keep roking amd smoking ❤️

Wauw, already another band of the Netherlands! Nice guys👍🏻👌🏻

This is the real deal, DHM: Dutch Heavy Metal!!!

Interestingly Simone and Floor Jansen had the same vocal coach, a hidden gem of the art, Amanda Sommerville. A great master of the method known as CVT which in this case doesn't stand for Continuously Variable Transmission, but for Complete Vocal Training :)

Epica ❤️

Hey guys! New sub here!! I want to share with you a new Band of 3 Sisters that are the Future of Rock!!! The Band is called ( The Warning) and the song is called (Choke) after hearing this 1st song they will leave you wanting more!!!! You've been Warned!🤘

If you like pyrotechnics and I just saw your very respectful reaction to , The Poet and The Pendulum. That was Tuomas creating his suicide, thank god he did it musically & lyrically. Now for a uplifting life affirming song by the Metal Mozart please do, The Greatest Show On Earth from Tempere, it is in my humble old Metal rock head opinion the best version because it shows the love from the band to the fans and visa versa. Please play it to the end of the video. Enjoying your discovery of all these amazing New bands! Rock On Stay Safe!🙏🤘🤘🤘

Greetings from Denmark. New subscriber here. My 2 top favarite bands are Nightwish and Epica - seen both in concerts - both bands are absolutely amazing live bands. Both bands are very tight, great music compostion and fantastic lyrics. Now, you've also discoverd Epica - the rabbit hole is just as big as Nigthwish's. Keep on digging, keep on rocking.

Like Nightwish Epica could teach a college course on how to produce an amazing show

Kingdom of heaven part 3 from Omega Alive the Keyboardist Coen Jannsen plays on a spinning keyboard a burning Piano and has a strap on Curved Keytar he has a Duet with Guitarist Isaac Delahaye

Floor and Simone sound so good together do check out more of Epica and you'll stumble across these two Angel's. Simone was in that Ayreon song you just checked out. Want something more Raw a bit gritty Floor and her sister Irene Jansen performing: Who I am. Together. Worth a we looksey Thank you.

Is this the greatest song!!!!!!!! Or what!!!!!!! I’ve been listening to this song everyday for 4.5 years trying to get every combination changes to this bloody song! It’s doable but there is still room for improvement. Still!!! And even after 4.5 years this is still my favorite song. 99.9 song I forget in a day, not this masterpiece!!!!

Hi, guys; FYI, all symphonic metal bands come from the swedish band THERION, the creators of the gender back in 1996 with the album (masterpiece) "Theli". The first symphonic metal HIT was "To Megatherion" (would be great if you'll react to it; suggest the "Gothic Live 2007" version). THERION and EPICA are the only two metal bands to have been invited to play in a "real" Opera festival (Miscolk, Hungary), something that reveals what people inside classical music think is the best symphonic metal (I personally agree to it). Therion is still the most symphonic of symphonic metal; more operatic in the vocals (Lori Lewis is the best metal soprano in this planet), more importance of the choirs (that even sing entire songs) and the orchestral arragements. About their catalogue, is bigger than Nightwish or Epica's (more than 100 songs). I leave you some suggestions os amazing masterpieces by the Godfathers of symphonic metal: "To Megatherion", "Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah", "Via Nocturna", "Ginnungagap""Abraxas", "Blood of Kingu", "Adulruna Rediviva", "Land of Canaan", "Burning the Palace". I leave it there, but could suggest 50 more... Keep up with Nightwish and Epica (also with Ayreon, though I don't like them at all, but everyone likes what he likes), but please, also give Therion a chance, my friends. Thank you and greetings from Spain

grab your dancing or jumping shoes for Epica beyond the matrix live at the zenith

Ok, from now on Animal is my spirit animal!!!!

Wow after watching you yesterday for the first time, and saw how you liked Nightwish. My next suggestions were exactly the same video's that you have just watched. Ayreon - the day that the world breaks down, and a lot harder Epica - Consigned to Oblivion. But I see that people already suggested it haha. (and you've just watched them) Next song? (drummer style) might be: Wintersun - Sons of Winter and Stars --> kzfaq.info/get/bejne/itJlh5CY0brIiKs.html I also watched your own video, I really thought that the woman (Sorry I don't know her name...yet) was the singer, but she plays the guitar! 🤘.

I luv u guys.... I discover you recently and i love you discover new bands.....you mist try wintersun (time) for me its greatest metal song ever writen

Welcome to Epica, Nightwish's darker, heavier cousin and one of the best symphonic metal bands. They have heavy songs like this, beautiful ballads, and amazing acoustic and acapella songs. Most of their song's feature Simone's beautiful voice more prominently. Other commenters have mentioned lot's of their songs to do but one of my favorites is Simone's cover of Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid. With her beautiful red hair she looks and sounds like a real mermaid. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l8eladF6lZqraZ8.html

You just took another deep dive into an European Symphonic Metal rabbit hole with Epica - growling guitarist is Mark Jansen, one of the original members of a band back in the early 2000's called After Forever which was fronted by Floor Jansen - her first band (Floor is no relation to Mark as Jansen is common in the Netherlands like Smith or Jones is here in the States)

do "Sancta Terra", with Floor Jansen included

Haha, Mouseman quote of the day 14:38 "Their gas bill must be something terrible". Love it! I'll keep this short with just a fun video to show the connection between Simone & Floor: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gtCmi9JmrLjaqH0.html Cheers from Amsterdam! 🤘

Wrote it already somewhere else: after Nightwish and Epica, don't miss Wintersun!

You've done Epica, Nightwish, Skillet and others. Now time for Jinjer.

Floor and Simone had the same vocal coach when learning. They are best friends. Mark Jansen (no relation to Floor) the growly voiced guitarist was in a band before this with Floor, called After Forever. Also worth checking out. Floors previous band before Nightwish, ReVamp is worth checking out as well Everyone works with everyone else in these European bands. A really cool community 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

No propane was used. These kinds of stream flames are done with liquids.

By the way , ever listened to Rammstein/

Another one of my favorite female fronted bands. Everything they do is great. Couple other female friendship bands I'd like to see you react to is arch enemy and I'd like to see you do deceiver deceiver and handshake with hell. And Ginger my favorite song of theirs home back

Kingdom of Heaven part 3 from Omega Alive is my favorite Epica song also there is no song they do that isn't in some way like their name "Epic"

love it , please do more and more from Therion :)

Yes their songs are awesome, but if you want to hear something softer from them , try Tides of Time... beautiful!!!!!!

Now that have been introduced to Epica and Simone, you should hear them with Floor. Next, "Sacta Terra" by Epica ft. Floor Jansen.

Greetings from Utah! 🤘 As others have said, there is a LOT of great metal bands in the Netherlands. However, most of the population has never heard of them. There has been a stereotype there, similar to here in the US, that lumps all metal together and wraps it in a "devil worshipping with only screaming and growling" package. Obviously not true, as there are many amazing Dutch metal bands that break that mold. Floor Jansen (yes I know, this reaction isn't about NW or Floor) was invited to appear on a Dutch TV show back in 2019 called Beste Zangers (Best Singers). The show itself is a fantastic concept and I wish we had shows like that here. The show is not a competition, though there is some sort of "most influential" award at the end (which Floor won). Each week, one artist is "on the couch" and the other artists sing a cover of one of that person's songs or a song that is important them. For Floor, it was her "coming out" party for her home country, where she was relatively unknown even though her first band, After Forever, was Dutch. During the show, she sang pop, opera, and ballads, in several languages, sometimes with a rock/metal twist. She blew people's minds! Of that experience, she has said that she felt like the "ambassador" of metal to the Dutch people. It is so satisfying for me to see others like you finding, as I did back in 2013, that "metal" is not all the stereotypical music I thought it was. Keep it up ya'll!. There is so much great music out there that you won't hear on US radio (so sad).

Never, ever drive while listening Epica!

If you want some PYRO !!!!! just for Animal ( and some great music too ) then you need to check out RAMMSTEIN - " DU HAST " Live in Paris ( Official video ) - THAT'S pyrotechnics

When you get around to Nightwish’s ‘I Want my Tears Back’ be sure to do the Buenos Aires version. There’s a lot of crowd reaction and you get to see Floor dance all over the stage. 😄🤘 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iqh_l8qpz8iUm4E.html

Lol I'm from 72 and I agree powerdriving the music :)

Hold the Nightwish comparison till you hear their best this is a great song but not Epica's best produced piece I reserve that for Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 also I loved the whole orchestra on Design Your Universe you have to see them with the full orchestra also check out Sancta Terra where Floor Joins Epica to sing with Simone

I don't like comparisons and Epica doesn't have, they are really big!

Thanks

let's stay in Paris :-) check out Ramstein "Du hast" life in Paris btw. in German Du hast has two meanings, You have or You hate. the lyric is playing with that ;-)

🤘🤘🤘🎸🎼

I think Crissy will like ‘Sancta Terra’ a lot better. Here Simone and Floor team up and sing and perform together with voices that blend so beautifully ❤️

orden ogan fever track please.Great channel,keep rocking on.

you guys should react to ARCH ENEMY too

Her and floor share the stage together in song should check it out I agree with Chrissy can't top nightwish

Epica feat. Floor - Sancta terra live Retrospect festival.

Ok EPICA has about 10 songs like this KINGDOM OF HEAVEN CHECK OUT ALL 3 of them WOW WOW EPICA

Hello guys, I´m Rudney from Brazil. I think your reactions are really cool. Please, I'd like to see you reacting to Epica + Floor Jansen (Sancta Terra song). I also suggest a react with the song The Great Show On Earth (Nightwish). Thank you very much and God bless you.

I was originally brought here by Nightwish reactions... Have you by the way ever got to known to symphonic Black Metal? I'm not sure, if you are religious kind of guys, but there are more to come from nordic countries. For example there was a concert 10 years ago (more or less) of Dimmu Borgir with the NRK orchestra, which at least for me nailed it. Here is a link to one of my favorites: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gsWdpLR7x9aVoWg.html

Not sure if someone else mentioned this, but if you like pyro, this song by Ramstein shows some cool stuff: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i5t4dKirqtGcgYE.html Enjoy!

the Dutch are a metal nation :-) for the next Epica song, try out Sancta Terra from their 10 year anniversary tour. They had a guest singer you know on that one and a full orchestra and choir on stage. pretty sure you will enjoy that one. Great reaction and see you next time.

Next bands: Blind Guardian, Sabaton, Avantasia, Powerwolf, and Helloween since it is Halloween soon!

Make sure to listen to Epica's Sancta Terra featuring Floor Jansen kzfaq.info/get/bejne/md5iZbymz5jSqps.html

A lot of double kicks in *_"Universal Death Squad"_* : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hsWJpsKInN-3m4E.html&ab_channel=EPICA

Animals reaction to this is the damn BEST