"Design Your Universe" from the same concert is a thing of beauty too. I'll be waiting :)

Petition to start Epica Sundays.

"Design Your Universe" from the same concert

Hai Chase.. EPICA Released New Single called "Abyss of Time" Please react to this song.. very please..

"Design Your Universe" Rectrospect show. This is one of 2-3 of their best songs.

Epica - Design Your Universe - Retrospect live Thank me later..

Yesss! EPICA! 🖤 I'm so excited for this. Love this song. Hope you enjoyed because EPICA has so many great songs to check. I would love to see they here more often.

Design Your Universe is right up there with my favourite of their albums, and tracks like this are exactly why. Looking forward to more of your reactions to their stuff! 😁

Yes! One of the best tracks of the Retrospect show IMO. The orchestral intro is gorgeous and adds so much to the song. Epica goes beyond Nightwish at blending strings and choirs in their music. It's their trademark I would say.

Check out Design Your Universe from the same Retrospect concert with the orchestra and choir.

Ehm.. i regret to say .. i was there in Eindhoven... outside... Waiting for my daughter, in about -20 degrees celsius, in my car .... My daughter was in there on the 4th frontline bit sideways .. With a girlfriend ... who i had given my ticket .. as to me .. a first concert with a friend is so much more fun than with your old dad ... i had music in the car .. some candy .. a beer or 2 and i missed a blanket .. but Those 3 hours that the concert lasted were worth it.. When you saw them coming back ... bright faces .. big eyes and very very impressed ... So yes ... lol i see this concert again and i know i missed something ... but the faces and the reactions of the girls when they got back ....were priceless ...

Hello Chase. But warning you about it would be like doing the same with fireworks in GSoE by Nighwish, don´t you think? :-) "Unleashed" is great and this is the version with an extended orchestral intro. The official music video does not have it. Mind you, Unleashed as it is usually the case with singles is not exactly complex in terms of composition, but it is intense as you say. My suggestions for other songs from Retrospect would be, for instance: Serenade of Self-Destruction (not as straightforward as Unleashed and a tribute to a deceased co-creator of some previous albums); Design Your Universe (going acoustic for a bit);Presto (instrumental, metal version of Vivaldi´s Presto); Chasing the Dragon (this is quite thrilling and not just because of the music); The Divine Conspiracy (another glorious orchestral intro and some sweet guitar-work by Isaac). That is only scratching the surface, of course.

React to Kingdom of Heaven. Their masterpiece

"...and it's six and a half minutes, so pack a lunch" ....Chase, buddy, my dude... many of us here are Nightwish fans. 6:30 is just an intro.

I highly recommend chasing the dragon form this same show

This from their 10th anniversary concert where the musicians and choir were shown (and not just as backtrack). You offcourse have listened Sancta Terra and Sabat Mater Dolorosa ft. her friend Floor Jansen

This performance is special thanks to the live choir and orchestra, sadly Simone was pregnant at the time and couldn't sing to the best of her ability (though she still did great given the circumstances!). I hope you'll react to many more Epica songs! :) They have recently released a new awesome video, the song's called "The Abyss of Time", it's really worth checking out!

I love when you get mad at the song lol “Hang on! Easy!”

DESIGN YOUR UNIVERSE NEXT !!! From this same show ( Retrospect). The orchestra and choir were there to celebrate a special show for the band's 10th aniniversary in 2013. It is great that you reacted to other Epica performances before so you know that all of their songs are written/composed so they are meant to be performed with an orchestra. Coen ( the keyborad guy)does the orchestra and choir arrangements of each and every song during the recording process. Isaac ( lead guitars ) and Rob ( bass) compose most of the melodies and song structure. Simone and Mark ( growls and guitar) write the lyrics. And Ariën (drums) simply completes and elevates every song. He truly is a beast.

The violins and choir are AWESOME in this 😁 I have a feeling it made you very happy indeed 😉 Have a fantastic night and a damn good day tomorrow 😎👍

I was there... The orchestra was there at every song! Total of 3 hours awesome, jawdropping music.

Yes I was there! I guess now it's time for you to react to Sancta Terra or Stabat Mater Dolorosa from the same show. Both songs featuring Floor ❤️

Hi from the same Epica concert Epica sancta terra with floor jansen retrospect show ♥ Epica sabat mater dolorosa ft floor jansen retrospect show ♥

Unlike some bands who hire a composer to rewrite a song for inclusion of an orchestra or choir, epica composes their music with these things in mind.

I'll be there Chase in september 2022 in this same venue in my home country. I just can't wait!

Chase's eyes lighting up at seeing an orchestra, was amazing. That just tells anybody who has never seen one of his reactions, that he's a lover of music through-and-through.

Epica is one of the best symphonic metal. They mix metal with orchestras and choirs...but they are able to make the choirs and orchestra sound heavy as well. They used elements of death and black metal recently and it sounds powerful and heavy. I would recommend to listen to victims of contingency (official video). It's amazing.

Nightwish makes me feel good, Epica makes me want to ride into battle, the soloist on violin absolutelty blew the doors off

I was lucky enough to be there, it was fantastic from beginning to end! They love doing special celebration shows, their 1000th show with befriended bands was amazing too. Sooo... high hopes for 2022 🙂🤘

Finally another EPICA reaction. I'm here for that haha. Man, you really need to listen and reaction to many masterpiece songs from them. Try "Design Your Universe" from Retrospect DVD. We all waiting for this. :D

I love your reactions. It would be awesome if you react to some nordic stuff like Wardruna feat AURORA - Helvegen (live) or Heilung LIFA - In Maidjan. Greetings from Germany 🤘

"dancing in a hurricane" is one of my favorite epica songs (and a very underrated one imo). i'd definitely recommend a listen!

Eeeeeaaaasy Chase! Not enough arms to airplay everthing...🤣

You keep trying to nerd about the music but the fan comes out and you just go with it! both thumbs up to you!!!

Hi Chase, since you asked: I was there! This show was in my hometown and it's probably the best show I have ever seen!

Wow! You made my weekend yet again. This is my favourite song from Epica!

Yeah, this show was something special. I remember coming into that venue and it was decked out like Epica was having their own Comic-Con, that's how insane it was. It was awesome. Yes, the orchestra and choir were there for the entire thing, as well as some special guests (Floor Jansen, anyone?). Wasn't a fan of the sound in the actual venue though, they definitely did a lot of cleaning up for the DVD/Blu-Ray release. Just thought I'd drop that in there for the sake of your FOMO :P

I clicked so fast and was so mad at wifi... before my nightshift brain started to process that this is a premiere thingie. This performance was so amazing. I still see this as one of the best live experiences I have ever witnessed. Wished I could go back in time and relive it as if I'm there.

Yeah more Epica please 🖤

They’re doing another full symphony concert this fall in Amsterdam and I’m SO excited to go

Found ya through tank, jumped here because this is one of my favorite songs. I wasn't there, but because it was their 10th anniversary concert they streamed the whole thing, I was a freshman in college holed up in my dorm for 3 hours just rockin out. I woulda loved to have actually been there, but because I got to experience it despite being a massive distance away the experience was still top notch

You should react to Therion's Vovin too, if metal&orchestra is concerned.

Now I cannot complain! Thanks Chase!

This is from their special Retrospect performance iirc; the choir and orchestra was there for the whole show. It was the first show they had a chance to perform with a full live chior/orchestra "the way the music is meant to be". They did a live simulcast for this (why it's produced so well), I'm sure my co-workers were annoyed as I was on a 14hr shift that day and was NOT missing this, so had it blaring from my IT cave.

I was there and I'm still in awe everytime I watch one of the videos!

Design your universe from this same show. Nou will love it!!!!

Yes!! more Epica :D

Fun fact: Simone's husband, Oliver Palotai (keyboard player from Kamelot and whose baby she was carrying her as well of course), actually made the orchestral arrangements together with Coen Janssen (keyboard player for Epica).

Epica did 2 shows with the Miskolc Symphony Orchestra & Choir from Hungary, one in Miskolc called the Classical Conspiracy, and a 10th Anniversary Show in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, called Retrospect. Both shows are recorded on live video.

One of your best reactions! Very seldom go back and watch reactions for a second time but this one is definitely worth multiple views.

Could you please react to MaYaN - Saints Don't Die? (That band is also closely related to EPICA, btw). Oh and the lyrics are super important when it comes to MaYaN, EPICA & Nightwish as well. Like to support, please.

I'm pretty sure they don't make any money on concerts like this. It's all about the art, and they just go all out. Love them, love your analysis and appreciation.

Hi Chase, thanks for the great reaction! You asked to react if people were there. Well, I was at this concert. It was actually my first ever Epica concert. It was their 10 year anniversary show with a 70 piece choir and orchestra and they played the whole 3 hour show. It’s still one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. To this day I still get goosebumps and teary eyes when someone does a reaction from this show. Can’t wait to see the next reaction from this show. A few suggestions are Design Your Universe, Serenade Of Self-Destruction, Chasing The Dragon.....

I am learning a lot from you. I Hear music but to really listen is a wonderful thing. I went back and listened again and I could hear what you described. BIG Fun !!! Thanks

Quite exited for this one, they are a great band with so many songs worth reacting to. I am glad you are now looking to the other symphonic Metal Bands😀. PS: cause you said you have something special coming (referring to my suggestion of Within Temptation) i will not longer annoy you with them ;)

YES I'm so happy you did more Epica! 😄

Love your reactions to Epica. Not many people react to them and it is nice to see.

I was there. Quite an amazing experience, I have to say. :) But so were all the other 21 Epica shows I've been to. They are just magical.

My Favourite Epica song!!!!!! Great video!!

Never seen Chase at a loss of words before... This is a great piece of music. There is also a hauntingly beautiful duet with Floor Jansen, Sancta Terra (ignore Cypher Redux reaction below), from this show.

This is a HAGGARD upvote

I always think that it must be such a satisfying feeling to hear your music fully realized, as a song writer. Then to have it done live in its full form must be ecstacy.

This is the best reaction of this piece I've seen! And TRUST ME: I've seen A LOT of it

Chase, I am really craving some more Epica reactions!

So awesome to hear the orchestra, choir, and band together. I understand why it can't happen more, but it's so great to hear it all performed together.

This is what I call "Brutally Fun"

Great reaction. Cheers from the Netherlands.

My favorite by epica

Thanks for the reaction and detailed explanation. Straight flames is liquid based and chemicals can be added to give it a color, expanding flames is gas based. Can be timed. So far what I learned from following Tank. (sorry, just had to write this :)) I like expanation during reaction vids, so many don't say a word. Tank (gear and techniques), a bit of Julia (vocals) and you (the rest) together give a rather complete insight in a song.

Tank need to see this!

This whole show is mind numbing! The orchestra and chorus did play throughout. Simone's breath support was really affected by her being pregnant at the time, so her upper register was not as strong as it usually is. I have probably already said it, but I recommend their song "Universal Death Squad." Their new one "the Abyss of Time" is incredible as well. 🤯

This was a 3 hours concert with the orchestra. React to "Desing your universe" from the same concert. Btw, Simone was pregnant in that performance

For me, the best song of Epica is Fools of Damnation... sad is not that popular :(

lol Yeah, a whole concert to watch. I'm jealous of you cause you still have SO MUCH to experience. :D

Pretty sure the key (haha) composer for Epica is the keyboardist, Coen Janssen. He's also a great player and the primary composer for all the orchestral/choiral accompaniment. Oh, another interesting "small world" moment is that Simone is married to the keyboardist for Kamelot, Oliver Palotai, who is a beast. She was also ~3months pregnant during this concert back in 2013.

This Retrospect concert was a special one. They had the full orchestra and choir for the whole thing. Any song you do from this concert is great.

Check their newly released video, abyss of time, indeed, I think one of their best up till now! And concerning this concert, imagine you add Floor and you will have Sancta Terra...

This whole concert had the live orchestra and was live streamed, which I watched. Chasing the dragon has some great visuals and Santa Terra is a great one featuring Floor. Really anything from this concert is amazing. Check out Kingdom of Heaven for a 13 minute epic

The orchestra and choir were there because this was a very special concert to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band's founding. They were there for the whole gig, which is on DVD ('Retrospect') and is awesome. Normally they use backing tracks for the orchestration and choirs.

I was there during the show. was a great great night with lots of good music. Highlight of the evening were deffinitly the longer songs (Design your Universe, The Obsessive Devotion, The Phantom Agony, Seranade of Selfdestruction and Cry for the Moon)

Chase, please tell me you realized the double kick drum at the beginning matches the fireworks, which left me completely insane! Nice work analyzing the songs, gives a new and refreshing angle. Chapeau!

You HAVE to do Sancta Terra from this same concert, (Retrospect 10th Anniversary Concert)! Or any song from this concert really, but Sancta Terra has Floor as a guest singer and I think you'll appreciate it plus the live orchestra and choir! :)

Simone - her heart and soul is metal! Not only pregnant for this but had also recovered from a bout of MRSA! I recently heard that she likes to have the "e" at the end of her name pronounced - like in Aphrodite! (to stop her from being "mistaken for a German called Simon!")... Like the choirs? Try some Therion? eg "Dies Irae"

Needs to be an Epica and Nightwish concert tour.

Great reaction! Would have loved this to be a joint reaction with Tank. As you said he would have broke down the pyro then told us if the violin soloist was playing a Stradivarius.

Tank needs to see this, just for the pyro alone.

Glad you got to 'Retrospect'. It's been a favourite BluRay concert of choice since it came out. If anyone's interested: Orchestral Arrangements Transcribed by: Oliver Palotai (a classically trained pianist who is also the keyboard player from Kamelot) and Coen Janssen (Epica's keyboard player). Choir Arrangements Transcribed by: Coen Janssen.

Sancta Terra feat. Floor Jansen? Anyone?

Big thumbs up to the people who were there from the early stages of Epica's , or any band as great as them, and saw their evolution year after year.I' was a bit of a late bloomer with metal and symphonic metal but I got there and it's been an amazing 8 years ride discovering their past music and seeing how they grew in the meantime up until the present day. To me if you're a symphonic metal band you HAVE TO do an orchestra concert at least once. Epica did it, NW did...hell, even Metallica did it. Come on Nightwish...come on I know you can do it :)

i was there and it was something else * - *

TU4C! Surprised Chase is so much fun. In 2020, we all have FOMO.

Chase face the first few seconds is Epic with A

At 8:07 I get a Evanescence vibe from her phasing, and boy does it take me back

That Retrospect show was definitely one of the best live shows I've ever been !!! 4000 souls !!! 3 hours !!! A lots of guests too !!! One of the best live DVDs ever !!!

If you haven't done Epica "Sancta Terra" with Simone AND Floor. Breathtaking.

The orchestra and choir is in Epica's music indeed not just there to back the band up, but actually play a major part in almost all their songs! Here they were with Epica live on stage but on all Epica's albums orchestra and choir are present.

The best Song of the concert „Retrospective“ is Serenade of Selfdestruction. This where the best to react.

Chaaaaase, time for Ayreon. Pleeeeeaaaase.

I'd suggest taking a look at Avantasia, songs like The Raven Child, or Let The Storm Descend Upon You, or a band called Insomnium, songs like While We Sleep, or Pale Morning Star

That from their 10th anniversary concert.