EPICA – Aspiral – 2LP – Red & Gold Vinyl [APR 11]

2LP – Red & Gold Vinyl

The journey of growth follows a spiral, continuously widening and deepening with every cycle. By sticking to this spiritual principle, symphonic metal innovators Epica have reinvented themselves on their ninth effort, Aspiral, releasing a studio album that shows a band brimming with a newfound joy in their own skinstanding united as a team, where every band member brought inspiration, ideas, and years of songwriting experience to the table. Aspiral bears testimony to this unity, but the bands steep ascent within the past years was far from coincidental and required lots of hard work and a combination of things happening after the release of their latest album, Omega, in the midst of a raging pandemic.

After walking several steps off their usual path with their EP The Alchemy Project, which saw them collaborating with artists such as Myrkur, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Uriah Heep, the band played a massive world tour, got invited by a certain band called Metallica for several dates, and performed four sold-out Symphonic Synergy shows with a massive orchestra and choir.

After diving deep into hypothetical theories, metaphysical mysticism, and themes that touch the fabric of our existence in the infinity of the universe, Epicas ninth studio effort, Aspiral, centers on the work of sculptor Stanisaw Szukalski. During the first COVID lockdown, bassist Rob van der Loo saw the documentary Struggle The Life And Lost Art Of Stanisaw Szukalski and felt so inspired by his work that he wanted to write soundtracks for some of his sculptures, simply because each and every detail in his works is an artwork on its own, and their stories run very deep.

And this is where the path started. Aspiral was born as an instrumental soundtrack to this worldan initially separate project that over time metamorphosed into the new Epica record. The title comes from a bronze statue Szukalski created in 1965. If you take a close look, you can see snails rebuilding elements out of the mud in cycles, eventually leading to civilization and a woman reaching out to the sun. It stands for renewal and inspirationkeywords that define Epica in 2025.

For more than 20 years now, Epica have been standing tall. And while their last efforts already showcased their commitment to the game, it is Aspiral that truly distills the very heart of their trademark sound.

Tracklist:

Side A
1. Cross the Divide
2. Arcana
3. Darkness Dies in Light – A New Age Dawns Part VII –

Side B
1. Obsidian Heart
2. Fight to Survive – The Overview Effect –
3. Metanoia – A New Age Dawns Part VIII –

Side C
1. T.I.M.E.
2. Apparition
3. Eye of the Storm

Side D
1. The Grand Saga of Existence – A New Age Dawns Part IX –
2. Aspiral