''The Phantom Agony'' is the first full-length studio album by

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

symphonic metal band

Epica Epica or EPICA may refer to: * Epica (band), a Dutch symphonic metal band * ''Epica'' (Kamelot album), 2003 * ''Epica'' (Audiomachine album), 2012 * The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) * The Epica Awards (International Adver ...

. It was released in 2003 by the Dutch label Transmission Records. It is the first album recorded by guitarist

Mark Jansen Mark Jansen (born 15 December 1978) is a Dutch guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. A prominent figure in the symphonic metal subgenre, he is known for his work with the bands After Forever (1995–2002), Epica (2002–present), and MaYaN (2010� ...

after his departure from the band

After Forever After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death growls. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded. Singer Floor Jans ...

. On this album, Jansen continues with the collection of songs that make up ''The Embrace That Smothers''. The first three parts can be found on '' Prison of Desire'' (2000), After Forever's debut album, and the following three parts can be found on ''

The Divine Conspiracy ''The Divine Conspiracy'' is the third full-length studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica as well as their first concept album. It was released through Nuclear Blast in Japan on 22 August 2007, in the US on 28 August, in Europe on 7 ...

'' (2007), Epica's third album. These songs deal with the dangers of organized

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

. The album was re-released on 23 March 2013, which coincided with Epica's 10th anniversary Retrospect show, as a 2-disc expanded edition by Epica's former record label Transmission Records.

Track listing

Personnel

All credits adapted from the original release. Epica *

Simone Simons Simone Johanna Maria Simons (born 17 January 1985) is a Dutch singer. She is best known for being the lead singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, which she joined at the age of seventeen, releasing eight studio albums and touring the world ...

– lead vocals *

– rhythm guitar, grunts, screams *

Ad Sluijter Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever. Formed as a symphonic metal band with gothic tendencies, later Epica have incorporated into their sound strong death ...

– lead guitar * Coen Janssen – synths, piano * Yves Huts – bass * Jeroen Simons – drums Additional musicians * Olaf Reitmeier – acoustic guitars on "Feint" and "Run for a Fall", engineer * Annette Berryman – flute on "Run for a Fall" Production *

Sascha Paeth Sascha Paeth (born 9 September 1970 in Wolfsburg, West Germany) is a German guitarist, bassist, musical producer, and mixer known for working with heavy metal bands such as Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After ...

– producer, engineer, mixing * Mark Jansen – orchestral arrangements * Coen Janssen – orchestral and choir arrangements *

Robert Hunecke-Rizzo Robert Hunecke-Rizzo (17 June 1971 in Wolfsburg) is a German bassist, guitarist and drummer, known for his work with Heavens Gate, Luca Turilli, and Kamelot. He was one of the founding members of the supergroup Aina, which released the metal o ...

– orchestral arrangements * Hans van Vuuren – executive producer, coordination and research * Peter van 't Riet – mastering Orchestra * Thomas Glöckner – violin * Andreas Pfaff – violin * Tobias Rempe – violin * Marie-Theres Stumpf – viola * David Schlage – viola * Jörn Kellermann – cello * Cordula Rhode – cello * Andrè Neygenfind – contrabass Choir * Melvin Edmonsen – bass * Previn Moore – tenor * Bridget Fogle – alto * Cinzia Rizzo – alto * Annie Goeble – soprano * Amanda Somerville – soprano, vocal coach

Singles

The Phantom Agony

"The Phantom Agony" was the first single.

Track listing

# "The Phantom Agony" (Single Version) - 4:35 # "Veniality" - 4:36 # "Façade of Reality" - 8:17 # "Veniality" (Orchestral Version) - 4:37

Feint

Feint was the second single.

Track listing

# "Feint" - 4:18 # "Feint (Piano Version)" - 4:53 # "Triumph of Defeat" - 3:56 # "Seif al Din" - 5:46

Cry for the Moon

Cry for the Moon was the third single. The song originated from a two-track demo released under the band name ''Sahara Dust'', with the other track being a demo version of "Illusive Consensus".

Track listing

;Demo # "Cry for the Moon" - 6:46 # "Illusive Consensus" - 5:00 ;Single # "Cry for the Moon" (Single Version) - 3:33 # "Cry for the Moon" - 6:44 # "Run for a Fall" (Single Version) - 4:29 # "Run for a Fall" - 6:31

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phantom Agony, The Epica (band) albums 2003 debut albums Transmission (record label) albums