Video hit Epica

Epica - Cry For The Moon

Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever.

They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls, performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen respectively.

All six members participate in composing their songs, whilst their lyrics are primarily written by Simons and Jansen.

Their songs largely deal with philosophical topics, including science, religion, and world events.

In 2003, Epica's debut album The Phantom Agony was released through Transmission Records. Consign to Oblivion followed in 2005, and debuted at No. 12 in the Dutch charts. They moved labels to Nuclear Blast following Transmission's bankruptcy, and in 2007, released their third studio album The Divine Conspiracy, which charted at #9 in the Netherlands. 2009's Design Your Universe was met with yet greater success, debuting at #8 in the Dutch Albums Chart, and charting across Europe, also garnering much critical acclaim.

Epica's fifth studio album Requiem for the Indifferent was released in 2012. Well received by critics, it met with international success, entering the USA's Billboard 200 at #104, and Japan's Oricon Albums Chart at #172.

On March 23, 2013, Epica celebrated their 10th anniversary with a huge live event, called Retrospect, at the Klokgebouw, Eindhoven, hosting a live orchestra from Hungary along with special guests Floor Jansen and former Epica members Ad Sluijter, Jeroen Simons, and Yves Huts. During the show a DVD release of the show was confirmed.

Cry for the Moon (2002–2003)

In early 2002, Mark Jansen left After Forever over creative differences. He then began looking for musicians who would work towards a more classical/symphonic type of music project; this was initially named “Sahara Dust”.

In late 2002, the band courted Helena Michaelsen (from Trail of Tears) as its frontwoman, but shortly after she was replaced by the then unknown mezzo-soprano Simone Simons, who was Jansen’s girlfriend at the time.

The band's line-up was completed by guitarist Ad Sluijter, drummer Jeroen Simons, bassist Yves Huts, and keyboard player Coen Janssen.

The name was later changed to Epica, inspired by Kamelot’s eponymous album.

Epica then assembled a choir (made up of two men and four women) and a string orchestra (three violins, two violas, two cellos and an upright bass) to play along with them.

Still under the name Sahara Dust, they produced a two-song demo entitled Cry for the Moon in 2002. As a result, they were signed to Transmission Records.

The lyrics:

Follow your common sense

You cannot hide yourself

Behind a fairytale forever and ever

Only by revealing of whole truth can we disclose

The soul of this bulwark forever and ever

Forever and ever

Indoctrinated minds so very often

Contain sick thoughts

And commit most of the evil they preach against

Dont try to convince me with messages from God

You accuse us of sins committed by yourselves

Its easy to condemn without looking in the mirror

Behind the scenes opens reality

Eternal silence cries out for justice

Forgiveness is not for sale

Nor is the will to forget

Follow your common sense

You cannot hide yourself

Behind a fairytale forever and ever

Only by revealing the whole truth can we disclose

The soul of this bulwark forever and ever

Forever and ever

Virginity has been stolen at very young ages

And the extinguisher loses its immunity

Morbid abuse of power in the Garden of Eden

Where the apple gets a youthful face, a youthful face

Eternal silence cries out for justice

Forgiveness is not for sale

Nor is the will to forget

Follow your common sense

You cannot hide yourself

Behind a fairytale forever and ever

Only by revealing the whole truth can we disclose

The soul of this bulwark forever and ever

Forever and ever

Eternal silence cries out for justice

Forgiveness is not for sale

Nor is the will to forget

You cant go on hiding yourself

(Follow your common sense, you cannot hide yourself)

Behind old fashioned fairy tales

(Follow your common sense, you cannot hide yourself)

And keep washing your hands in innocence