Epica «Ʊmega Alive»: The Representation of Soul and Body

“We’re in a time where all enterprises fall” – this particular phrase from the song «Unchain Utopia» by the symphonic metallers Epica fully resonates with everyday reality. This message characterizes our times in a special way, which has been in a zone of turbulence for the second year already – when concerts are canceled or postponed indefinitely, and the borders between many countries remain closed. In this regard, the Dutch band Epica was no exception, having spent 17 months without live concerts.

Looking ahead, let’s say that this in no way negatively affected the teamwork of the musicians during the preparation for the show in a new format for themselves – they rehearsed for several months, mostly by video link, each from their home. Due to the pandemic, it was not so easy to get together live. In total, it took two days of rehearsals to fully prepare and record the set by one take.

To confirm that Epica is not waiting for the grass to grow (when the covid haze clears up), the musicians decided to take an unprecedented step – to organize a stream concert «Ʊmega Alive», so the fans would be finally able to celebrate the release of the studio album «Ʊmega». Of course, this format isn’t quite familiar to the rock audience. After all, a real rock concert or festival implies massiveness, entertainment and exceptionally live sound in offline mode. But in this regard, Epica, while losing in some aspects, became victorious in the battle with the circumstances. After all, as you know, those who do not want to act are looking for excuses, and on the contrary – whoever wants, finds opportunities to implement ideas. The Epica sextet belongs precisely to the second category. However, most likely it was the recording that we had to watch, since the live broadcast, alas, is an extremely naughty thing… but this did not spoil the live impression of the show! The exclusivity was also added by the fact that access to the broadcast was paid, just like at a «live» concert – tickets in different formats could be purchased on the band’s website. (And we decided to illustrate the report with screenshots from the concert – we hope the Epica musicians will forgive us for this, – ed.)

Epica’s opening act was the Belgian band Off the Cross, apparently at one of the Belgian cathedrals. They performed three tracks. Most likely, Epica chose them because the recording of the «Omega Alive» concert took place at a venue in Belgium (AED Studios, Lint), so the band was available during the covid restrictions. Then, after fifteen minutes gap, the main heroes, Epica, began their performance.

This conceptual performance was structured in five parts as in “ƱMEGA” acronym. Each letter of this sacred word had its own section filled with a number of compositions – one way or another built according to the logic of the development of drama and based on the director’s architectonics of the concert (the director was Jens De Vos, previously known for his work with the Ayreon project and the Kamelot group): Ʊverture, Magnituda, Elysia, Gravita, Alpha ∞ Ʊmega.

The theatricalization of the concert is especially worth mentioning – the acrobats, fakirs, dancers, performers, as well as various pyrotechnic special effects, artistic lighting and design of the stage space. And what about the outfits of the musicians! They were changing it after each part of the concert. Or what a spectacular scene of a burning piano, with Coen Janssen soloing in «Kingdom of Heaven ~ Part III – The Antediluvian Universe» piece! In particular, the fire show and elements of acrobatics reminded the Lacuna Coil live concert in London (The 119 Show – Live in London, 2018) – also with the professional fakirs and acrobats, only “under a different sauce”: burlesque mixed with infernal Cirque du Soleil. In the case of Epica, it was closer to something mysterious: «the representation of soul and body», mixed with video clips, portraying the world of childhood dreams. From the first track to the last, it is almost a full-fledged feature film-concert.

In general, the theme of childhood with its fears, dreams, curiosity (“what will happen next – behind the next door in the dark?”) runs like a golden thread through the entire architectonics of «Ʊmega Alive». This is confirmed, first of all, by the design of the concert poster, which depicts a girl standing in front of the open gates of a giant proportions and cover by her hands from the otherworldly light breaking through the half-open doors.

It is curious to trace one director’s decision – on the words «We’ve all been dancing in the dark» of «The Skeleton Key» a children’s choir suddenly appears, illuminated by flashes of fire. Each of the young choristers has a key hanging on the chest, which is identical to that worn by the main character in the video clip for this song. Next, already at the point of the golden section of the concert program, in «Rivers (a cappella)» tune, each of the members of the Amsterdam mixed choir «PA’dam» appears wearing exactly the same key (perhaps, the children have grown up).

It seems that such a semantic arch is not accidental. The participation of a children’s choir might be as a sign of hope for a brighter future despite all the difficulties that have swept the planet. After all, we all come from childhood and continue in the future in our descendants. Perhaps this is the message… In turn, the video intros of each five parts of the concert program are replete with many similar references, with not just the Epica fans could understand. For example, in the beginning of the «Magnituda» section you could see Simone Simons with an apple in her hand – an obvious reference to the cover of «The Divine Conspiracy» (2007). Perhaps the most important leitmotif of the entire set design is fire – all-purifying, inextinguishable, personifying the burning of eternal life.

Unlike the live album «Retrospect» (2013), the band did not particularly reflect on the stages of creativity passed. The only exception was the black-and-white filtered fragments from the live videos at the background, shown at the first bars of «Cry for the Moon» from the first Epica album. The entire final part of the concert was built up according to the principle “at my end – my beginning” (as in one of the rondos of the 14th century French composer Guillaume de Machaut). But at the same time, Epica is confidently looking beyond the horizon – as in the famous anonymous «Engraving of Flammarion», depicting the figure of a pilgrim who reached the edge of the Earth and through the curtain of the firmament examining the structure of the Universe.

In general, «Ʊmega Alive» employs impressive creative forces– there is nowhere more epic! But still, it can’t fully immerse in the «Epica universe» without live symphony orchestra and a choir (as it was on «Retrospect», 2013). Most likely it’s because of budget or pandemic restrictions.

The live performance of «Kingdom of Heaven ~ Part III – The Antediluvian Universe» has become a real treat for the band’s fans. In this final part of the «Kingdom of Heaven» trilogy, very important thoughts are expressed, being especially relevant now. Epica asks each one of us to remember the most important and simple things now, at the time when humanity as a species is facing the forced social disunity by the pandemic: “We all are a part of each other. Together we stand strong. Together we are one”. Well, there is hope that the band will celebrate its upcoming twentieth anniversary on an even larger scale and will delight its fans with something as always special and extraordinary! In addition, exactly one year later, in June 2022, Russia is waiting for Epica to play live at the «Wild Energy Fest» in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the meantime, we can assume that after watching the show «Ʊmega Alive» everyone will be able to get at least a little closer to the «Point of Divine Unity».

«Ʊmega Alive» (12.06.2021)
Треклист:
I. «Ʊvertura»:
Alpha – Anteludium
Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity
The Skeleton Key
Unchain Utopia
II. «Magnituda»:
The Obsessive Devotion
In All Conscience
Victims of Contingency
III. «Elysia»
Kingdom of Heaven ~ Part I
Kingdom of Heaven ~ Part III – The Antediluvian Universe
IV. «Gravita»
Rivers (A cappella)
Once Upon a Nightmare
V. «Alpha ∞ Ʊmega»
Freedom – The Wolves Within
Cry for the Moon
Beyond the Matrix
Ʊmega – Sovereign of the Sun Spheres