There are multiple artists using this name.
1. - Epica is a symphonic m… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists using this name.
1. - Epica is a symphonic metal band, founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen, subsequent to his departure from After Forever. Formed as a symphonic metal band with gothic tendencies, later Epica have incorporated into their sound strong death metal influences. Starting from the third album, even progressive metal attitudes have become evident. In addition, the band often uses thrash metal and groove metal riffs, black metal passages (mostly in the drum technique), power metal moments and references to Arabic music. Some songs also have electronic shades, djent transitions and folk metal melodies derived from middle eastern, Chinese and Celtic traditions. Epica is also known for the attention to the vocal lines that, in contrast to the heavy context, weave very catchy, easy to hold, sophisticated and emotional melodies. The use of mezzo-soprano vocals and growled vocals, performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen respectively, is fundamental to the band's sound. They primarily write their own lyrics, which often deal with philosophical, psychological, spiritual, moral, scientific, environmental, socio-political, global and topical and personal themes. Epica is also known for their wide use of orchestra and opera choirs.

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 No. 9 in the Netherlands. 2009's Design Your Universe was met with yet greater success, debuting at No. 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 achieved international success, entering the US's Billboard 200 at No. 104, and Japan's Oricon Albums Chart at No. 172.

At the beginning of May 2014 the band released their sixth album, The Quantum Enigma, which was a huge international success, debuting on No. 110 on US Billboard 200 and peaking at No. 4 in Epica's homeland Netherlands. In June 2015 Epica was awarded the Music Export Awards, which is given to the Dutch act with the most international success in the past year. Their seventh album, The Holographic Principle, was released in September 2016 to continued international success, equaling the peak chart position set by its predecessor in the Netherlands. The band released their eighth album, Omega, in February 2021. On 16 September 2022, the band announced their third EP, The Alchemy Project. It was released on 11 November 2022 via Atomic Fire.

Discography
The Phantom Agony (2003)
Consign to Oblivion (2005)
The Divine Conspiracy (2007)
Design Your Universe (2009)
Requiem for the Indifferent (2012)
The Quantum Enigma (2014)
The Holographic Principle (2016)
Omega (2021)
The Alchemy Project - EP (2022)

Current members:
Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, unclean vocals
Coen Janssen – keyboards, synthesizer, piano
Simone Simons – lead vocals
Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums, spoken words
Isaac Delahaye – lead guitar, backing vocals
Rob van der Loo – bass

2. - Epica[ is an Italian prog rock band active in the 1990s who released the album Confini in 1995.
- Alessandro Secchi / vocals
- Alessandro Mantelli / keyboards, programming
- Alessandro Crovato / guitars
- Flavio Miotto / bass, guitars
- Gianni Ghezzo / drums

3. - Epica is a three person progressive/trance group from Russia.

Nostalgia
Epica Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dying slowly, all alone
hope is gone, the seeds were sown
another day without a touch
another dawn with only dusk

But sometimes it rewinds me
to the bliss of languid dreams
to my precious memories

to the mysteries of all I'd never seen

Dying slowly day by day
and every colour fades to gray
I walk the walls of hell's abyss
with every trail, I will persist

Why can't you hear me?
release me
I'm forgotten and buried

And sometimes it rewinds me to
the innocence that pulls me through

And sometimes rewinds me
to the place where the fires burning
And sometimes I can daydream

that I'm free
but its just a reverie

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Nostalgia by Epica poignantly illustrate the pain and hopelessness of dying slowly and alone. The singer conveys a sense of resignation, as if they have come to accept their fate, but there are still moments when they are haunted by memories of better times. The repetition of the phrase "dying slowly" underscores the desperation of their situation, while the line "hope is gone, the seeds were sown" suggests that there is no turning back from whatever has led them to this point. The contrast between "another day without a touch" and "to my precious memories" highlights the absence of human connection in their present, and the comfort they find in memories of the past.

The chorus of the song offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer describes the moments when they are transported back to "the bliss of languid dreams" and "the mysteries of all I'd never seen." These memories seem to offer a kind of respite from their suffering, reminding them that there is more to life than the despair of their current situation. However, the repetition of "dying slowly day by day" in the second verse suggests that these moments of comfort are fleeting, and the pain and isolation they feel are unrelenting. Even as they persist in their struggle, there is a sense that they have been forgotten and buried, as if their suffering is invisible to the outside world.

Overall, the lyrics of Nostalgia paint a vivid picture of the agony of slow death and the power of memories to offer both comfort and pain. The repeated use of "sometimes" underscores the unpredictable nature of the singer's experience, suggesting that their emotions fluctuate between hope and despair. The emotional intensity of the song is heightened by the driving, symphonic instrumentation and the powerful vocals of lead singer Simone Simons.

Line by Line Meaning

Dying slowly, all alone
Gradually losing life, with no company

hope is gone, the seeds were sown
Despair has taken over, as a result of past actions

another day without a touch
Another day without human contact

another dawn with only dusk
A repetitive cycle with only darkness as the end result

But sometimes it rewinds me
Sometimes I'm transported back to

to the bliss of languid dreams
The joy of slow, peaceful dreams

to my precious memories
The memories that hold great value to me

to the mysteries of all I'd never seen
The unknown things that create a sense of intrigue in me

Dying slowly day by day
Slowly losing life with each passing day

and every colour fades to gray
Everything is losing its vibrancy and becoming dull

I walk the walls of hell's abyss
I'm going through a difficult time, with no clear way out