Album Review: Design Your Universe – Epica

Epica never ceases to amaze us. Since their debut album, The Phantom Agony, they've never settled down and have always tried to improve their sound on each album they have released. It couldn't be different on their newest one. Design Your Universe is in all senses their best work so far.
While many other bands are turning to softer rythms, this Dutch gothic metal band is always movind towards more agressive sounds. Rythm guitar and grunts, Mark Jansen, has taken his grunts techniques to a whole new level, not to mention his amazing lyrics writing skills. Critical and strong lyrics adds up to this masterpiece. The unexpected surprise, however, was to see how much has the mezzo soprano, Simone Simons, grown in these two last years. While her voice was already breath-taking in The Divine Conspiracy it didn't differ much from what you would hear in Consign To Oblivion. This time, on the other hand, Simone shows all her potential in singing in a wide range of ways, exploiting her voice to the maximum.
The production, mixing and engineering of the CD are amaxingly well done, as well. Amanda Sommerville is an essential part of all Epica has achieved so far. Lyricist, producer, back soprano vocals are some of the roles she plays. Masterfully, I shall say. The songs are beauftiful and strong, especially The Kingdom for A Heaven and the title-track, Design Your Universe. My most pleasant surprise was with Tides of Time, though. I quite often dislike Epica's slow songs, to be honest. But, as if to tell me and all the other fans that thought Epica couldn't do a proper ballad, they deliver Tides of Time, a melancholically heart-rending song, in which Simone plays with our emotions with her unparalleled voice.
All things accounted for, Design Your Universe is a must in your CD case. Even though I was scared of a softer sounding album, I now feel that Epica will keep on surprising us relase after release and I will certainly be looking forward to the next one.
Design Your Universe: I loved it and, if you are fond of good quality music, I am sure you will love it , as well.