Saying that Epica and GMM are a match made in heaven is an understatement. The symphonic ‘female fronted’ metal band claimed its place on the main stage through talent, hard work and excellent music. The powerful voice of frontwoman Simone Simons is the perfect tag team combination with the grunts of mastermind Mark Jansen but the other band members, including Belgian guitarist Isaac Delahaye, also made a vital contribution to the blending of gothic and epic melodic metal into a varied sound that is often generously sprinkled with orchestral passages. Founded in 2002, the Dutch formation celebrated their breakthrough with 2007’s ‘The Divine Conspiracy’, an album that broadcast their name to the farthest-flung corners of the world. ‘The Holographic Principle’ (2016) made Epica a top-tier band and 2021’s ‘Ωmega’ is the next chapter in their ongoing saga. #GMM23
