Epica
The Alchemy Project – Atomic Fire Records
Alchemy: noun. The medieval forerunner of chemistry, concerned with the transmutation of matter, in particular with attempts to convert base metals into gold or find a universal elixir. This is a pretty good summation of what this intriguing EP from Epica is all about. With each song featuring guest appearances from a widely diverse group of contributors this is all about turning metal into gold. Here though the precious outcomes are musical in nature but no less valuable. The big surprises come when Simone Simmons and co. team up with the likes of Fleshgod Apocalypse and Björn ‘Speed’ Strid (Soilwork) on the heavier tracks. They shouldn’t work but do in a beauty and the beast kind of way. Elsewhere the blending is more subtle but also sublime. The added bonus is that fans of both Epica and those making guest appearances will be opened up to a little world of discovery that will take many gently out of their comfort zones. It’s a great way to explore something new with something familiar holding your hand. As a stand alone record this is the high quality we’ve come to expect of Epica. But for actually turning metal music into sonic gold they’ve achieved something no one has managed to do for centuries – true alchemy.
Review by Gary Trueman