it interesting . I do trust in natural selection . If you can irraticate a disease then that ’ s something to consider , but it ’ s the other unnatural things it is being used for that ’ s scary . Some things go a little too far .
If I were to describe this record to someone to get them to listen to it , what would I be telling them ?
SIMONE : Omega is a continuation of the “ Holographic Principal ” where everything comes together . The balance in life , the balance between light and dark , the balance between ourselves , both good and evil , trying to restore that balance . Mark and I drew inspiration for this out of the emerald tablets some of the oldest wisdom stones known to mankind . “ Rivers ” is a very personal song , but also a metaphor for the flow of life , the ebb and tides , and that sometimes we need to swim against the stream when we feel like we ’ re drowning within ourselves . “ The Absence of Time ” is the battle between light and darkness , spiritual freedom when the demiurge is trying to keep the soul imprisoned . “ Kingdom of Heaven ” is the third part of the Kingdom of Heaven trilogy . It doesn ’ t mean the end of Epica . It just means the end of the trilogy , where science and neutrality come together to find the true meaning of life , which is a recurring theme throughout the lyrics on the record .
For a band that has inspired a genre , did you guys ever take the time to think about your impact on music globally ?
SIMONE : We actually did that during this hiatus . Normally we would be out on tour supporting this record . We have been on this fast train that has never stopped so it was nice to take a break for a little while . Working on the “ Essence of Epica ” gave us time to reflect on everything we have achieved , and long forgotten memories that were buried somewhere . It ’ s crazy how much we have done and seen , the world we have traveled .
to be a professional touring band and living from it . It ’ s a very rare thing and I noticed it even more with the pandemic . There are so many bands right now that are struggling to keep their heads above water . It wasn ’ t always easy , but we worked our asses off .
What do you miss about touring ?
SIMONE : I don ’ t miss having to miss my family and watch my son grow up . There is this thing on stage , the flow of energy that runs through your body . You cannot compare it to anything . No matter how much I work out , go to the gym , sing in the shower , take strolls through the forest , its not the same . I feel like I have this energy bundled inside of me , boiling . It makes me feel frustrated . I know I ’ m not alone in that feeling . I ’ ve been touring since I was 17 . It ’ s all I ’ ve known . The passion and to not have it die because of outside circumstances .
“ I do trust in natural selection . If you can irraticate a disease then that ’ s something to consider , but it ’ s the other unnatural things it is being used for that ’ s scary . Some things go a little too far .”