EPICA
The Fillmore
Philadelphia, Pa
10/18/22
By: Steve Trager
It’s been a fantastic year for touring bands, many of which we don’t always have the opportunity to see live but yet can web search for new exciting videos and live performances that sometimes makes up for the real experience, some music fans settle for that and others being truly loyal to a particular band will make every effort to soak in that live experience.
There are numerous great symphonic bands in the back yards in Scandinavian countries that have made quite an emerging impact with brilliant powerful ballads, soaring guitar melodies, and amazing lyrics combined making the great Danish band known as EPICA truly one of Denmark’s export to the world in music.
For many of us who missed them as a headliner in 2017 on The Ultimate Principle Tour the wait was over as they have returned but this time around supporting Sweden’s Sabaton for a very small run of dates, and not every music market was fortunate enough to have them play but here in Philly we are diehard fans of metal bands and while the power of music is an up lifting experience, being so close to a great band or bands I should point out was nothing short of spectacular.
While we had to sit out for more than two years without music, every chance one gets to relive the past with the present is as exciting as it was then but twice the intense musical melodies that run through our veins while we visually see a stellar band give fans one hundred percent of a great show and that certainly defines EPICA.
I would have personally loved to have seem this tour be a co-headliner with some semi to well known band open and then sit through ninety blistering moments of EPICA
Even before the show even started, the lines were wrapped around the Fillmore; you could feel the energy through the air just knowing what to expect nothing but a fantastic show.
Perhaps we are most intrigued by the melodies this band has to offer or is it the female fronted goddess Simone Simons who carries us away with her beauty and fiery vocals in many brilliant songs captivating every momentous song throughout their nine song set on a few remaining dates with Sabaton seemed like more like a ass whipping two hour set.
Let’s face it we all have certain songs that have become favorites with this band, in reality we don’t always get what we want to hear but even with nine sold songs from a few previous recordings, we still were mesmerized by the vocals, the guitar melodies, and the love for playing for the fans, absolutely priceless moments like this make it all worth it especially being into European bands.
The set quickly got underway with opening with from 2021’s release Omega “Abyss of Time”, the thrill of seeing them play for a short set didn’t matter the fact is that this band is fantastic and can bring the magic and momentum with every song going down the set list.
Other highlights surrounding the amazing set: “Sensorium”, “Cry for the Moon”, “Code of Life”, and “Beyond the Matrix” many sensational symphonic songs with whirlwind majestic melodies and blazing vocals of Simone Simons that create more than just an epic experience in a live setting even not even headlining the show, still pulling an over the top performance at the recent Philadelphia show.
Just for the handful of dates with Sabaton, EPICA seemed to feel like a headliner which they are in their own right mindset, after seeing them just once in 2012 and missing them in 2017, just might be another number of years before they come back and send music fans into ecstasy with brilliant songs, this was one show the thousands didn’t miss, the venue was packed from back to front.
One thing is for sure, for a six piece band they never lost that intensity that makes them a brilliant band live and they do it well as we all had that rare opportunity this time around here in Philly at the best venue to see a band The Fillmore.
You must be logged in to post a comment.