Epica - November 2005

The atmosphere of the Epica music can be characterized as a source of various feelings and a sense of escapism. What does lead you and the rest band mates into composing such music? Is it maybe the depiction of inner sentiments or just the right melody that has to fit to each song?

Mark: The atmosphere of the songs is most of the time a reflection of our inner feelings. But that doesn’t mean that we feel like this all the time. In general we are happy people but like everybody we also feel down sometimes. During these times we compose the best music.

The differences between the Phantom Agony and Consign to Oblivion are clear. In your debut album your creations were surrounded by an epical austerity, comparing to your second one that is filled with epical variety with a hint of mysticism in every song. Why’s that change?

Mark: We want to achieve a different approach for every album. The style remains the same but we fill it in in various ways. Simone sings also with more variety. The next record will also sound a little different.




What does make you write in this way, with a special interest into human life and the forthcoming destruction of human soul? What is your personal opinion about the current situation and what do you think it will happen in the future?

Mark: I don’t think the human soul will be destroyed. But it’s obvious that we’re self destructive. Nature cries out for a better treatment and human neglect all these signs. My prophecy is that natural disasters will occur more frequently in the near future. But I believe that people who are very materialistic will have a problem in the near future because a lot of changes are up to come. One of the prophecies of the maya’s are that in 2012 we are able to reach a higher form of consciousness and current life as we know it will disappear.

We all see, and hear, in several songs these Latin texts, that even if they’re brief, they state a specific idea and lead us into many thoughts. Why do you think Latin is so bewitching and what does it symbolizes in your music?

Mark: Latin is mysterious, only these who decipher all lyrics will get deeper into the lyrics. This will happen even more on the next record. The sound of the choir is also better with latin lyrics.





What inspired you about creating Epica? What were your first thoughts before deciding that you’re going to make this happen? Did you hesitate after your “retirement” from After Forever if this will succeed?

Mark: Of course I wasn’t sure if I would succeed but still I was confident that it was possible. Right after the guys fired me (AF) I founded Epica.

Love, hate, grief, happiness, serenity, hell, heaven are some of the words that have invaded into our lives since humanity was born. Which of those do you think are suppressing the others and which, in the end, will linger?

Mark: All of them will Linger, they belong to humanity and will remain untill the end. You said yourself, since humanity was born, I say it will remain untill humanity ends as well.



 Do you believe that we, as humans, are able to shape our own lives or that we need for something upper us to guide us all? Are humans treating their lives as they should?

Mark: We have been guided already many times. Perhaps even more than I think.

Apart from Joyride, in what films you would like to have composed the music? Could you give a movie title that describes wholly your music? What would be the story?

Mark: Movies like Kingdom of Heaven and Gladiator would fitt my kind of music as well. I love the soundtrack of the Gladiator so I couldn’t do it better but this kind of movies would fitt to me.




As you have written in your official forum your next album will be “a normal album and it will be heavier than the Phantom Agony and Consign to Oblivion.” Can you give us maybe a tiny hint about what does this mean?

Mark: Yes, it will be a concept album and it will sound in the vain of the song “Consign to Oblivion”. More heavy stuff will be included.

In Consign to Oblivion we hear the amazing ballad Trois Vierges with Roy Khan (Kamelot), are you planning maybe another duet with a well-known artist or band in the next album?

Mark: Perhaps, but only if it fitts the music. Roy Khan has a fabulous voice and it fitted to Trois Vierges very well, that was the reason why we wanted to co-operate with him. As soon as we think another artist will be valuable to our music we surely will contact him/her.

If you had to choose one single song of Epica’ s and one of another band that represents exactly how you feel which songs would those be?

Mark: Consign to Oblivion from Epica contains all my mood swings and the King Arthur soundtrack of Hans Zimmer.

What band do you think has a really glorious future? Are there true metal bands?

Mark: The band Ebony Ark from Spain has a lot of talent, perhaps this band will be big in the future.



Closing the interview, I would like you to write something for us fans and reveal us a secret, if you have one. Thank you for accepting the invitation and let me tell you to think of coming to countries you haven’t visited yet (you know what I mean).Fans await you! See you and good luck!

Mark: We’ll visit Greece in the near future, there are some plans already. So be sure we try everything to come to Greece. I receive a lot of e-mails from greek fans asking when we’ll come to Greece. That means a lot to us and we try to respond these reaction with a gig in 2006.