EP REVIEW: Epica vs Attack on Titan Songs – Epica

EPICA are set to release their second EP since their previous album the Holographic Principle, entitled Epica vs Attack On Titan Songs. The EP will be released worldwide this month after initially being released in Japan in December 2017, and contains covers from the hit anime Attack On Titan.

There are eight songs on the EP, with the first half being full covers by the band and the other half instrumental versions, and it begins with Crimson Bow and Arrow. Straight from the off you can tell from the sound that this is EPICA, anyone who has listened to their music before knows that distinct sound even if the tracks are covers. Simone Simons delivers well on vocals as she really exerts the power of the track, and EPICA have managed to add their own twist without differing too much from the original track.

The second track that features is Wings of Freedom, and the recipe is pretty much the same – keeping as much of the original sound as possible while adding the symphonic metal elements to it, and it really stands out. It’s pretty much the same for the other two tracks on the EP, If Inside These Walls Was a House and Dedicate Your Heart! There isn’t really too much to say when it comes to these kind of covers, as anyone who has listened to the tracks before or knows of the anime knows what to expect before even listening to the first note of this EP.

EPICA have been able to put their own spin on these tracks and maintain the high quality, and that’s all there is to say really on it. While some bands release EPs prior to a full album to give a flavour of what to expect or start to get their names out, this is really just a fun side project for the band, and adds another string to their bow knowing that they can pull off these covers well and still maintain their own unique sound.

It’s nice to see bands doing something completely different every once in a while, and EPICA have delivered that well, as this short and concise package appeals to their own fans as well as others who may not have listened to them before but are big fans of anime, and in particular Attack On Titan.

Rating: 7/10

Epica vs Attack on Titan Songs is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.

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