Epica

Epica emerged in 2002 in Reuver, the Netherlands, from the project Sahara Dust, led by guitarist Mark Jansen after he left After Forever. With singer Simone Simons on board, it released The Phantom Agony and consolidated its lineup with albums like Consign to Oblivion and The Divine Conspiracy.

The band broadened its sound on records like The Quantum Enigma and The Holographic Principle and remains active, with Aspiral released in 2025.