Consign to Oblivion is the second studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, and was released in 2005. The song "Trois Vierges" features a guest appearance by then-Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan. The album's lyrics are inspired by the Maya civilization. The phrase "In lak' ech, hala ken” expresses the concept of unity of Mayan thought, after which the song "Another Me (In Lack' Ech)" was named. The CD was released with copy control on it. This CD started a new collection of songs, called "A New Age Dawns". This saga was continued on the album Design Your Universe and was concluded on the album Aspiral.
Stylistically, the album is more focused towards orchestration than other Epica releases and features heavy use of a chorus. Additionally, Mark Jansen's death growls appear less frequently, occurring on only three songs, "Force of the Shore", "Mother of Light" and "Consign to Oblivion". But a bonus track, the Death cover "Crystal Mountain" includes grunts, and a grunt version of "Quietus" was released on the "Quietus (Silent Reverie)" single, making it five songs with grunts. A single with an acoustic version of the song "Solitary Ground" was extracted from the album The Score – An Epic Journey, released the same year.
The bonus cover of "Crystal Mountain" is one of the very few Epica songs to not feature Simone Simons in any capacity (although an "Orchestral version" featuring her vocals can be found on The Road to Paradiso, and the Quietus (Silent Reverie) single).
The album is the band's only release to date where Simone Simons' lyrical contributions outnumber those of Jansen.
Track listing
Personnel Credits for Consign to Oblivion adapted from liner notes.
Epica Simone Simons – lead vocals Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, grunts, screams Ad Sluijter – lead guitar Yves Huts – bass Coen Janssen – synths Jeroen Simons – drums
Additional musician Roy Khan – vocals on "Trois Vierges"
Orchestra Benjamin Spillner – violin Andreas Pfaff – violin Tobias Rempe – violin Gregor Dierk – violin Swantje Tessman – viola Patrick Sepec – viola Astrid Müller – viola Jörn Kellermann – cello
Choir Melvin Edmonsen – bass Previn Moore – tenor Andre Matos – tenor Annie Goebel – alto Amanda Somerville – alto, vocal coach Bridget Fogle – soprano Linda Janssen-van Summeren – soprano
Production Sascha Paeth – production, engineering, mixing, acoustic guitar on "Dance of Fate" Olaf Reitmeier – production, engineering Miro – orchestral arrangements, engineering Mark Jansen – orchestral arrangements Coen Janssen – orchestral and choir arrangements Yves Huts – orchestral arrangements Philip Colodetti – engineering, mixing Hans van Vuuren – executive production, coordination, research Peter van 't Riet – mastering
Notes
References