Released 16 years ago this October
This Is the Time
Epica · 2010
8 min · 2 tracks · symphonic metal
An orchestral blend of operatic vocals and heavy guitar riffs creates a cinematic atmosphere filled with emotional intensity.
Top tracks — play these first
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This Is the Time — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of hope and resilience, featuring soaring vocals intertwined with powerful orchestration that defines Epica's musical identity.
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Living a Lie (Simone version) — This track showcases Simone Simons' vocal prowess, delivering an emotive performance that highlights the album's lyrical depth while remaining accessible to a broader audience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The single showcases strong composition and craft, but its limited length affects its overall impact.
What we noticed
- The title track features a dynamic interplay between operatic vocals and heavy guitar riffs, creating a dramatic tension throughout.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Fan Favorite — The title track resonates deeply with fans, showcasing Epica's signature style.
- Themes
- orchestral grandeur· time and existence
- Career context
- By the time 'This Is the Time' was released in October 2010, Epica had established themselves firmly in the symphonic metal scene with three studio albums already under their belt. This album came as a follow-up to their critically acclaimed 'Design Your Universe,' showcasing their evolving sound and solidifying their fanbase globally.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nightwish· Within Temptation· Kamelot
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 This Is the Time 4:01
- 2 Living a Lie (Simone version) 4:46
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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