Everything is done to make this DVD a great time. The delivery of musicians is impeccable. As for Simone Simons, who it has not always been the case, here she controls her opera singing and doing pretty well, even on the difficult "Chasing The Dragon". Some may find that it makes a bit much scenically, with a little coaxing gestures but after all it is his character. The growls of Mark Jansen, sometimes supported by those reinforcements Isaac Delahaye (second guitar) are impressive.
Side setlist, given the theme of the evening, the band revisits course all albums. Epica does not promote his latest film (thankfully this is not one I prefer) but still plays five pieces, tied with "The Divine Conspiracy" (to my great joy because it remains my favorite) . However, "Consign To Oblivion" is represented by two pieces and "Design Your Universe" (one of the best, according to me) by three pieces. Epica however do not forget the inevitable first album ("Cry For The Moon", "The Phantom Agony", "Sensorium"), we offers rarities from "Classical Conspiracy" (as they play with an orchestra, as enjoy it) and even suggests a new title ("Retrospect"). The orchestra, we're at, also has its moment of glory as one interprets a medley of several songs of the group.
Epica therefore did not skimp on the amount since the show lasts about three hours (over two DVDs).
In sound, this is the highest level. So attention, I do not have a great dolby surround system with mega boost thing on my channel but to me, it does!
Everything came together to make this concert an unforgettable moment etched forever on DVD ... Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Now on to what angers: the visual aspect of the thing.
The big downside of this DVD is the light show. Indeed, enormous white beams sweep the stage almost constantly, making it difficult to watch the concert. Maybe at the time, in the room, it made great but on film, that's another story. The cameras are dazzled by the blinding light, the musicians are sometimes completely hidden, buried under tons of lights. Besides strobe effects of these lights, in the end, are tiring for the eyes. The plans of the stage for far are edifying: one sees only an explosion of light, thus there is no musician. So that it becomes a real game of hide and seek on stage: we see between two bursts a guitar neck, a leg, an arm, a mane ... I barely exaggerating. Fortunately it remains close-ups so we can sometimes enjoy the show.
The best is the enemy of the good and too much effect kills the effect. So, including other pyrotechnics, more sober, almost unnoticed because of these lights. In short, you guessed it, this choice was not good and the quality of the show suffers tremendously. But who had this very bad idea?
As a bonus, we are treated to a "behind the scenes" of a quarter of an hour that has as only interest the interview of former members of the group and we are entitled also to interviews with members of the group, all without subtitling course, which, as usual for non-English, makes things a little difficult to follow.
Morality, it deserves a good 16/20 for the audio but there is a DVD and a DVD, it looks ... it's unfortunate because it really could be a great product. There, I do not know if I will look back one day.
Moreover, as many fans, I was deprived of the last title since bug prevents reading the last bit of the second DVD. Be aware that if you write the consumer to Nuclear Blast service, they will offer you an exchange defective DVD. That's something ...
11/20
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