Riddle solved. 1

Finally, I would have been angry with this group that the time of an album. To say that I did not like "Requiem For The Indifferent" is an understatement. Indifferent, yes, that was what I had become the face of music played on the album. Quite a disappointment, especially after the two bombs that were "The Divine Conspiracy" and "Design Your Universe".
In short, it was a great album to make amends. And this album, here.

Bombastic intro ("originem") and a first piece ("The Second Stone") that the writing talent of the group is back in full face. In this regard, we note that all members of the group are credited to the composition. The strength of this album may lie there. Orchestrations are impressive and choirs come from everywhere. It starts on a very good foundation. Especially as the result does not disappoint. Follow two well-pieces "in your face" very Death Metal in mind, with an omnipresent Mark and Simone to voice that brings a touch of sweetness. Unlike pieces of "Requiem", but without any aggressive striking melody, those coming to offer us the best of both worlds.
The next two songs are traditional enough for the Epica, enough "already implied" hotel. Not unforgettable from the first listen but in the middle, one might say.
"The Fifth Guardian", an instrumental very Far East (that's very BO film) stimulus because behind the machine, there is a triplet pieces that ensure. "Chemical Insomnia" should make people happy. "Reverence" with chaeurs (in which we find Marcela Bovio - Stream Of Passion) is of the same ilk. Even the quiet (it's still relative) "Omen" a small effect. The ballad then arrives. The opportunity for Simone to shine on a beautiful melody. We find this as acoustic bonus on the second CD of the limited edition (which also offers an acoustic version "In All Conscience", "Dreamscape" and "Natural Corruption").
Like almost every time, the big piece is the title track, along twelve minutes. A good title (much better than any of the previous album), but that does not reach, in my opinion, the quality of a "Divine Conspiracy", a "Phantom Agony" or even a "Consign". A passage of this piece is tremendously think of another Dutch title, which I let you discover.
The bonus track ("In All Conscience") is much better than some pieces of the standard album and alone is worth the investment of the limited version (which therefore also contains the 4 acoustic tracks on a second CD).

So a pretty nice Epica album that erases the disappointment of the previous. Without matching "Design Your Universe" or "Divine Conspiracy" (my two favorites - hence the four stars), "the quantum enigma" slips into the leading pack and should even improve over the tracks. Maybe he deserves five stars in a while ...?