The Classical Conspiracy
Encyclopedia
The Classical Conspiracy is the second live album
released by the Dutch
symphonic metal
band Epica
. The recorded live show took part in Miskolc
, Hungary
on June 14, 2008 in the framework of the Miskolc Opera Festival
, where the Swedish symphonic metal band Therion
had done a similar show a year before. Epica performed on stage with a 40-piece orchestra and a 30-piece choir, entirely composed of Hungarian musicians conducted by Zsolt Regos. The expanded ensemble played classical music
, excerpts from opera
s and movie soundtracks, as well as Epica's songs. The album was released on May 8, 2009 through Nuclear Blast Records.
This is the first album featuring Ariën van Weesenbeek
as the new official drummer of Epica and also the last album with founding member an lead guitarist Ad Sluijter
, who had already left the band when the album was released.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
released by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band Epica
Epica (band)
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
. The recorded live show took part in Miskolc
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
on June 14, 2008 in the framework of the Miskolc Opera Festival
Miskolc Opera Festival
The Miskolc Opera Festival or International Opera Festival of Miskolc is a cultural event held every summer in Miskolc, the capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary...
, where the Swedish symphonic metal band Therion
Therion (band)
Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. The word "therion" comes from the Greek therion , meaning "Beast," i.e., that of the Christian Book of Revelation...
had done a similar show a year before. Epica performed on stage with a 40-piece orchestra and a 30-piece choir, entirely composed of Hungarian musicians conducted by Zsolt Regos. The expanded ensemble played classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, excerpts from opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s and movie soundtracks, as well as Epica's songs. The album was released on May 8, 2009 through Nuclear Blast Records.
This is the first album featuring Ariën van Weesenbeek
Ariën Van Weesenbeek
Ariën van Weesenbeek is the drummer for the Dutch death metal band God Dethroned.Ariën started as a 3 year old smashing furniture with spoons and forks before discovering his dad's drum kit....
as the new official drummer of Epica and also the last album with founding member an lead guitarist Ad Sluijter
Ad Sluijter
Ad Sluijter is a Dutch guitarist who is mostly known for his work with the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. He also contributed to other bands like Delain.- Links :* the of his current band, Hangover Hero...
, who had already left the band when the album was released.
Track listing
Band members
- Simone SimonsSimone SimonsSimone Johanna Maria Simons is a Dutch coloratura mezzo-soprano singer who is the lead vocalist of symphonic metal band Epica.-Biography:...
– mezzo-soprano vocalsMezzo-sopranoA mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above... - Mark JansenMark JansenMark Jansen, , is a heavy metal musician.As guitarist, Jansen founded After Forever with Sander Gommans, and was one of the main songwriters since their debut album Prison of Desire. He left After Forever in 2002, and after his departure the band took a new musical direction...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, gruntsDeath growlA death growl, also known as death metal vocals, guttural vocals, death grunts, and harsh vocals among other names, is a vocalisation style usually employed by vocalists of the death metal and black metal music genre, but also used in a variety of heavy metal and hardcore punk subgenres.Death...
, screamsScreaming (music)Screaming is a vocal technique that is most popular in subgenres of heavy metal, punk and hard rock, including metalcore, deathcore, post-hardcore, groove metal, black metal, and grindcore...
, band arrangements on tracks 2, 6 - Ad SluijterAd SluijterAd Sluijter is a Dutch guitarist who is mostly known for his work with the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. He also contributed to other bands like Delain.- Links :* the of his current band, Hangover Hero...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, editing - Yves Huts – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, band arrangements on tracks 5, 7, 8, 11, 12 - Coen Janssen – synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, orchestral and choir arrangements, band arrangements on tracks 2, 4, 7 - Ariën van WeesenbeekAriën Van WeesenbeekAriën van Weesenbeek is the drummer for the Dutch death metal band God Dethroned.Ariën started as a 3 year old smashing furniture with spoons and forks before discovering his dad's drum kit....
– drums
Additional musicians
- The Extended Reményi Ede Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Zsolt Regos
- The Choir of Miskolc National Theatre
- Oliver PalotaiOliver PalotaiOliver Palotai is a heavy metal musician.-Career:He made his name playing keyboards and guitar for Doro and keyboards for Circle II Circle before joining Blaze Bayley's BLAZE as a replacement for founding guitarist John Slater in 2004...
- orchestral arrangements
Production
- Sascha PaethSascha PaethSascha Paeth is a German guitarist, bassist, musical producer, and mixer known for working with heavy metal bands such as Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After Forever, Epica, et al...
- producer, mixing, mastering - Daniel Hidvegi, Tamas Gresicki - live sound engineers
- Olaf Reitmeier - editing
- Simon Oberender - editing, mixing, mastering
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Album Charts | 23 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) | 82 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Wallony) | 58 |
| Switzerland Album Charts | 81 |
| France Album Charts | 23 |
| German Album Charts | 87 |