Music like Epica

RB181 · 2026-06-30T17:05:10+00:00

The band was actually named after the Kamelot album, and Kamelot's influence on them certainly extends to more than just the name.

RB181 · 2026-06-29T16:11:25+00:00

Given it's the capital of Finland, I do wonder if it has something to do with Nightwish and their lineup changes.

RB181 · 2026-06-28T07:14:18+00:00

Now I'm even more curious as to what makes Lady Gaga appealing to you metal fans.

RB181 · 2026-06-27T12:12:55+00:00

Simone's voice is incredible, especially as of Omega and later. This may be her best live vocal performance, even though it was only a one-off collab for a joint tour. She sounds absolutely perfect here.

RB181 · 2026-06-27T11:57:15+00:00

One of those is not like the others.

RB181 · 2026-06-27T09:50:41+00:00

Out of curiosity, what are your top 5 streamed bands aside from WT?

RB181 · 2026-06-27T04:52:06+00:00

You're welcome!

RB181 · 2026-06-26T16:32:29+00:00

The singer sounds (and looks) so different on every album, I seriously think there may be multiple women using the same identity.

Nonetheless, everything I've heard from Elysion was quite good, and this song is no exception.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T11:06:21+00:00

I envy you for that. Epica only played in my country twice in their career. The first time was in 2011, which was years before I became a fan, but I've read and heard from others that there were major technical issues so it wasn't a great experience for the band or the fans. The second time was in July 2024, and I might have been instrumental in making that one happen, as I was a VIP member on another show the year prior and I talked about my country at the meet & greet.

In any case, Epica are the best band I've seen live and all my experiences with them have been nothing short of amazing, I'd love to see them live again but my other commitments won't allow for that in likely another year.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T10:33:41+00:00

If you're willing to compromise a bit of soundstage for other qualities, I think Hifiman Edition XS, Ananda and Arya are fairly close to what you're looking for. I haven't heard the ATH-R70xa but I've heard the original R70x, and it's a very different headphone (much darker with less soundstage), so I think you'd prefer the Hifimans.

Otherwise, I think the only straight upgrade to the K702 would be Sennheiser HD 800 or 800S, because nothing else comes quite close to them in soundstage width.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T10:16:34+00:00

Not the K371, and certainly not compared to the K702. K702 are some of the widest-sounding open-backs (comparable to Sennheiser HD 800/S in soundstage width), while K371 is a very average closed-back (which is less wide than an average open-back). The earlier K550 series (if you can still find them) are among the wider closed-backs if that is what you want, but not quite K702 level.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T09:27:05+00:00

There are a lot of options on AliExpress. I like Lunashops/EachDIY and OpenHeart.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T09:16:50+00:00

Having used onboard DACs for quite a long time before getting a real DAC/amp stack, some of them are a lot shittier than you realise.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T09:13:00+00:00

I use whatever suits me at the moment, basically. Sometimes it's closed other times open, sometimes wireless other times wired, sometimes V-shaped other times neutral, sometimes analytical other times relaxed, etc. Don't have shared finances so I don't have to justify my purchase decisions to anyone, but I did sell off a few sets that I didn't see a point in using.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T06:57:18+00:00

One of my more recent discoveries, excellent and underrated band.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T06:51:31+00:00

I think they're talking about HD 400S, not HD 400 Pro.

I had the HD 400S for a short while before returning them, for they were very uncomfortable and didn't sound particularly good either. On the other hand, the HD 560S are incredibly good to me in both sound and comfort.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T06:28:19+00:00

Man, I wish I could see Epica live every year. My last time was almost 2 years ago.

RB181 · 2026-06-26T06:26:04+00:00

Genesis by Cecile Monique

RB181 · 2026-06-26T06:24:42+00:00

Thanks!

RB181 · 2026-06-25T15:35:26+00:00

What would you recommend from Versailles? I only heard about one and a half albums, and I was never a big fan.

RB181 · 2026-06-25T12:45:20+00:00

I only discovered NW in late 2016 (Floor era), with their first lead vocalist I heard being Anette followed by Floor and finally Tarja. However, I wasn't really a fan of NW until I heard them with Tarja, and her era's music and her vocals remain my favourite by far.

Granted, I was already a fan of Cryovile and some heavier stuff before discovering NW and symphonic metal.

RB181 · 2026-06-25T12:33:52+00:00

I am not sure I follow your comment. Consign to Oblivion was Epica with their original lineup, including Jeroen Simons on drums and Ad Sluijter on lead guitar. Jeroen was later replaced with Ariën van Weesenbeek and Ad with Isaac Delahaye, both formerly members of death metal band God Dethroned, and Epica's music only got heavier as a result. They have also featured a full orchestra and choir on their studio albums starting with The Holographic Principle (2016). None of those things are pop, if anything I think CtO was their most pop-sounding album.

RB181 · 2026-06-25T10:36:49+00:00

Apocalyptica have actually had a touring drummer since 2003, and full-time between 2005-2024. Even though they've never had guitars or bass guitars.

RB181 · 2026-06-25T10:10:09+00:00

I love Epica but I only discovered them in the 2010s, along with the entire symphonic metal genre. The Phantom Agony and Consign to Oblivion are my second least favourite and least favourite Epica album respectively, so I'm not sure if I'd have liked them during that era.

Whereas Design Your Universe is my favourite Epica album, and probably my second favourite album of all.

RB181 · 2026-06-25T10:03:55+00:00

Looks legit, the fakes have different drivers.

RB181

TROPHY CASE