The Alchemy Project

2022 EP by Epica

The Alchemy Project

EP by

Epica

Released

11 November 2022

Recorded

April 2022

Studio

Sandlane Recording Facilities, Rijen, Netherlands

Genre

Symphonic metal

Length

35:54

Label

Atomic Fire

Producer

Joost van den Broek
Epica

Epica chronology

Ωmega
(2021)

The Alchemy Project
(2022)

Singles from The Alchemy Project

"The Final Lullaby"
Released: 16 September 2022
"The Great Tribulation"
Released: 12 October 2022

The Alchemy Project is the third EP by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It features seven songs, all co-written and performed with guest artists.^[1] The lyrical content mainly deals with apocalyptic themes (with the exception of "Sirens – Of Blood and Water").

Background, composition and release

The EP was announced on September 16, 2022 with the release of its first single, "The Final Lullaby" (featuring the band Shining). Rob van der Loo stated that the song was intended to be a "mash-up" between the two bands' sounds, for which he "would come up with some riffs that would be typical Shining and they would do the complete opposite". The band also teased that the EP would include the "heaviest death metal track we’ve ever recorded": "Human Devastation".^[2]

On the release date of the EP on November 11, 2022,^[3] the band also uploaded a music video for the song "Sirens - Of Blood And Water", which features both Charlotte Wessels (Delain) and Amalie Bruun (Myrkur).^[4] The song stems from Simons and Wessels' shared fascination of The Little Mermaid, and is told from the perspective of the protagonist's sisters.^[5]

The album cover was designed by German visual artist Stefan "Heilemania" Heilemann.^[6]

Track listing

*The Alchemy Project* track listing
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"The Great Tribulation" (featuring Fleshgod Apocalypse)	Mark Jansen Simone Simons	Jansen Simons Francesco Paoli Francesco Ferrini Epica	5:03
2.	"Wake the World" (featuring Phil Lanzon and Tommy Karevik)	Lanzon Simons Epica	Rob van der Loo Lanzon Epica	6:11
3.	"The Final Lullaby" (featuring Shining)	Jørgen Munkeby van der Loo Epica	Munkeby van der Loo Ole Vistnes Epica	5:12
4.	"Sirens – Of Blood and Water" (featuring Charlotte Wessels and Myrkur)	Wessels Simons	Wessels Simons van der Loo Epica	4:17
5.	"Death Is Not the End" (featuring Frank Schiphorst and Björn "Speed" Strid)	Jansen Schiphorst	Jansen	5:14
6.	"Human Devastation" (featuring God Dethroned and Sven de Caluwé)	Ariën van Weesenbeek Jansen	Henri Sattler van Weesenbeek Epica	2:57
7.	"The Miner" (featuring Asim Searah, Niilo Sevänen, and Roel van Helden)	Searah van der Loo Epica	van der Loo Searah Epica	6:57
Total length:				35:54

Personnel

Epica

Simone Simons – lead vocals, photography
Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, grunts
Isaac Delahaye – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
Coen Janssen – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, choir scoring
Rob van der Loo – bass
Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums

Guest musicians

Francesco Ferrini – orchestral arrangements (1)
Francesco Paoli – grunts (1)
Fabio Bartoletti – lead guitar (1)
Veronica Bordacchini – clean vocals (1)
Tommy Karevik – vocals (2)
Jørgen Munkeby – vocals, rhythm guitar, tenor saxophone (3)
Charlotte Wessels – vocals (4)
Myrkur – vocals (4)
Frank Schiphorst – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, orchestral arrangements (5)
Björn "Speed" Strid – vocals (5)
Henri Sattler – guitars, grunts (6)
Sven de Caluwé – grunts (6)
Asim Searah – vocals, lead guitar (7)
Niilo Sevänen – growls (7)
Roel Van Helden – drums (7)
Marcela Bovio – backing vocals
Linda Janssen-van Summeren – backing vocals

Choir – Kamerkoor PA'dam

Maria van Nieukerken – choir director
Martha Bosch, Frédérique Klooster, Annemieke Nuijten, Alfrun Schmidt – sopranos
Karne Langnedonk, Cecile Roovers, Annemarie Verburg, Annette Vermeulen – altos
Guido Groenland, Henk Gunneman, René Veen, Joost van Velzen – tenors
Jan Douwes, Jan Hoffmann, Martijn de Graaf Bierbrauwer, Angus van Grevenbroek – basses
Gjalt Lucassen, Jaap Toorenar – Latin translation

Strings

Ben Mathot, Ian de Jong – 1st violin
Loes Dooren, Sabine Torrico-Poiesz – 2nd violin
Mark Mulder, Adriaan Breunis – viola
Marije de Jong, Eilidh Martin – cello
Robin Assen – strings scoring

Production

Joost van den Broek – producer, engineer, editing, mixing
Jos Driessen – engineer, editing, mixing
Darius van Helfteren – mastering
Stefan Heilemann – art direction, design, photography
Tim Tronckoe, Sandra Ludewig, Chantik Photography, Lotte Verdellen – photography

Charts

Chart performance for *The Alchemy Project*
Chart (2022)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[7]	60
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[8]	194
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[9]	40
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[10]	39
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[11]	35

References

^ "Epica Announces 'The Alchemy Project'". Blabbermouth.net. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^ "Pre-order New Mini-album, 'The Alchemy Project' + New Single, "The Final Lullaby" (feat. Shining) Out Now! | EPICA Official Website". Epica.nl. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
^ "EPICA - "Sirens - Of Blood And Water" feat. Charlotte Wessels & Myrkur (Official Music Video)". YouTube.com. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
^ "Hear the Sirens' Call as 'The Alchemy Project' is Out Today! | Epica Official Website". Epica.nl. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^ "EPICA – new EP & music video for 'The Final Lullaby (feat. Shining)'! | Atomic Fire Records". Label.AtomicFire-Records.com. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Epica – The Alchemy Project" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^ "Ultratop.be – Epica – The Alchemy Project" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Epica – The Alchemy Project" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Epica – The Alchemy Project" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Epica – The Alchemy Project". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2024.