The Phantom Agony
Studio album by
Epica
Released5 June 2003 (2003-06-05)
RecordedJanuary–March 2003
Studio
GenreSymphonic metal
Length51:43
LabelTransmission
ProducerSascha Paeth
Epica chronology
The Phantom Agony
(2003) 		Consign to Oblivion
(2005)
Singles from The Phantom Agony
  1. "The Phantom Agony"
    Released: 29 October 2003
  2. "Feint"
    Released: 8 January 2004
  3. "Cry for the Moon"
    Released: 13 May 2004
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Sea of Tranquility[2]
Musical Discoveries[3]
Metal Ship[4]
Lords of Metal[5]
Metal Reviews[6]

The Phantom Agony is the debut studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released in 2003 by the Dutch label Transmission Records. It is the first album recorded by guitarist Mark Jansen after his departure from the band After Forever. On this album, Jansen continues with the collection of songs that make up The Embrace That Smothers. The first three parts can be found on Prison of Desire (2000), After Forever's debut album, and the following three parts can be found on The Divine Conspiracy (2007), Epica's third album. These songs deal with the dangers of organized religion.[7]

The album was re-released on 23 March 2013, which coincided with Epica's 10th anniversary Retrospect show, as a 2-disc expanded edition by Epica's former record label Transmission Records.[8][9]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Mark Jansen, except where noted

The Phantom Agony track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)"Simone SimonsJansen1:27
2."Sensorium" 
4:47
3."Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers - Part IV)" 
  • Jansen
  • Sluijter
  • Simons
6:44
4."Feint" 
  • Jansen
  • Sluijter
  • Janssen
  • Simons
4:18
5."Illusive Consensus"Simons
  • Jansen
  • Sluijter
  • Janssen
  • Simons
4:59
6."Façade of Reality (The Embrace That Smothers - Part V)" 
  • Jansen
  • Sluijter
  • Simons
8:10
7."Run for a Fall" 
  • Jansen
  • Sluijter
  • Janssen
  • Simons
6:31
8."Seif al Din (The Embrace That Smothers - Part VI)" 
  • Jansen
  • Sluijter
5:47
9."The Phantom Agony"
  • I. "Impasse of Thoughts"
  • II. "Between Hope and Despair"
  • III. "Nevermore"
 
  • Jansen
  • Sluijter
  • Yves Huts
9:00
Total length:51:43
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleMusicLength
10."Triumph of Defeat" (instrumental)Janssen3:56
Total length:55:39
Mexican bonus track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
10."Veniality"Simons
  • Jansen
  • Sluijter
  • Janssen
  • Simons
4:36
Total length:56:19
North American bonus track
No.TitleLength
10."The Phantom Agony" (single version)4:35
Total length:56:18
2013 Expanded Edition – disc one (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
10."Veniality"4:37
11."The Phantom Agony" (single version)4:33
12."Triumph of Defeat" (instrumental)3:54
Total length:64:49
2013 Expanded Edition – disc two
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Adyta" (orchestral version) 1:28
2."Sensorium" (orchestral version) 4:53
3."Cry for the Moon" (orchestral version) 6:40
4."Feint" (orchestral version) 4:18
5."Illusive Consensus" (orchestral version) 5:02
6."Basic Instinct" (orchestral track)Huts4:07
7."Run for a Fall" (orchestral version) 6:26
8."The Phantom Agony" (orchestral version) 9:00
9."Veniality" (orchestral version) 4:35
10."Feint" (piano version) 4:53
11."Cry for the Moon" (single version) 3:30
12."Run for a Fall" (single version) 4:29
Total length:59:21

Personnel

All credits adapted from the original release.[10]

Singles

The Phantom Agony

"The Phantom Agony" was the first single.

Track listing

  1. "The Phantom Agony" (Single Version) - 4:35
  2. "Veniality" - 4:36
  3. "Façade of Reality" - 8:17
  4. "Veniality" (Orchestral Version) - 4:37

Feint

Feint was the second single.

Track listing

  1. "Feint" - 4:18
  2. "Feint (Piano Version)" - 4:53
  3. "Triumph of Defeat" - 3:56
  4. "Seif al Din" - 5:46

Cry for the Moon

"Cry for the Moon"
Single by Epica
from the album The Phantom Agony
Released2003 (Sahara Dust demo), 13 May 2004
Recorded2002-2003
GenreSymphonic metal
Length6:44
LabelTransmission
Songwriter(s)Mark Jansen, Ad Sluijter, Simone Simons
Producer(s)Sascha Paeth

Cry for the Moon was the third single. The song originated from a two-track demo released under the band name Sahara Dust, with the other track being a demo version of "Illusive Consensus".[11]

Track listing

Demo
  1. "Cry for the Moon" - 6:46
  2. "Illusive Consensus" - 5:00
Single
  1. "Cry for the Moon" (Single Version) - 3:33
  2. "Cry for the Moon" - 6:44
  3. "Run for a Fall" (Single Version) - 4:29
  4. "Run for a Fall" - 6:31

References

  1. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Epica The Phantom Agony review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  2. ^ Popke, Michael; Pierce, Ken (28 April 2004). "Epica: The Phantom Agony". Sea of Tranquility.org. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  3. ^ Elliot, Russell W. (2 March 2004). "Epica / The Phantom Agony". Musical Discoveries.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  4. ^ des Dragones, Elric (16 July 2010). "Chronique de The Phantom Agony" (in French). Metal Ship.org. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  5. ^ Barten, Michiel. "Epica - The Phantom Agony". Lords of Metal.nl. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Epica - The Phantom Agony". Metal Reviews.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Epica (Nld) - The Phantom Agony". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Epica - The Phantom Agony (Expanded Edition)". Epica.nl. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Epica - The Phantom Agony (Expanded Edition)". discogs.com. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  10. ^ The Phantom Agony (CD sleeve). Epica. The Netherlands: Transmission Records. 2003. TM-036.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ "Metalfan.nl Review: Sahara Dust – Cry For The Moon". Metalfan.nl. 12 February 2003.
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