The Phantom Agony
The Phantom Agony is the first full-length 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, Mark 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, After Forever's debut album, and the following three parts can be found on The Divine Conspiracy, Epica's third album. These songs deal with the dangers of organized religion.
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.Track listings
Personnel
;Band members
- Simone Simons - lead vocals
- Mark Jansen - guitars, grunts, screams, orchestral arrangements
- Ad Sluijter - guitars
- Coen Janssen - synths & piano, orchestral and choir arrangements
- Yves Huts - bass guitar
- Jeroen Simons - drums
;Additional musicians
- Olaf Reitmeier - acoustic guitars on "Feint" and "Run for a Fall", engineer
- Annette Berryman - flute on "Run for a Fall"
;Production
- Sascha Paeth - producer, engineer, mixing
- Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - orchestral arrangements
- Hans van Vuuren - executive producer, coordination and research
- Peter van 't Riet - mastering
;Epica Orchestra:
- Thomas Glöckner - violin
- Andreas Pfaff - violin
- Tobias Rempe - violin
- Marie-Theres Stumpf - viola
- David Schlage - viola
- Jörn Kellermann - cello
- Cordula Rhode - cello
- Andrè Neygenfind - contrabass
;Epica Choir:
- Melvin Edmonsen - bass
- Previn Moore - tenor
- Bridget Fogle - alto
- Cinzia Rizzo - alto
- Annie Goeble - soprano
- Amanda Somerville - soprano, vocal coach
Singles
The Phantom Agony
"The Phantom Agony" was the first single.Track listing
- "The Phantom Agony" - 4:35
- "Veniality" - 4:36
- "Façade of Reality" - 8:17
- "Veniality" - 4:37
Feint
Feint was the second single.Track listing
- "Feint" - 4:18
- "Feint " - 4:53
- "Triumph of Defeat" - 3:56
- "Seif al Din" - 5:46
Cry for the Moon was the third single.Track listing
- "Cry for the Moon" - 3:33
- "Cry for the Moon" - 6:44
- "Run for a Fall" - 4:29
- "Run for a Fall" - 6:31