SIMONE SIMONS, vocalist of Dutch symphonic Metal band EPICA started her solo career in 2023 and releases her debut album. “Vermillion” includes many illustrious musicians beside permanent member Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Koen Herfst (VANDENBERG) did the drumming, Rob van der Loo (EPICA) was on bass, and Ben Mathot (DIS) on the violin. Besides this, Alyssa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY) and Marc Jansen (EPICA) are guest vocalists on the album. It has a length of about 46 minutes, and it was released via German Metal specialists Nuclear Blast.  The first song of the album is “Aeterna” and it starts with oriental vibes. The track develops from there into a symphonic Metal song at a measured tempo with a few twists towards mid-tempo. While the guitars and the keyboard provide the melodic framework, the vocals lead the track with background vocal and choir support. “Aeterna” is not the classical verse/chorus track, it has some complexity in the song textures. For an album opener, “Aeterna” is with seven minutes playing time considerably long, with a lot of song ideas being utilized especially during the middle part of the track. “In Love We Rust” starts with the keyboards soon joined by the vocals. It is a tension-building opening sequence, which erupts into the chorus part with highly pitched vocal notes. It is a slow song throughout, and the lead guitar solo has some ballad-esque features. Simone Simons is at her very vocal best with her distinct voice and her huge vocal range, and this makes “In Love We Rust” to a very special song.

“Cradle To The Grave” comes with the first guest contribution and it is a heavy track with powerful guitar riffing combined with the keyboards. Alyssa White-Gluz is mainly responsible for the growls during the chorus parts and both vocalists complement each other perfectly. The track is a bit too much keyboard dominated for me; I would have liked to hear more guitars. However, “Cradle To The Grave” is the official video release, and the YouTube link is provided below. While I would not think that “In Love We Rust” is a ballad, “Fight Or Flight” certainly is. The whole track is carried by the vocals and the guitars. The guitars provide a dark melodic framework, while Simone Simons provides some remarkable tonal shifts towards high notes during the chorus parts. “Fight Or Flight” is a very strong song and one of the album highlights. “Weight Of My World” could not be much more different to the previous track. A mixture of thunderous riffing and the keyboards provide the melodic basis to the track that varies between measured tempo during the verse parts and mid-tempo during the chorus parts. The melodies for the chorus parts are catchy and the chorus lines almost anthemic. “Vermillion Dreams” starts with an extended, tension-building keyboard part. The first verse part is driven by the keyboards and the vocals, while the guitars join in during the bridge and they finally take charge during the chorus. There is a contrast between the quiet verse parts and the guitar driven chorus parts, while the bridge acts very nicely as a transition between both. The chorus melodies are again anthemic and the vocals go over the full vocal range once again. While “Vermillion Dreams” leans more towards a slow and ballad-esque song,

“The Core” is somehow more a modern Metal track at mid-tempo with a lot of electronic effects added to it. It is one of the few tracks with a simple song structure. For me, “The Core” cannot quite keep up with the other tracks on the album, even though the vocal skills of Simone Simons are a huge upgrade to the AMARANTHE-like electronic effects. “Dystopia” starts with thunderous guitar riffs at a measured tempo The verse parts are driven by the keyboards in the background however, the guitar riffing leaves it mark throughout the track. It is a slow song with dark melodies provided mainly by the vocals. Simone Simons often uses her very high vocal notes during the track. “Dystopia” is one of the very few songs with an extended and contributing lead guitar solo and that one gives the track an extra layer. “R.E.D.” is one of the heaviest tracks on the album, but it comes with too many keyboards and too little guitars. The growling vocals during the chorus parts are provided by Marc Jansen. The track has certainly its moments, but I would love to hear it again rearranged for the guitars. The album finishes with the quiet “Dark Night Of The Soul” and it starts with the strings and the piano. The verse part is led by the piano and the vocals, while the strings join in the background. It is another album ballad, and the song is written towards the vocal strengths of Simone Simons, who grabs the opportunity to shine. It is one of the best songs on the album and the best way to finish it.

 The debut album of Simone Simons is a very strong one. Whoever thinks, “Vermillion” is a copy of the EPICA sound should listen to it and will realize that it is not. “Vermillion” is a unique sound combining elements from symphonic Metal, progressive Metal, and modern Metal. I am not necessarily a fan of the added electronic effects, but that does not take anything away from the mature songwriting. The album is very well produced. I did not expect anything less than excellence from Simone Simons debut album and I got what I expected. I am not sure whether this album is a one-off, but even if so, “Vermillion” is pure quality.