Since the release of EPICA'S latest record, entitled "The Quantum Enigma" the band have been busy the world with the latest material hitting major festivals such as Hellfest and Wacken bringing their trade mark stage performance and sound to each location and bringing something spectacular in each area. With festival season now over we see the band start their most anticipated tour yet which features the likes of ELUVEITIE and SCAR SYMMETRY bringing what can only be their strongest UK tour to date.

Unfortunately because of traffic in Manchester I was unable to see Scar Symmetry as the city was full to the brim with traffic stretching from Sanford to the city centre.

Looking back into the two times that I have able to see this band I can say that ELUVEITIE have their own type of stage presence which separates them from the rest of the bands on this bill; it is easy to see that a lot of tonight's crowd have come down to see this band as they are a treat for many for whenever they are able to make it to the UK's shores.

Through the bands set we would be given a look at material which practically spans the band's career, adding newer songs to the fold which many have taken in and have been able to accept in a large way as well as being given the chance to hear the bands song "The Call of the Mountain" in the bands native tongue. This gave fans a lot more reason to enjoy the authenticity of the show; it is easy to see that when it comes to a stage show such as this that the band have been able to create something truly incredible and unique which builds towards this being the better time the band have been to the city of Manchester and in fact has been an event for many that will be remembered for a long time.

I will say that I am not a usual listener of ELUVEITIE but after watching the band pull this off I am truly impressed by the energy that the band have presented for the Manchester crowd and what they have brought in terms of sound and emotion which could truly be seen from every angle of the venue. It is great to see a band bring a show this massive to a medium-sized venue such as the Ritz and really it is incredible.

1. King
2. Nil
3. Luxtos
4. Thousandfold
5. Omnos
6. The Call of the Mountains
7. From Darkness
8. Brictom
9. Scorched Earth
10. Kingdom Come Undone
11. Neverland
12. Tegernakô
13. Havoc
14. Alesia
15. Inis Mona

We come near to the show's end closing with the night's final band, EPICA. For a lot of the fans tonight, EPICA is a band that has inspired many a vocalist in terms of melody and a type of heaviness which can be found within the bands structure of guitar tone and coarse vocals which mix together in a grand combination. Of course, this is just a summary of what we can expect from tonight's show and what we can expect in terms of the bands set. As the band approach the stage we can see that the fans are preparing their singing voices to match that of the talent of Simone Simons; it is easy to see that fans are excited from where I am stood as you can almost feel the anticipation building thick in the air.

From the start of the bands set we see the EPICA open with the track "The Second Stone", from the band's latest release "The Quantum Enigma". For a lot of new fans this track will be more familiar, whereas with older fans, they know what to expect later in the set as we see a crowd of fans that have followed the bands career from the start and new fans whom have found the band through different sources. Either way, we see a room of dedication which shines onto the band and really brings the best out of them as well.

When it comes to live shows one of the most important things you can see is that the reaction of the fans is always the driving force behind the act itself. We saw this and much more as the combination of passion can be seen throughout the entire venue and on the stage as the band kick into one of my favorites off of the latest record, "The Essence Of Silence", a track that truly shows the best of EPICA's capabilities in one whole song. I say this of course because of the skill and idea put behind this song, live it is clear that this is a song that shows what this band are able to do in one big bang.

Through the show we are able to see different ideas come to life as we see familiar songs played to an audience waiting to see what comes next but as we can see this is a set of songs that have been carefully picked just for this occasion and truly this is a an occasion that deserves celebration in the highest regard.

As a whole this was my fourth time seeing the band perform this is my third time in this year seeing EPICA on this tour as I have had the chance of seeing them at both Hellfest and at Wacken Open Air. From a standpoint of festival to venue we see the band have the ability to bring more and more into their tour environment through smaller venues such as the Ritz.

Setlist:
1. Originem
2. (Intro)
3. The Second Stone
4. The Essence of Silence
5. Sensorium
6. The Last Crusade
7. Unleashed
8. Martyr of the Free Word
9. Cry for the Moon
10. The Obsessive Devotion
11. Victims of Contingency
12. Design Your Universe

Encore:
13. Sancta Terra
14. Unchain Utopia
15. Consign to Oblivion