The Phantom Agony

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]

  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.