The Phantom Agony

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.

The Phantom Agony
Studio album by Epica
Released	5 June 2003 (2003-06-05)
Recorded	January–March 2003
Studio	Gate, Wolfsburg, Germany Vox, Hamburg, Germany
Genre	Symphonic metal
Length	51:43
Label	Transmission
Producer	Sascha Paeth
Epica chronology
The Phantom Agony (2003) Consign to Oblivion (2005)
Singles from The Phantom Agony
"The Phantom Agony" Released: 29 October 2003 "Feint" Released: 8 January 2004 "Cry for the Moon" Released: 13 May 2004

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Sea of Tranquility
Musical Discoveries
Metal Ship
Lords of Metal
Metal Reviews

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 listing

All lyrics are written by Mark Jansen, except where noted

The Phantom Agony track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Adyta (The Neverending Embrace)"	Simone Simons	Jansen	1:27
2.	"Sensorium"		Jansen Ad Sluijter Coen Janssen Simons	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.	Title	Music	Length
10.	"Triumph of Defeat" (instrumental)	Janssen	3:56
Total length:			55:39

Mexican bonus track

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
10.	"Veniality"	Simons	Jansen Sluijter Janssen Simons	4:36
Total length:				56:19

North American bonus track

No.	Title	Length
10.	"The Phantom Agony" (single version)	4:35
Total length:		56:18

2013 Expanded Edition – disc one (bonus tracks)

No.	Title	Length
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.	Title	Music	Length
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)	Huts	4:07
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.

Epica

• Simone Simons – lead vocals
• Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, grunts, screams
• Ad Sluijter – lead guitar
• Coen Janssen – synths, piano
• Yves Huts – bass
• 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
• Mark Jansen – orchestral arrangements
• Coen Janssen – orchestral and choir arrangements
• Robert Hunecke-Rizzo – orchestral arrangements
• Hans van Vuuren – executive producer, coordination and research
• Peter van 't Riet – mastering

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

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

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
Released	2003 (Sahara Dust demo), 13 May 2004
Recorded	2002–2003
Genre	Symphonic metal
Length	6:44
Label	Transmission
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".

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