Simone Simons – Vermillion Review

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Simone “La Belle” Simons has just released her debut solo album. Ah, Simone, you’re such a talent, such a beauty, such a voice. Yours truly big fan.

Well, if you’re visiting this sad and lonely and pathetic little planet, I present you Simone Simons, who has been one of the most talented and beautiful strong women of Metal music for over two decades and the vocalist of Epica since 2002, the year the band was founded. She has also lended her wondrous voice to such diverse bands as Aina, Kamelot, Ayreon, Sons of Seasons, Avalon, Angra and many more. Now she realized it would be the time to have one album to call her own.

Ok, now about “Vermillion” her debut solo album. If you are expecting an album with the pure essence of Epica, my dear child of the night, so sorry, you are flat wrong. Of course, here and there you will find some hints of the music of the band, but that’s not all. La Belle decided to expand the horizons of her music with a pretty updated album in terms of what Symphonic Metal bands are doing these days meaning she’s pretty connected with the scene. Having second thoughts, maybe too much connected, but what the heck, it’s Simone “La Belle” Simons. By the way, about connection, the ones who use the social media will notice it’s almost impossible not to see one of her beautiful photos each day. I’m not complaining, okay!

To the unadvised, the first moments of “Vermillion” might sound awkward as The Belle shows her connection with electronic music. As the press release tells “Vermillion” is a stunning feat chronicling her storied past as well as her rise to fame, and showcasing her many different influences ranging from prog rock to film scores to metal to electronic elements.” True. Listening to it more carefully it’s obvious the album was planned to have her voice as the main attraction. It couldn’t be any different. The epic “Aeterna” is the track that reminds the most her work with Epica. Maybe its tittle is no coincidence. Here The Belle abuses of her classical music references added with electronic music, which, by the way, is a constant in the album. Following track “In Love We Rust” follows the same path just a little bit less epic. The comes “Cradle to the Grave” featuring no one but another female Metal icon Alyssa White-Gluz. Its strong presence of keyboards plus a striking main guitar riff takes it from the previous path. There is a different spirit in it that I wasn’t able to discover. With “Fight or Flight” La Belle shows her predilection for modern ballads. The track is the perfect feature of a modern Metal ballad. And then the album goes showing very few surprises from the aforementioned.

The press release tells “Vermillion” took about 15 years to be completed. Well, as good wine, Simone “La Belle” Simons gets better with time.

Simone “La Belle” Simons “Vermillion” was released on August 23rd via Nuclear Blast Records.

  1. Aeterna
  2. In Love We Rust
  3. Cradle to the Grave (feat. Alyssa White-Gluz)
  4. Fight or Flight
  5. The Weight of My World
  6. Vermillion Dreams
  7. The Core
  8. Dystopia
  9. R.E.D.
  10. Dark Night of the Soul

Watch “Aeterna” official music video: