Title: The Holographic Principle

Type: Studio Album

Artist: Epica (band)

Genre: Metal

Subgenre: Symphonic Metal

Release Date: September 30, 2016

Label: Nucelar Blast

Tracklist: 1. Eidola

                      2. Edge of the Blade

                      3. A Phantasmic Parade

                      4. Universal Death Squad

                      5. Divide and Conquer

                      6. Beyond the Matrix

                      7. Once Upon A Nightmare

                      8. The Cosmic Algorithm

                      9. Ascension-Dream State Armageddon

                      10. Dancing in a Hurricane

                      11. Tear Down Your Walls

                      12. The Holographic Principle-A Profound Understanding of Reality

The earbook edition of the album included two bonus discs: The Acoustic Principle, which consisted of 5 acoustic versions of songs from the album; and The Instrumental Principle, which consists of instrumentals of all songs from the album.

 All tracks were written by Epica.

Lineup: Simone Simons (lead and backing vocals)

                  Mark Jansen (guitars and harsh vocals)

                  Isaac Delhaye (guitars, mandolin, balalaika, bouzouki, ukulele)

                  Rob van der Loo (bass)

                  Coen Janssen (keyboards, grand piano, synthesizer, glockenspiel, xylophone, tubular bells)

                  Arien van Weesenbeek (drums, timpani, spoken vocals on "Ascension-Dream State Armageddon)

Additional musicians: Marcela Bovio (backing vocals)

                                                 Linda Janssen (backing vocals)

                                                 Cato Janssen (child's voice on "Eidola")

                                                 Paul Babikan (elven king's voice on "Once Upon A Nightmare")

                                                 Kamerkoor Pa'Dam (choir)

                                                 Ben Mathot, Ian De Jong, Sabine Pojesz, Floortje Beljon, Loes Dooren, Vera Van Der Bie, Marieke De Bruijn (violins)

                                                 Mark Mulder, Frank Goossens (viola)

                                                 Rene Van Munster, Genevieve Verhage, Eilidh Martin (cello)

                                                 Jurgen Van Nijnatten, Marnix Coster (trumpet)

                                                 Henk Veldt, Alex Thyssen (French horn)

                                                 Paul Langerman, Lennart De Winter (trombone)

                                                 Jeroen Goossens (flute, piccolo, bassoon)

                                                 Thijs Dapper (oboe, oboe d'amore)

                                                 Jack Pisters (sitar)

 The Holographic Principle is the seventh studio album by the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It received mostly positive reviews, getting an 8/10 from Ultimate Guitar Archive and 9/10 from Metal Injection.

 Mark Jansen said about the concept of the album, "The Holographic Principle deals with the near future, where virtual reality allows people to create their own worlds which can't be distinguished from 'reality as we know it'. This raises the question whether our current reality could be a virtual reality in itself-a hologram. The lyrics challenge you to consider everything you took for granted and be open-minded towards recent revolutions in science. Nothing appears to be what it seems in our holographic universe."

 The Holographic Principle became Epica's third album (after The Quantum Enigma and Requiem for the Indifferent) to enter the US Billboard 200, peaking at No. 139. It also peaked at No. 4 on Dutch music charts.