Hailing from the Netherlands, this up-and-coming Symphonic Metal band continues their path to stardom with their striking sophomore album.

Hailing from the Netherlands, former athletes Renate de Boer and Robert Tangerman initially started an ambitious project to write a rock opera album, the Epic and Symphonic Metal band Epinikion, or “ἐπινίκιον,” which means “hymne for the winner” in Greek (in Ancient Greece, the heroic stories of athletes were sung in an epinikion after their victories at major events, a fitting band name for musicians rising from the ashes of their former sports careers, as reflected by the phoenix in the band’s logo). With no musical background to speak of, but with incredible talent, inspiration, and sheer will, the critically acclaimed debut Inquisition came to life in 2022. Now in 2026 the band currently formed of the aforementioned Robert Tangerman on the guitar and Renate de Boer on keyboards, alongside vocalist Kimberley Jongen, guitarist Maarten Jungschläger, bassist Rutger Klijn, and drummer Michal Gis, is unleashing upon us their sophomore opus, titled The Force of Nature. Mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, with vocals recorded by Erwin Hermsen at Toneshed Music Production, and displaying a stylish artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, the album reflects the band’s conscious decision to commit and go big, and it promises to be a blast of a successor to their debut.

The cinematic intro The Moon, the Sun and the Stars transports us all to the ethereal realm ruled by Epinikion, setting the stage for the band to shine brighter than the sun in the title-track The Force of Nature, where Michal’s beats clash beautifully with Renate’s whimsical keys, generating the perfect Symphonic Power Metal ambience for Kimberley to hypnotize us with her striking vocals. In Lessons in Life (Are for Free) we see the band venturing through more modern lands, with the guitars by Robert and Maarten bringing sheer electricity to their core sound; and such a talented guitar duo continues to spread their metallic riffs across the sky in Come into My World, while Kimberley declaims the song’s lyrics in great fashion. Then the low-tuned, dark bass by Rutger kicks off the also enfolding Your Ultimate Joy, evolving into a powerful feast of Symphonic Metal with an epic touch, followed by I Thought You Were on My Side, a charming ballad where the entire band still sounds heavy while also keeping the atmosphere as delicate as possible.

Don’t Wake Up the Dead carries a poetic name for a song, working more like an interlude albeit it feels like a ballad at times, flowing into the hard hitting, epic Monsters in My Head, with Michal crushing his drums in great fashion while the keys by Renate add even more fuel to the incendiary riffage by Robert and Maarten in over nine minute of symphonic awesomeness. The band then brings forward their most passionate ballad of all, entitled Two Hearts, with Kimberley stealing the spotlight with her deep, melodic vocals; and it’s time to bring a Folk Metal vibe to their core symphonic sounds in Run with the Wolves, led by the galloping rhythm crafted by Rutger and Michal. Despite it’s weird title, What Goes Up Must Come Down lives up to the legacy of the style, with Renate once again hitting us in the face with her stylish keys, whereas lastly, let’s embark on an Epic Metal journey one final time to the sound of Eyes Will Glow, where Kimberley’s gentle vocals walk hand in hand with the song’s melodious riffs and pounding drums.

With The Force of Nature, such an up-and-coming Dutch Symphonic Metal band takes their music a step further compared to their 2022 debut, blending the musical influences and creativity from each member of the band into a unique and refreshing sound that will certainly appeal to fans of  renowned acts the likes of Epica, Kamelot, Nightwish, Delain, After Forever, Within Temptation, Serenity, Xandria, Rhapsody of Fire, Two Steps From Hell, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Symphony X, and many more. You can find those unstoppable metallers from the Netherlands on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their music on Spotify, and of course purchase the excellent The Force of Nature from BandCamp, from their own webstore, or simply click HERE for all things Epinikion. In summary, the band has all it takes to make it to the big stages of the world, and their new album The Force of Nature is definitely turning them into a force to be reckoned with in the Symphonic Metal realm.

Best moments of the album: The Force of Nature, Monsters in My Head and Run with the Wolves.

Worst moments of the album: Don’t Wake Up the Dead.

Released in 2026 Independent

Track listing
1. The Moon, the Sun and the Stars 2:09
2. The Force of Nature 4:22
3. Lessons in Life (Are for Free) 3:58
4. Come into My World 4:09
5. Your Ultimate Joy 4:42
6. I Thought You Were on My Side 5:18
7. Don’t Wake Up the Dead 5:54
8. Monsters in My Head 9:19
9. Two Hearts 4:33
10. Run with the Wolves 4:35
11. What Goes Up Must Come Down 5:36
12. Eyes Will Glow 3:59

Band members
Kimberley Jongen – vocals
Robert Tangerman – guitar
Maarten Jungschläger – guitar
Rutger Klijn – bass
Renate de Boer – keyboards
Michal Gis – drums