Epinikion’s Force of Nature, is my favorite album of the year, right now. I have listened to the best female – fronted metal symphonic albums of this first month of the year. And no other band has so many top ten – like songs on one album yet, besides Epinikion. The band will release Force of Nature, independently on the 6th of February, this year. And don’t you just love the way that band name rolls off your tongue?
Epinikion, this Dutch epic symphonic band has a unique story behind their name and music. From their PR release, “Former athletes Renate de Boer and Robert Tangerman initially started an ambitious project to write a rock opera album. With no musical background to speak of, but with incredible talent, inspiration, and sheer will, the critically acclaimed debut Inquisition came to life.”
“An epinikion is a “hymn for the winner,” in Ancient 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.”
Epinikion, is a band made up of members: Kimberley Jongen, on vocals; Maarten Jungschläger, on lead guitar; Robert Tangerman, on rhythm guitar; Renate de Boer, on keyboards; Rutger Klijn, on bass; and Michal Gis, on drums.
Force of Nature was “first conceived in 2020 (our sympathies goes to any band launching that year, though Epinikion deserves recognition for persevering and emerging from the pandemic even stronger), what began as a rock opera concept has transformed into something truly remarkable. Songwriter Renate de Boer’s personal stories and experiences form the foundation of the twelve tracks on The Force Of Nature. Her psychology background offers profound understanding of the human psyche and the choices people confront.”
“The Moon, The Sun, and the Stars,” is the wonderful overture or opening to the album and the title song, “The Force of Nature.” It is full of over 2 minutes of wonderful keyboards, the likes of which haven’t been heard since maybe, Clive Nolan on Pendragon’s opening to “The Masquerade Overture.” There is also some wonderful orchestration which helps to double up on that Pendragon theme.
However, the direction changes rapidly as “The Force of Nature,” takes off with metal propelled electric guitars, bass , and drums. It is shortly thereafter that we hear the first vocals from Kimberley Jongen. She has a great pop sound to her voice, like another metal star vocalist, Angela Di Vincenzo of Secret Rule. Kimberley sings, to the metal roar, “Holding on to what would break me down. Was a grave mistake. Cowards have no scars they wear their crown. Knowing it is fake. No more tormenting and no more haunting me. You won’t bring me down. The force of nature always wins. It’s choosing its own way. No goodness and no sins, no. The force of nature always wins. You can’t control my life. Your chapter ends and mine begins!’ That is the power that is also performed on the supporting music video. She takes the stage and will not surrender to the provocateur, of which she sings. One of the best songs on the album and a song which will bring fans to their feet, played live. She continues, in defiance, “Finally now I can be myself. I will live my life. All the plans that I’ve got on the shelf. Will not lead to strife!”
Kimberley Jongen opens, “Lessons in Life (Are for Free),” as the grinding metal orchestration follows her. Kimberley sings, “This morning when I woke up. I looked up to the sky. The sunlight filled a cloudy cup. My fate was passing by. It doesn’t matter what I think. I can predict in life. A twist of fate before I blink. Can change the time I arrive. Fate is not written in immortal ink. Go with the flow and create what you think. Lessons in life are for free and for everyone. Lessons in life are for free!” And isn’t that the absolute truth?! If you learn from mistakes. Wonderful, positive, and supremely supporting words. The musicianship is top notch throughout this album. Different and dynamic flows of metal instead of numbing metal roar.
“Come into My World,” is full of more positive lyrics and Kimberley’s soft and beckoning voice. She sings, “Come into my world. I’ll show you all the things. You have never seen. Living a dream. Miracles and endless magic. Will leave you amazed. Set aside your fears. And come with me tonight. I’ll show you the way. To stars so bright. Whispers of the unseen spirits. Open up your mind. Here and now what do you see. Nobody tells us what to do or to believe!” Later she sings, “Look into my eyes. They’re always shimmering.” And yes, in all her music videos her eyes do shimmer.
“Your Ultimate Joy,” has a slow bluesy feel to it with accompanying string orchestration, before the metal rock soundscape enters. There is a cool Middle Eastern kind of melody to this track. Then, Kimberley sings, “You know it’s enough. Gonna be real tough. I want you to leave right now. I have been quite clear. You don’t want to hear. When you lie you break the vow. There is no more way. That you’re gonna stay. Leave my life immediately. Hits me like an axe. Your big god complex. Who the hell you think you are. Obviously, you’re convinced. I’m your toy. Tormenting me seems. Your ultimate joy!” Kimberley explicates the
narcissist’s personality with surgical precision.
“I Thought You Were on My Side,” is the best song on the album. It has all the elements you want in a ballad and pinnacle of passion song. A song of power and empathy, like I have not heard in a while. The song opens with, soft guitar and then Kimberley sings, “Like a child eyes open wide. I looked at this crazy world. Believing unconditionally. You’re a safe haven for me. Actions thoughts covered by. A veil of docility. You could have taken it away. But help never came to stay. Criticized not gently guided. Everything for me decided. I thought you were on my side. Thought that I was in good hands. Despite the strict requirements, I thought you were on my side.” The lyrics fall like shimmering diamonds. An absolutely top ten level song which I will remember come the right time at the end of the year. Over five minutes of wonderful music and excellent lyrics. The choirs, choruses and orchestration are absolutely top of the stage. Kimberley sings, “What I’ve never realized. Is that when the story ends. All people are just tiny leaves. Falling from nature’s trees. Certain as I was. Intentions were truly fine. Things went according to your laws. But they never felt like mine. Criticized not gently guided. Everything for me decided. I thought you were on my side. Why exile your child. Like a book that’s been read and has been filed. With sole right. To see you on the other side.” Wow, a symphony in a song. Right up there with Edenbridge’s “Bonded by the Light,” for first place, for song of the year, early in January.
“Don’t Wake Up the Dead,” opens with eerie programming and a nightmare-like soundscape, filled with orchestration. Then, brass like orchestration with strings makes this the second-best song on the album. Kimberley sings the absolutely top- row lyrics, “Human greed and obsession. Will wake up the dead. Pointless to fight. The disaster caused by ignorance. Don’t wake up the dead. Let them rest in peace. Don’t let the devil drag you into. Circles of negativity. Those who change. For the better are the pioneers. In their pursuit. Of simplicity and strong support. Don’t wake up the dead. Let them rest in peace. Don’t let the devil drag you into. Circles of negativity. Every word we say. And every thought in our mind. It matters. Everything we achieve. Act of love. Act of madness. A dream come true. A dream that shatters!” An amazingly dynamic song with both outstanding lyrics and musicianship, which should help lift this album into my top ten.
“Monsters in My Head,” the longest and most epic track on the album opens with unbelievable orchestration filled with strings, brass, and maybe a pipe organ! The orchestra boldly moves forward, capturing your attention with the soundscape. This was originally supposed to be a rock opera and this song and the two before it were probably a central part of the theme. (Now I want to hear the opera…so bad). Then, they lay on the metal drums, guitars and bass, and the soundscape changes and grows. Kimberley sings, “Monsters are inside my head. Creatures so horribly bad. Poisoning my entire brain. Fighting them has been in vain. Will they ever leave my thoughts. Can I get a chance to survive. There are monsters in my head. Sneaky creeping on from night to day. They want to drive me mad. But for now I seem to chase them all away. Monsters are inside my head. Making me intensely sad. Moving in their deadly dance. Hollow eyes in complete trance. Will they ever leave my thoughts. Can I get a chance to survive?” It is a powerful song full of overwhelming music and a storyline which will draw you in with little effort. This would have been an absolutely epic closer for the album. The orchestration, lyrics and volumes of electric guitar shredding riffs make this a superb epic song.
“Two Hearts,” opens with bold stringed orchestration and keyboards. The sound is like a full orchestra supporting the soundscape. Kimberley sings, “You’re not just my friend. You understand what happened in the past. And what I need in the future. Accepting me for what I am. Though life is like a boomerang. What we give is what we get. Our love is the strongest. Two hearts that beat as one. (Thanks for the U2 reference). You always multiply. All the best in me. In me.” A wonderful ballad and love song. The electric guitar playing is superb. Every inch of this song is dynamic and full of wonder.
“Run With the Wolves,” is the second single and music video. The band has recently released the “Making of” video for this music video, and that too is wonderful to watch. The song opens with Celtic like pipes, before the heavy metal soundscape rebuilds. Kimberley’s high volume voice sings, “Let’s run tonight along the trees tall and strong. Dance tonight in the moonlight so bright. Let’s go through the eye of the storm. You are a warrior by my side. My love feel the power underneath. Guide me in the darkest of the night. Gathered on this sacred ground. Feel it the strong wind in your hair. Let’s run. We’ve got nothing to hide. Let’s run. With the wolves on our side. Let’s swim tonight in water clear crystal glaze. Sing tonight by the fires ablaze. Let’s go count the stars in the sky. Shining like floating fireflies!” A fun, run through the woods with the wolves song. Haven’t you done that? Well, maybe we all should. Like a fantastic, woodlands, Faun-like, Pagen, folk, run through the wilderness. Fantastic!
“What Goes Up Must Come Down,” opens with beautiful strings, orchestration, and keyboards. Then, the entire soundscape rises with metal guitars, bass, and drums. Kimberley sings, “As sure as trees reach for the skies. I’ll find my way in truth and lies. Nature’s force is strong within me. Have to follow its wise course. Live my life as it should be. What goes up must come down you’ll see. My wounds they will heal in the end. I’m not the one whose head has to bend. As sure as the sun will rise. I will have to learn and grow. Don’t be scared just roll the dice. What goes up must come down you’ll see. My wounds they will heal in the end. I’ll find my way in truth and lies!” A powerful song of claiming your right to be who you want to be. Kimberley rivals Berenice Piceda of Elenion, with her operatic voice here. Berenice created an metal opera last year with her band.
“Eyes Will Glow,” opens with more of the wonderful stringed symphony orchestration that has been with us since the beginning. The electric guitar that accompanies also sounds otherworldly in power. Kimberley sings, as the soundscape picks up pace, “Talk to me. Tell me what is on your mind my love. Don’t be so scared because. I won’t judge what I find. This is our space. There’s just you and me. And it feels just like infinity. As it should be. There is nothing that can touch us here. An entirely safe atmosphere. Close your eyes and let your worries go. If you open them your eyes will glow. Trust me. Forget what is going on outside us. Make sure you free your mind. Two souls collide. No one can harm us. When we are in our own place. Swimming in happiness. Lovely embrace. There is nothing that can touch us here. An entirely safe atmosphere. Close your eyes and let your worries go. Spread your wings. Fly to our destiny. There are so many things. We have to see. Close your eyes and let your worries go. If you open them your eyes will glow.” A powerful, ballad – like love song. An absolutely brilliant way to end this massively important symphony.
“An epinikion is a “hymn for the winner.” And maybe we already have a winner. This album is like Belle Morte’s Pearl Hunting, my favorite album of 2025. It hit me early and never faded from my memory. Every track on this album is a hit, and has been waiting for its time to be heard. Like something out of Lord of the Rings. Well, it’s time has come. This band is going on tour and after we are going to have an interview discussion so I can share more of the power of this album with everyone. This is the kind of album we need more of in metal. An album that lifts you up, like Edenbridge, with powerful lyrics supported with intricate and dynamic orchestration and metal harmony. A symphony to start 2026. Please listen to the songs and they will draw you in to want to buy the album, just like Belle Morte did last year. Early January and I have already found a new band to follow. Please run with the Force of Nature, and enjoy this masterpiece from Epinikion!
Album Track List:
- The Moon, The Sun, and the Stars – 2:09
- The Force of Nature – 4:23
- Lessons in Life (Are for Free) – 3:59
- Come into My World – 4:09
- Your Ultimate Joy – 4:42
- I Thought You Were on My Side – 5:18
- Don’t Wake Up the Dead – 5:54
- Monsters in My Head – 9:19
- Two Hearts – 4:33
- Run With the Wolves – 4:35
- What Goes Up Must Come Down – 5:36
- Eyes Will Glow – 3:59
Epinikion’s The Force of Nature was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, and featuring artwork from Giannis Nakos, the album reflects the band’s conscious decision to commit and go big. Jacob Hansen (known for his work with Delain, Epica, Volbeat) handled the production, which instantly pushes the album toward an 8/10 rating. Jacob refuses to let subpar work emerge from his studio—he demands every band he collaborates with delivers excellence and more.
Band Website and Social Media Links:
https://epinikion.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/epinikion
YouTube and Music Video Links:
https://www.youtube.com/c/epinikion