The Alchemy Project

The Alchemy Project is the third EP by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It features seven songs, all co-written and performed with guest artists. The lyrical content mainly deals with apocalyptic themes (with the exception of "Sirens - Of Blood And Water").

Background, composition and release
The EP was announced on September 16, 2022 with the release of its first single, "The Final Lullaby" (featuring the band Shining). Rob van der Loo stated that the song was intended to be a "mash-up" between the two bands' sounds, for which he "would come up with some riffs that would be typical Shining and they would do the complete opposite". The band also teased that the EP would include the "heaviest death metal track we’ve ever recorded": "Human Devastation".

On the release date of the EP on November 11, 2022, the band also uploaded a music video for the song "Sirens - Of Blood And Water", which features both Charlotte Wessels (Delain) and Amalie Bruun (Myrkur). The song stems from Simons and Wessels' shared fascination of The Little Mermaid, and is told from the perspective of the protagonist's sisters.

The album cover was designed by German visual artist Stefan "Heilemania" Heilemann.

Personnel
Credits for The Alchemy Project adapted from liner notes.

Epica
 * Simone Simons – lead vocals, photography
 * Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, grunts
 * Isaac Delahaye – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
 * Coen Janssen – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, choir scoring
 * Rob van der Loo – bass
 * Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums

Guest musicians
 * Francesco Ferrini – orchestral arrangements (1)
 * Francesco Paoli – grunts (1)
 * Fabio Bartoletti – lead guitar (1)
 * Veronica Bordacchini – clean vocals (1)
 * Tommy Karevik – vocals (2)
 * Jørgen Munkeby – vocals, rhythm guitar, tenor saxophone (3)
 * Charlotte Wessels – vocals (4)
 * Myrkur – vocals (4)
 * Frank Schiphorst – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, orchestral arrangements (5)
 * Björn "Speed" Strid – vocals (5)
 * Henri Sattler – guitars, grunts (6)
 * Sven de Caluwé – grunts (6)
 * Asim Searah – vocals, lead guitar (7)
 * Niilo Sevänen – growls (7)
 * Roel Van Helden – drums (7)
 * Marcela Bovio – backing vocals
 * Linda Janssen-van Summeren – backing vocals

Choir – Kamerkoor PA'dam
 * Maria van Nieukerken – choir director
 * Martha Bosch, Frédérique Klooster, Annemieke Nuijten, Alfrun Schmidt – sopranos
 * Karne Langnedonk, Cecile Roovers, Annemarie Verburg, Annette Vermeulen – altos
 * Guido Groenland, Henk Gunneman, René Veen, Joost van Velzen – tenors
 * Jan Douwes, Jan Hoffmann, Martijn de Graaf Bierbrauwer, Angus van Grevenbroek – basses
 * Gjalt Lucassen, Jaap Toorenar – Latin translation

Strings
 * Ben Mathot, Ian de Jong – 1st violin
 * Loes Dooren, Sabine Torrico-Poiesz – 2nd violin
 * Mark Mulder, Adriaan Breunis – viola
 * Marije de Jong, Eilidh Martin – cello
 * Robin Assen – strings scoring

Production
 * Joost van den Broek – producer, engineer, editing, mixing
 * Jos Driessen – engineer, editing, mixing
 * Darius van Helfteren – mastering
 * Stefan Heilemann – art direction, design, photography
 * Tim Tronckoe, Sandra Ludewig, Chantik Photography, Lotte Verdellen – photography