The Phantom Agony

The Phantom Agony is the debut studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released in 2003 by the Dutch label Transmission Records. It is the first album recorded by guitarist Mark Jansen after his departure from the band After Forever. On this album, Jansen continues with the collection of songs that make up The Embrace That Smothers. The first three parts can be found on Prison of Desire (2000), After Forever's debut album, and the following three parts can be found on The Divine Conspiracy (2007), Epica's third album. These songs deal with the dangers of organized religion.

The album was re-released on 23 March 2013, which coincided with Epica's 10th anniversary Retrospect show, as a 2-disc expanded edition by Epica's former record label Transmission Records.

Personnel
All credits adapted from the original release.

Epica
 * Simone Simons – lead vocals
 * Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, grunts, screams
 * Ad Sluijter – lead guitar
 * Coen Janssen – synths, piano
 * Yves Huts – bass
 * Jeroen Simons – drums

Additional musicians
 * Olaf Reitmeier – acoustic guitars on "Feint" and "Run for a Fall", engineer
 * Annette Berryman – flute on "Run for a Fall"

Production
 * Sascha Paeth – producer, engineer, mixing
 * Mark Jansen – orchestral arrangements
 * Coen Janssen – orchestral and choir arrangements
 * Robert Hunecke-Rizzo – orchestral arrangements
 * Hans van Vuuren – executive producer, coordination and research
 * Peter van 't Riet – mastering

Orchestra
 * Thomas Glöckner – violin
 * Andreas Pfaff – violin
 * Tobias Rempe – violin
 * Marie-Theres Stumpf – viola
 * David Schlage – viola
 * Jörn Kellermann – cello
 * Cordula Rhode – cello
 * Andrè Neygenfind – contrabass

Choir
 * Melvin Edmonsen – bass
 * Previn Moore – tenor
 * Bridget Fogle – alto
 * Cinzia Rizzo – alto
 * Annie Goeble – soprano
 * Amanda Somerville – soprano, vocal coach

The Phantom Agony
"The Phantom Agony" was the first single.

Track listing

 * 1) "The Phantom Agony" (Single Version) - 4:35
 * 2) "Veniality" - 4:36
 * 3) "Façade of Reality" - 8:17
 * 4) "Veniality" (Orchestral Version) - 4:37

Feint
Feint was the second single.

Track listing

 * 1) "Feint" - 4:18
 * 2) "Feint (Piano Version)" - 4:53
 * 3) "Triumph of Defeat" - 3:56
 * 4) "Seif al Din" - 5:46

Cry for the Moon
Cry for the Moon was the third single. The song originated from a two-track demo released under the band name Sahara Dust, with the other track being a demo version of "Illusive Consensus".

Track listing

 * Demo
 * 1) "Cry for the Moon" - 6:46
 * 2) "Illusive Consensus" - 5:00


 * Single
 * 1) "Cry for the Moon" (Single Version) - 3:33
 * 2) "Cry for the Moon" - 6:44
 * 3) "Run for a Fall" (Single Version) - 4:29
 * 4) "Run for a Fall" - 6:31