The Holographic Principle is the seventh studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, released on 30 September 2016. The album was produced by Joost van den Broek and mixed by Jacob Hansen. The release date along with the album's title and cover was revealed on Epica's website on 3 June 2016, the tracklisting was revealed on 17 June 2016.
The album is notable for being the only release without band leader Mark Jansen as guitarist, as he only provides growled vocals; Isaac Delahaye played all guitars on the album. No reason has been given for this, either from Jansen or Delahaye.
Simone Simons – lead and backing vocals Mark Jansen – growled vocals Isaac Delahaye – guitars, acoustic guitar, mandolin, balalaika, bouzouki, ukulele, orchestral toms, djembe, congas, bar chimes, tambourine, triangle, backing vocals, percussion, additional vocals Rob van der Loo – bass Coen Janssen – keyboards, grand piano, synthesizer, glockenspiel, xylophone, tubular bells, orchestral toms, gran casa, djembe, congas, finger cymbals, tambourine, accordion, wurlitzer, percussion, additional samples and effects Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums, timpani, spoken vocals on "Ascension – Dream State Armageddon", congas, djembe, beer can
Choir – Kamerkoor Pa'Dam Maria van Nieukerken – choir director Alfrun Schmid, Annemieke Klinkenberg-Nuijten, Dagmara Siuty, Martha Bosch, Ruth Becker, Silvia da Silva Martinho, Annette Stallinga, Annette Vermeulen, Cecile Roovers, Natascha Morsink, Guido Groenland, Joost van Velzen, Koert Braches, Matthijs Frankema, Previn Moore, Rene Veen, Allard Veldman, Andreas Goetze, Angus van Grevenbroek, Jan Douwes
Production Joost van den Broek – snare drum, percussion, backing vocals, additional vocals, recording, editing, engineering, mixing, orchestral arrangements, additional samples and effects Jacob Hansen – mixing, mastering Darius Van Helfteren – mixing, mastering Stefan Heilemann – artwork, cover art, cover design, illustration Gjalt Lucassen – Latin translation Jaap Toorenaar – Latin translation Ben Mathot – strings scoring Robin Assen – brass scoring, woodwinds scoring Jos Driessen – editing, engineering
Epica Orchestra Ben Mathot – violin Ian De Jong – violin Sabine Poiesz – violin Floortje Beljon – violin Loes Dooren – violin Vera Van Der Bie – violin Marieke De Bruijn – violin Mark Mulder – viola Frank Goossens – viola René Van Munster – celli Geneviève Verhage – celli Eilidh Martin – celli Jurgen Van Nijnatten – trumpet Marnix Coster – trumpet Henk Veldt – French horn Alex Thyssen – French horn Paul Langerman – trombone Lennart De Winter – trombone Thijs Dapper – oboe, oboe d'amore
