EPINIKION

“From the very first plans to make a new album, we naturally entered a new era.”

“Writing isn’t a rational process for me; it develops organically and always ends up where it needs to be.”

“My work as a psychologist inevitably finds its way into the lyrics – it’s simply how my brain works.”

“Nature is a powerful force where everything is interconnected – and we are part of that cycle.”

“Inner strength and transformation are collective elements; they belong to everyone in the band.”

“Jacob Hansen is a master of sound – every time I hear what he’s done, it still moves me.”

“I write for vibe and images; it’s almost like composing film themes.”

“Kimberley doesn’t just sing the lyrics – she truly embodies them.”

“Our music will always have storytelling, cinematic bombast, and a touch of prog and goth – that’s our identity.”

“We want listeners to feel like taken on a beautiful musical and emotional journey.”

With ‘The Force Of Nature‘, Epinikion enter a new phase defined by cohesion, emotional depth, and cinematic scope.
In this interview with Renate, conducted by Fok ‘bs‘, the band talk about working as a permanent lineup, nature as a narrative force, and how instinct, psychology, and symphonic power merge into their most focused statement to date.
‘The Force Of Nature‘ feels like a decisive step forward for Epinikion.
At what moment during the writing or recording process did you realize this album would define a new chapter for the band?
“From the very first plans to make a new album, we naturally entered a new era. Not only because we had a permanent lineup, but also because we learned a lot from making the first album. It’s a big difference working with a permanent team instead of individual session musicians, not least because we already knew each other a bit better and were therefore more in tune with each other.”
The album balances massive symphonic elements with very personal emotional themes.
How do you decide when a song needs grandeur – and when it needs restraint?
“The songs often emerge spontaneously and, as it were, lead themselves. Writing isn’t a rational or logical process for me; I almost let it develop naturally. Sometimes there’s already a lyric, other times there’s a melody and the lyrics still need to be added – there’s no fixed order. It’s good to hear that the lyrics resonate with me, because I primarily write on a topic, drawing on my experiences as a psychologist with the people I support. These can also be fragments of stories that fit together beautifully and make a statement. Writing is an organic process and always gets to the point where it’s supposed to be.”
Nature is more than a metaphor on this record;
it feels almost like a character.
What drew you to natural forces as a central narrative element this time?
“Thank you for experiencing it this way, it means there’s consistency in the theme that connects each song. My respect for nature is immense; it’s a powerful force in which everything is interconnected. Nature is so special that we’re constantly amazed by the brilliant processes at play there and how everything survives within the cycle. The subject lends itself perfectly to writing an album about it, connected to the power and beauty of nature. It’s good to pause for a moment and consider that we too are part of nature and should be aware of that.”
Several songs explore inner strength and transformation.
Were there specific personal or collective experiences that shaped these themes while writing the album?
“Inner strength and transformation are collective elements and therefore also pertain to the experiences of the band members. As mentioned, I primarily draw on the experiences of the people I encounter as a therapist because they offer so many beautiful examples of the themes mentioned.”
Renate’s background in psychology clearly informs the emotional depth of the material.
How consciously do psychological concepts enter your songwriting, and where do you let instinct take over?
“It’s become part of my perception that I think about topics related to emotional awareness without focusing. Call it a professional deformation, call it a deviation – that’s how my brain works. I love my job and do it with passion, so this is undeniably reflected in the development of song lyrics.”
Working again with Jacob Hansen brought a very clear, powerful production.
How did his involvement influence the way you arranged or refined the songs?
“Jacob is a master at working with sound. Every time I hear how beautifully he arranged and performed our songs, it still moves me. Jacob didn’t collaborate on the songwriting; the material was delivered to him in the form we presented, and he got to work with it. There were discussions, of course, but it went smoothly and almost naturally, with a healthy dose of humor. We’re still incredibly grateful that he wanted to work with us, because that’s not something you can take for granted.”
‘Run With The Wolves‘ stands out through its strong bond between humans and animals.
How did Nala’s presence influence the emotional direction of that song and its visual interpretation?
“Nala is a bundle of energy and joy, every single day. This cheerful lady, with her cheerful and mischievous personality, definitely influenced the song because she always makes us happy and knows how to turn a negative into a positive. This is very clear in the song, and we wanted to combine it with Kimberley’s lyrics and movements. She’s also a wonderfully positive person who never sits still, so in that sense, Nala and Kimberley are a perfect match. It really shines through in the video.”
Compared to your debut Inquisition, this album feels more focused and grounded.
What lessons did you take from your first release into the creation of ‘The Force Of Nature‘?
“Of course, every band learns from their debut album towards the next production. We’ve grown enormously technically, thanks to Robert, who fully focused on the technical aspects of writing, arranging, and playing solos. It might not be a planned progression, but working with serious and driven musicians who you get to know better and better also leads to progress. You get used to each other and develop new things together, based on the formula 1+1=3. I don’t know exactly what you mean by ‘more focused’, because I found writing individual songs less easy than writing a story where you can really focus on a specific scene and create a specific atmosphere that way. Writing about nature is definitely more ‘down-to-earth’ and therefore literally grounded. Our main focus for the theme was to create more compact lines and work a bit harder. We also wanted a better balance between the guitars and the orchestra. As far as we’re concerned, we’ve achieved good results on all counts, which is quite remarkable for a second album.”
Your music often feels cinematic, almost like scenes from a film.
Do you visualize stories or images while composing, or does the imagery emerge later through lyrics and artwork?
“An experienced American metal guitarist and teacher once told me that I’m a typical film theme writer as a composer. I write for vibe and can write for images, or vice versa. Then a musical theme pops into my head, and I ask people what images it evokes. It’s really funny to hear that so many similar stories emerge and that it sparks the listener’s imagination. It could be a good TV series or movie that inspires me, but a visit to a theme park like Efteling can also trigger all sorts of thoughts in my mind. So inspiration is definitely not the problem.”
Kimberley’s classically trained vocals play a crucial role in shaping the band’s identity.
How do you approach writing vocal lines that are both technically demanding and emotionally direct?
“Kimberley naturally has a wonderful and flexible voice. Since she’s still developing as a singer and has an inexhaustible drive to sing beautifully and well, she’s an ideal band member. Naturally, the foundation we’ve laid out for her gives her every opportunity to shape it to her own abilities and desires, which creates fantastic challenges that she embraces with all her creativity and dedication. We fully support her in this and believe the opportunity will only benefit her. This allows her to use her voice optimally, and that’s evident on the album. Kimberley is an emotional person, so when a song touches her, she has to be careful not to burst into tears, haha. That’s not only hilarious but also a testament to how much emotion she can put into a song; she truly embodies every lyric. As a listener, you naturally hear that, and that makes it even more beautiful.”
Epinikion originated from a rock opera concept.
Do you still see the band as a narrative-driven project, or has the focus shifted toward individual emotional moments?
“Epinikion started writing a debut album that’s essentially a rock opera. Due to our lack of recognition in the music world and being completely unknown, we were forced to work with session musicians and didn’t have a permanent lineup. Only after we gained more recognition and had been working for a while were we able to establish a permanent lineup, which is generally a major undertaking. Any self-respecting band understands exactly what I’m saying. That takes time, and the significant investments we’re making in all aspects makes it even more difficult to find the right people. The result is impressive; we have a wonderful team that enjoys working together and knows how to get the best out of each other. Our material will always have a storytelling element and plenty of cinematic bombast with a touch of prog and goth elements. That’s our branding, and it’s been carefully considered.”
With the album about to be brought to the stage, how do you translate such layered, symphonic material into a powerful live experience without losing its intensity?
“If it were up to me, we’d have a complete theater as a stage; theatricality couldn’t be more amazing, as far as I’m concerned. Robert has been super busy organizing fantastic risers, along with the help of Maarten and some incredibly kind people who care deeply about us. He also programmed our own light show and brought in smoke machines, which will, of course, create some truly special effects on stage. We’ll be using them during the release show, so it’s going to be incredibly intense with all those extra components on stage.”
If someone listens to ‘The Force Of Nature‘ without knowing Epinikion at all, what do you hope they understand about the band once the final track fades out?
“I hope people will be left with a good feeling, connected to a band that truly has something to say, musically, lyrically, and sound-wise, full of passion. A band that takes people on a beautiful musical and emotional journey that they can recommend to everyone!”
‘The Force Of Nature‘ marks a moment of clarity for Epinikion – not by toning down ambition, but by channeling it with purpose.
Guided by Renate’s emotionally grounded songwriting and a band finally working as one, the album stands as a powerful statement of growth, connection, and cinematic metal done with intent.
by Fok ‘bs‘