the band's "attraction ultimately hinges on exploring the sonic contrasts of light and dark; the punishing intensity of those elephantine guitar riffs and hyperactive drumming cast against the soaring, layered sweetness of the orchestrated strings and keyboards." Simone Simons delivers classical (operatic) vocals in a mezzo-soprano range, she's begun to sing in a more modern style with belted vocals too (Rock/Pop, as she described it with the release of Consign to Oblivion on an interview) over time, and she has also been known to sometimes sing "with a clear alto voice that has a flawless tone and a lot of emotion." But, subsequently, Simone admitted that she was wrong and that she's not a mezzo-soprano, but a soprano. Mark Jansen delivers death growls "that are secondary to Simons' singing, but very important in terms of balance and variety." The group is also known to employ human choirs and orchestras with additional embellishments such as spoken word recitals and lyrics in Latin and Arabic. Members Current members Mark Jansen – rhythm guitar, growled vocals, co-lead vocals (2002–present) Coen Janssen – keyboards, synthesizer, piano (2002–present) Simone Simons – lead vocals (2002–present) Ariën van Weesenbeek – drums (2007–present; session member: 2006–2007) Isaac Delahaye – lead guitar, backing vocals (2009–present) Rob van der Loo – bass (2012–present) Former members Yves Huts – bass (2002–2012; guested in 2013, 2022) Ad Sluijter – lead guitar (2002–2008; guested in 2013) Jeroen Simons – drums (2002–2006; guested in 2013) Helena Iren Michaelsen – lead vocals (2002) Timeline Discography The Phantom Agony (2003) Consign to Oblivion (2005) The Divine Conspiracy (2007) Design Your Universe (2009) Requiem for the Indifferent (2012) The Quantum Enigma (2014) The Holographic Principle (2016) Omega (2021) References Bibliography External links Articles which contain graphical timelines 2002 establishments in the Netherlands Dutch gothic metal musical groups Dutch power metal musical groups Dutch progressive metal musical groups Dutch symphonic metal musical groups Female-fronted musical groups Musical groups established in 2002 Nuclear Blast artists