Vobiscum
"Exordium" was released in 2003, one year after the excellent "Decipher" and a year before the disputed "Invisible Circles". It represents the transformation experienced by the band's sound more symphonic albums in the "Prison of Desire" and "Decipher", a reality for more heavy since then.
"Line of Thoughts" is an instrumental track that serves as an introduction to "Beneath."
By introducing already see a difference, if before the album began with corals, pompous arrangements, as in "Mea Culpa" and "Ex Cathedra", now break with "Mark Jansen" was final. Corals and pompous arrangements were taken by him to the band "Epica".
"Beneath" is more direct, without many gadgets. In some ways it was a preview of what would be the band's subsequent album...
"My Choice" has one of the best lyrics of the band. "Is it not the choosing That makes the life we live so intricate?" At issue is a ballad sound.
"Glorifying Means" rescues that dueling vocals between "Floor Jansen" and "Sander Gommans" without "Mark Jansen" since left the band. His absence is needed for this "EP", the orchestral arrangements could have given a more elegant to "Exordium," beyond their screaming vocals.
A version of "The Evil That Men Do - Iron Maiden," the voice "Floor Jansen" was very good. The liveliness imposed by it in the interpretation made this song became one of the highlights of "Ep". The instrumental music performed well.
"One Day I'll Fly Away - Randy Crawford," another remake, terminating the "Ep." The end result is higher than expected.
The "EP" created a good expectation of what would come from the band, the result would be "Invisible Circles" that while not being either, it was sign of musical maturity. "Exordium" is recommended even for those not a fan of the band, worth checking out this new phase of the band and their remakes.