You want your proof fine here's all your proof
www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=6716
http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/groupe-groupe-Epica-l-en.html
http://musicbrainz.org/artist/21985b14-1b0d-44fe-b357-310b29bba510.html
http://www.metalstorm.ee/bands/band.php?band_id=208&bandname;=Epica
http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/1228/Epica.html Heck here they are listed as Prog Metal Not Gothic. I wonder why could be that they are not Gothic.

Five to four showing they are not Gothic metal and have never been Gothic metal.