Register Forgot login?

© 2002-2024
Encyclopaedia Metallum

Privacy Policy

After Forever > After Forever > Reviews
After Forever - After Forever

What Could Have Been... - 84%

A Friendly Observer, March 10th, 2020
Written based on this version: 2007, CD + DVD, Nuclear Blast America (Enhanced, Limited edition, Slipcase)

This album came out right as I was getting into metal, and I felt I was getting on board the After Forever train at just the right time: after solid but somewhat awkward transition album 'Re-magine', the band's first without Mark Jansen (who left to found Epica), comes this record, a major break with Mark Jansen's still-somewhat-clunky proggy goth pretensions and a giant leap toward a glossy, crisp, modern-metal sound.

The guitars are crunchy without being overly aggressive, the synthphonics are prominent but tasteful -- but the star of the show here, the center of gravity around which the record revolves, is no longer Mark Jansen's peculiar songwriting (which got much better in Epica, by the way), but Floor Jansen's world-class voice. She may have been at the peak of her vocal powers here; the control she has over her voice is incredible, and the versatility of moods and emotions she can convincingly convey is unreal. I am seldom one to praise a band on the basis of the vocalist; there is no substitute for good songwriting. A lot of inferior symphonic metal bands gain a lot of clingers-on owing to the charisma of the singer that don't really have the catalog to justify all the hype. But man, Floor Jansen is so damn good. She might be the best woman singer in the history of metal music.

At any rate, there are a lot of really good songs on this album. Opener 'Discord' is probably the best on the album, with big, dark symphonics, unusual death metal-ish male vocals on the verses, and a haunting chorus. This is the kind of song with which you load the front of a record to prove that you don't need your old composer, anyway: it seemed that Mark Jansen was really holding After Forever back. This momentum keeps up with breakneck 'Transitory', the fastest song the band ever recorded and which has a bridge that makes me feel like I'm playing a Castlevania game (7th-grade me, rejoice!), warm, catchy single 'Energize Me', and unnerving, high-energy 'Equally Destructive.'

There's a mid-album hurricane of a ballad 'Cry With a Smile.' The song is heartbreakingly beautiful and Floor's got the sort of voice that can bring out all of its potential. When people talk about 'power ballads', this must be the feeling they have in mind. It's hard for me to get into these sorts of songs. But this one's very special. (This is also my mother's favorite metal song, so tread carefully before criticizing.)

Sadly, I cannot get into the long piece here, 'Dreamflight.' There's a lot here to like, but it meanders for too long; three or four minutes could have been cut from the song without injuring it. The album also starts to lose steam around the time 'Cry With a Smile' shows up; a lot of the same ideas and atmospheres get recycled, but in inferior form ('Withering Time' ,'De-Energized'). But what's strong here is strong enough to keep one's appetite up.

But if you're hungry for more, that's too bad, since what could have been a triumphant arrival of a new, post-Mark Jansen band, with an independent identity and a sound audacious and convincing enough to carve out a niche in the symphonic power metal scene -- instead turned into the band's swan song, a tantalizing taste of what could have been. There are some perks to going out on top -- I'll always remember After Forever as a very good band; the mystique and the legacy is kept in-tact -- but nobody in this band would ever again do anything as interesting as they did on this album.

Excellent last album. - 89%

grimdoom, October 23rd, 2009

Periodically it happens, a band makes a great album, possibly their best and then they break up. That is the case with After Forever's self-titled album. Its a damn shame when a band, that started out with a lot of promise, finally starts tapping said promise breaks up. This is a very energetic album with a few special guests that only add to great songs within.

The production is stellar and songs strongly benefit from it. The guitars are tight and heavy. The leads are melodic and the few solos aren't bad, specifically Jeff Waters' solo. The riffs are very epic and fun. If there is one complaint its the guitarists distortion blows horribly. It would probably work better for technical death metal or a raw black metal. This is something that has plagued the band since their inception, and they never saw fit to change it.

The bass is bland and predictable, but then again this is a power metal band so not much else can be expected. The drums are fairly standard in their delivery as well, and while there are a few moments of interest here and there, the bulk of what’s present is very substandard.

The keyboards aren't bad but they really don't do much to further the bands sound. The vocals are perhaps the best part (as usual with this band) as Floor does an outstanding job. The male vocals are cookie monster and lame and very out of place. Floor is probably the best female vocalist in metal and while the bands last album perhaps showcased her best vocal performance, she's no slouch here. Her range, skill and passion can be heard on every track. The lyrics are par for the course and not bad for what the band sang about. The only thing that is wrong with her vocals would be they aren't as operatic as the previous album, but she seemed to do that with every other release. Her duet with Doro is also very cool.

This album, despite its short comings in the bass, drums and keyboard departments, is the best thing the band has ever done. Perhaps its a good thing they broke up because its doubtful that they could've topped this. Unlike several of their contemporaries like: Nightwish who's original singer Tarja never had an ounce of sincerity in her voice or Within Temptations' Sharon, whose voice has gone from classical to rock, After Forever could always be counted on to stay true. This is certainly something worth checking out for those into female fronted power metal.

Shining bright and completely brilliant. - 98%

Empyreal, December 23rd, 2008

I never did bother to listen to After Forever before I heard Remagine, and after rectifying that mistake, it was inevitable that I would eventually hear the album that came afterward, and what an album it is. After Forever's self titled album defies standards and genres, and it's just a really great piece of music in general. It's a great piece of symphonic Metal, yes, but also a really stellar Metal album all on its own, too. Here Floor Jansen and her impeccably wondrous band exercise total control over their songwriting skills and instrumental mastery, and the final product is definitely one of the finest albums of '07.

Right from the opening pounding of "Discord," you know you're in for a treat. I always like to think of this song as a sort of extended intro to the rest of the album, because it basically is, with a foreboding stomp and a haunting melody. "Evoke" is okay, with a pretty nice chorus, but the album really kicks off with the melodic thunderstorm of "Transitory." This is exactly what After Forever should always sound like, with a staggering, stuttering riff pattern and Floor Jansen belting her heart out. Then you get the catchy advance single "Energize Me," and the ethereally charged, electric "Equally Destructive," and the towering "Withering Time," and the heartfelt ballad "Cry with a Smile," and pretty much every other song after that is completely stellar. Especially notable are the two best tracks on here; the spellbinding, fiery stomp of "De-Energized," which will rip you a new asshole faster than you can say "I suck," and the majestic, driving, eleven minute tour de force of power entitled "Dreamflight," which enchants and amazes with all the trappings, time changes and charms of the usual Metal epic woven into After Forever's unique blend of styles.

After Forever have a mature, snappy, bombastic and deep-rooted command of Heavy Metal songwriting that I just dig, with groovy, pulsating rhythms, thundering staccato riffing, heartfelt and mesmerizing clean vocals from the lovely Floor Jansen and powerful, heavenly choirs to boot. The orgy of sound will floor you within a couple of listens, and you'll be wondering where this has been all your life. After Forever's self titled album is essential for pretty much anyone who likes good Metal, and if this is their last album, this would be the stunning high note you would want them to go out on. Absolutely superlative.

Originally written for http://www.metalcrypt.com

Great album to start off with this band! - 87%

Cjk10000, June 23rd, 2007

This is one band I could not get into. Everything about them was hard to absorb. The singing always felt over the edge, and too Nightwish-like. I decided to give this album a try. What original brought me to this is Energize Me, but I’ll talk about that later. What I found most impressive is how each song, has something in its own way which contributes to the atmosphere and general acceptance of the album. To get a 90%, from me, would require one hell of a good album. A 90% album is one that could be listened to over and over again for a super-long duration of time. This album is definitely ear candy, but I cannot give it over a 90%. The pro’s of the album are how catchy some songs are, and the con’s of the album is the distribution of strength.

The good points: This album has very strong songs. From the beginning to end, you will probably enjoy this album if you haven’t heard any others. I feel past fans may not enjoy this album as much (So far what I have heard), but I think this album is amazing. The cookie-monster vocals are not abused, and Floor Jansen hits amazing notes. It is clear here, that we have an album that has been in the works for a while. I think it comes out to approximately an hour and twelve minutes (Thanks for an 11 minute song). This may be slightly too much for a person in one sitting, but it does keep one entertained.
The important ones here are Energize Me, and Equally Destructive. An absolute mind blowing ballad is Cry With A Smile. Those three are the high points in the album. The quality is perfect for the setting, there are just enough keyboards in the right places, but not drowning (like, some DragonForce songs). There is also a nice array of solos, which I feel some albums have been lacking lately. These solos have emotion behind it, instead of shredding at a million miles an hour.

Its hard to find many cons, but these are just personal taste. Discord (Intro song) is a solid intro song, but it does not seem to make a grand opening. What I’m trying to say is it isn’t tangible. You may find some slight enjoyment from the chorus, but it doesn’t hit a homerun. The first three songs usually hold your strong pair, but this doesn’t. I am glad they did not put all the great ones at the front and left the back rotting like a garbage can, but they could have switched the order to increase effectiveness. This does not mean though, the first 3 are bad in anyway. The only other problem I have is the length of the last 2 songs. They total 15 minutes, and it is all ballads. They are very enjoyable, but the front end of the CD is all aggressive-pop-styled music (oxymoron?), while the rear end is softer.

Overall, I did enjoy it very much and recommend it to starters on After Forever. A list below shows what you should hunt for in each song:

Discord – Solid intro
Evoke – Good use of keyboards
Transitory - Heavier track on the album
Energize Me – Catchy as hell song
Equally Destructive – Ear Candy, requires a few listens
Withering Time – Sorta filler, Heavy.
De-Energized – Atmospheric
Cry With A Smile – Beautiful ballad
Envision – More metal bound
Who Am I – Reminds me of something from Judas Priest’s Demolition CD
Dreamflight – Long ass track, more of a metal ballad
Empty Memories – A mid tempo soothing exit