How would After Forever do without the presence of songwriter/guitarist Mark Jansen? Jansen left after the release of the band’s impressive second album “Decipher” to form Epica, with whom he released the equally impressive “The Phantom Agony” last year. It’s clear that he put more than just a mark on the sound of After Forever. If “Invisible Circles” would be as good as its predecessor consequently remained to be seen.
As if this challenge wasn’t enough already, the Dutch band decided to make their new effort a concept album. All lyrics deal with ‘loneliness and the accompanying problems that children may have to face whilst growing up in this world’. The listener is meant to see the world through a children’s eyes and as such is confronted with social matter as drug abuse, divorce and the like.
Ambitious as this may be, the band have tuned their sound as well. They are clearly ridding themselves of the gothic label that’s been put on them since the release of their debut album “Prison Of Desire” and describe the material on their new brainchild as ‘melodic dark metal’. Fans shouldn’t be afraid however: Floor Jansen’s soprano voice, Sander Gommans’ grunts, the ever present bombast and a couple of Eastern influences are still there; gone are Mark Jansen’s high-pitched screams and the slight black metal influence with them so that the whole sounds a tad less aggressive.
The overall feeling that remains after having listened to this album a handful of times is not as strong as was the case with “Decipher”. I can’t get rid of the idea that there’s a slight lack of variation on “Invisible Circles” as only a couple of songs – “Sins Of Idealism”, “Blind Pain” - were successful in permanently nesting themselves in the back of my head. Nevertheless, this is a quite fantastic album with which After Forever prove there’s life after Mark Jansen. And their future just got brighter as news reached us that Dutch keyboard wonder Joost van den Broek joined the band to replace Lando van Gils. (
SL)
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Modulator
The BEST After Forever album until "Remagine"! "invisible Circles" contain their (until then) best songs,best production,best singing... A must have for lovers of beautiful female voices!
Anthony Wild
To Mr-Upside-down!
Hey ma you must be upsidedown! How can you rack on his vocals? They are awesome! Well up their with Marco Heitala (Nightwish) and I love his! The only thing that suck on this cd is the goddamm talking parts! B-actors, so ***** anoying! Hope that won´t acure on the next one! But overall this is a awesome cd! Gotta leave the 6 for the next one!:)
Nightwish and After Forever on tour together, hmmm go figure!
Mr_Upside_Down
For all it's musical virtues, this album is ruined for me by the annoying death-metal vocals that, rather than complementing Floor Jansen's suberb and powerful soprano voice, provide an almost comical contrast. As much as I try given it's subject matter, I cannot take this album seriously. I'm actually a huge fan of this genre when the male/female vocal contrast is performed with a suitably talented male vocalist (Nightwish, anyone?) but this is a joke. A pity, because the music and arrangement are actually quite good.
WOLF 359
This an album that needs to have your undivided attention.Why you may ask? .Well mainly because it is such an intense listen. A complex story of child neglect , loneliness and abandonment .With the amazing voice of Floor Jansen telling the tale of a couple obssesed with their jobs and their own ego's that when the wife becomes accidentally pregnant they don't see it as a blessing but as a burden. As the tale unfolds , the child a girl grows up in a house where her father seems to hate her and her mother despises her for stopping her carrear and damaging her looks. The songs are powerfuland very emotional with every member of the band playing their hearts out. Athought provoking record that i'm sure rock report fans will like if not love give it a try you'll be suprised.
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