It's not like After Forever scores any points for originality. Their approach to music is actually quite prevalent in the European metal market -- they call it B&B metal (for beauty & the beast). These bands combine a heavenly female vocalist with some throaty, growling male vocals; the music is gothic, operatic, and heavy all together. Principally stemming from its goth metal roots, the music is heavy on atmosphere and melancholy, with standard metal instruments accompanied by strings, keyboards, and other nonmetal components.

Honestly, it is a genre I have never cared for much (Theatre of Tragedy, in particular, was one of the most horrifying experiences in my life). However, After Forever is nothing short of stunning, yet it's a bit difficult to say why they appeal to me while others do not.

It's easiest to credit the band's vocal power, namely soprano Floor Jansen. Her accuracy is simply preternatural and her tone is achingly beautiful. She is beyond compare. I know it's not a competition, but her singing ability is truly remarkable. Her peers are destroyed with every heavenly note. Most remarkable of all? I believe she was only around 20-years old when this album was recorded. Unless her voice is tragically destroyed someday, she could become a force to be reckoned with in the future. As for the growling and screaming guys, they're tolerable. After Forever makes it work because this album is 95% Miss Jansen. However, throw Mikael Akerfeldt in this band and they'd be the ultimate force. (That said, however, the "beast" element of the band is used sparingly.) Many B&B bands just don't have the powerful vocal element of After Forever -- their female singers sound pretty rather than beautiful; gentle instead of powerful.

If that might not be enough to make After Forever especially distinguished, but I'm not sure what else does it. All I know is that this album is hot. The songs are theatrical and powerful, orchestrated with exquisite drama. It begins with "Ex Cathedra", which sounds like gothic chamber music with opera choirs. The album then segues into "Monolith of Doubt", which _will_ convince you of the band's goodness immediately. Driving metal is accented by orchestral sparkles, with sinister growls harmonizing with an angelic vocal -- a striking effect. A killer transition into a short, soft piano passage highlights the chilling caress of Jansen's gorgeous voice, and towards the end of the track she executes a high F that may shatter windows. The scary thing? She makes it sound easy!

And it gets better. "Fornlorn Hope" sets some gorgeous, lugubrious string arrangements against brisk metal rhythms, and the chorus' mournful, inebriating beauty will make you shiver. "Imperfect Tenses" is amazing -- a torrid, dramatic duet between Jansen and guest tenor Rein Kolpa. I can almost imagine this song being performed in an opera house with a wintry set and dim lighting, and the chemistry between the two singers is so salient I can visible see it. The final note they carry together is magical. Its vaporous layers of strings are very gentle, and only the light drumming around the edges suggests that a metal band is performing this song. "My Pledge of Allegiance" parts I and II are tinged with Arabian influences, featuring sitar and Middle Eastern percussion. The band's latest single, "Emphasis", is infectiously orchestrated with more of those beautiful vocals. "Instrinsic" is slow and moving, with a reflective lyric and a huge, powerful chorus. It breaks into the intense, clomping metal of "Zenith", with omnipresent soaring soprana and some growls.

From what I gather, this album isn't that popular...even among the folks who normally listen to this kind of music. This is incomprehensible. This band should be huge. Give this album a try, and you're likely to agree.

This album show the real power of this band.The melodic and soft touch of this unique group is once again shown in this awesome compilation of 11 new songs that aren't going to make the fans sad because they are back with even more sincerity and inspiration in there 2nd album.This is a must if you are a true After Forever fan

for your own information I include in this review the name and length of the songs of the album because they aren't writed yet and might interest some of you dying fan of AF :)

1. Ex Cathedra 2:02

Ahh, After Forever - home to Floor Jansen, owner of the finest vocal chords this side of the known universe and hands down the most ridiculous frontwoman in Scandinavian B&B metal (that is, beauty and the beast, for reasons which quickly become evident as one listens to the music). To put it simply, I just cannot appreciate any of the other female voices that have crossed my ears after listening to Floor wail away for an hour. Where their voices are pretty, soothing, and gentle; Floor's voice is a beautiful, powerful, and stunning force of nature. Her delivery is so pure and so unmarred by any detectable deficiency that it's like listening to angels roar in your ear... or at least, that's what I imagine it would sound like. Then there's her range - the notes she hits and holds with absolutely no strain are unreal.

Anyway, before this review becomes an obsessive essay about Miss Jansen...

Decipher is a very elegant album. The mixture of metallic and symphonic elements is presented in a way that seems perfectly natural, as if metal and symphony were destined at some point to join impeccably; that point, of course, being Decipher. It does not lean heavily toward the power metal side as with Nightwish, nor does it ever feel as watered down as Within Temptation, nor as overly dreamy and forgiving as Leaves' Eyes... it is a very delicate balance of all associated elements - composed intelligently, produced professionally, and performed flawlessly - and the average age of the band at the time of this recording was 19!

The listener is initially greeted with "Ex Cathedra", which is an orchestral chamber piece filled with choirs, chanters, violins, and otherwise lush classical instrumentation. It builds, swelling dynamically until it finally bursts into "Monolith of Doubt", which is certainly a change of pace. Double bass drums, crashing cymbals, and powerful riffs provide a driving metallic foundation that's strikingly enhanced by symphonic flourishes and, soon after, Floor's glorious voice harmonizing with the soft yet sinister growls of Mark Jansen (no relation to Floor). The highlight here is at around 2:53, where Floor holds a most intense note (I'm not sure which exactly, but probably high enough to shatter glass) for about 10 seconds - it really needs to be heard to be believed. The first of the two-part "My Pledge of Allegiance" is also very noteworthy. The song has a Middle Eastern theme, and features several breathtaking moments from Floor (possibly even more so than on "Monolith of Doubt") where she hits and holds a note so high, perfect, and tranquil that it makes me shiver.

The remainder of the album moves through similar arrangements. Floor and Mark continually trade off vocal duties in dramatic fashion atop exquisite musicianship that focuses as much on power and impact as it does on beauty and elegance. "Imperfect Tenses" is a pretty duet between Floor and a guest tenor vocalist... it doesn't do much for me in particular, but it's quite touching. "Forlorn Hope", the album closer, has a similar feel to "Monolith of Doubt" with a tad more drama, and is an excellent finish. Of note is the drumming of Andre Borgman - his style is far more varied and dynamic than what you normally hear from bands like this; his foot and cymbal work is very interesting, and his rhythmic phrasing is a pleasure to listen to.

All in all, After Forever don't win any points for originality, as this style of music is damn popular over in that region of the world... but, to put it bluntly, Floor Jansen obliterates her peers in such embarrassing fashion that there really is no question as to who's at the top of the symphonic metal food chain over in the mighty Netherlands.

One of the best albums I own. IMO, the best album of After Forever. Floor's voice is incredible and powerful and she uses it also in operatic way. I don't think she's a professional opera singer, but very good anyway. There are very catchy songs with interesting lyrics, for example "Monolith of Doubt", "Emphasis" and "Intrinsic". Buy it now, that's all I can say:)

Ahh...ridiculous import prices, must you annoy me so? Buy it at www.theendrecords.com, it's only $15. No need to say thanks.

Onto my review...

Decipher, like The Gathering's Mandylion and Within Temptation's Mother Earth before it, is one of those albums that just seemed to come out of nowhere and at the same time revolutionize its own genre (which in this case is of course symphonic gothic metal). The factor I've always loved about After Forever is their progressive element - a thread that, in fact, many other gothic metal bands lack. I find that many will compare AF's music to that of the Finnish quintet Nightwish, and I'm not completely sure why. Sure, they both have two of the best voices on the planet fronting their music, but when it comes down to it - AF take the cake for being the most experimental.

Decipher is After Forever's second studio release, produced by Stephen van Haestregt (drummer for Within Temptation/Paralysis/Ambeon) and released in 2001. The line-up includes frontwoman Floor Jansen, Mark Jansen (now in Epica) and Sander Gommans on guitar, Lando van Gils on synths, Luuk van Gerven as bassist, and is rounded out by drummer Andre Borgman (who is currently undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer). Anyone familiar with the works of Arjen A. Lucassen should remember Floor's soprano from various Ayreon and Star One records. This band has had well-deserved success throughout their home country of the Netherlands, allowing them to tour with such names as Samael, Orphanage, Nightwish and even an invitation to the European leg of Ozzfest in 2002.

Decipher begins with the haunting "Ex Cathedra", an overture of choir and synths that displays the intricacy of AF's music. Lead single "Monolith of Doubt" follows, a dynamic number in which Floor is given an opportunity to show off her wide vocal range - definitely one of AF's better songs, and a fan favorite. Then we have the heavier tracks like "My Pledge of Allegiance #1" and "Zenith" that utilize the male vocals, courtesy of Mark Jansen. "Emphasis" is the closest AF will come to being "radio-friendly" on Decipher - an excellent headbanger where Floor once again takes the spotlight with vocal duties (and particularly shines on the wonderfully written chorus). "Intrinsic", a haunting and rather eerie ballad, is perhaps my favorite After Forever song (it's really hard to say), featuring some well-executed oboe sections and sporadically placed acoustic passages. The other ballad, "Imperfect Tenses" is also great, and shows a more atmospheric side to their sound. Closing Decipher is "Forlorn Hope", a song apparently written about the wars in the Middle East. What can I say...this song will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!!!!!!!!!! Believe me, I do not exaggerate, but the choral sections on this piece are the best After Forever have ever done. Both Floor and Mark's vocals are perfectly done and the guitars (especially a little solo towards the end) are marvelous. The album closes with the line "stop to let them suffer." Of course, if you have the digipak, you are presented with two re-recordings of "Pledge #1" and "Forlorn Hope" with new guitarist Bas Maas. These are completely unnecessary, as they sound identical to the originals, but nice packaging and a cool sticker are nothing to complain about.

Like I said, After Forever are one of the few bands pushing the gothic metal genre into new directions. Many will compare them to countrymates Within Temptation, but the two are also very different. AF's music is more metallic and operatic, while WT's is poppier and possesses a somewhat Celtic feel. Both bands are great, and usually if you like one you'll like the other, but for fans of the more extreme genres of metal I'd recommend After Forever slightly over Within Temptation (my favorite band, by the way). Do yourself a favor and check this one out....NOW!

10/10