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Genre: dark Power Symphonic metal
In the overcrowded environment of symphonic metal, few bands manage to stand out. Among them are the very young After Forever, with an average age of only 20, who have succeeded in creating a masterpiece.
Their music differentiates itself from other compositions in the genre with a guitar that is power-driven in many instances and drums with some prog hints, while always maintaining a dark essence and rich with pompous melodies. And I repeat: THEY DO NOT PLAY GOTHIC METAL: the mistake arises from the fact that After Forever has a female vocalist and a dark atmosphere. I will go track by track:
- Ex Cathedra: a nice intro where the cello sound dominates
- Monolith of Doubth: a wonderful, powerful, and fast piece that reminds me of Nightwish’s works. Floor is truly impeccable. The final high note is beautiful.
- My Pledge of Allegiance #1: a piece with decadent and oriental tones. Floor duets with her brother Mark's growl.
- Emphasis: In this rhythmic but not too much piece, Floor's voice reaches great levels. The whole piece is accompanied by wonderful orchestrations, especially towards the end.
- Intrinsic: Introduced by the sad notes of an oboe, certainly the most emotional piece of the CD, with numerous tempo and atmosphere changes: Floor is divine
- Zenith: a fast piece where Floor duets with Mark. At times, the guitars approach death metal. The intermezzo orchestrations are beautiful.
- Estranged: the fastest, most power, and also the most beautiful track on the album. At times, it’s almost moving.
- Imperfect Tenses: a beautiful and tear-jerking ballad reminiscent of the neoclassical style. Floor duets with a clean voice.
- My Pledge Of Allegiance#2: it is much more rhythmic and, like the first piece, addresses the theme of religion.
- The Key: an excellent piece with very dark tones. The intermezzo between guitar and organ is beautiful, almost like a horror film. The only piece influenced by Gothic.
- Forlon Hope: very fast, very power, but at the same time with decadent tones. It contains the best orchestrations of the record.
Guys, trust me and let yourself be delighted by this wonderful CD! In my opinion, they are the only true heirs of Nightwish, not for genre and atmospheres but surely for class and talent.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Ex Cathedra (Ouverture) (02:02)
Ego iubeo et tu sequaris
Nemo mihi obloquatur impune
Ex cathedra
A deo ipso verba mea ad vos proveniunt
Non obsequentes exsecratio condemnabit
Subicite fato vestro et obtemperate
02 Monolith of Doubt (03:32)
The ordeal has begun
To oblige the unknown, within me
As I drown
Cannot remember, cannot think
As I sink, deep...
Near the monolith of doubt
Creeps the fear
The fear to lose yourself
In the severe reflection
I don't know
A flashing moment that has frozen me
My whole existence passed by
Through the trusted eyes of a mirror
But it wasn't me I could see
This monolith of everything that I have been
Is vacillated and aghast
The inexorable time has taught me once again
That my features will change and macerate me
See, it's me, my monolith of doubt
03 My Pledge of Allegiance #1: The Sealed Fate (06:24)
My Pledge of Allegiance #1
She kept her beauty concealed behind a curtain of suspense
and endures her fate, molded by an ancient culture
The honour wasn't allowed to be injured
She is going to live as her community expects her to
I find myself confined between furtive desires and feelings of guilt
the letter:
These are my last words, I'm gonna leave you
I can't stand your narrow mindedness any longer
Forgive me...
04 Emphasis (04:20)
The game is over, time has taught life
Open your eyes and embrace our so-called paradise
All the notions and thoughts
Devise a way to make it yours
The enigma of a reason
How can life be what you want it to be
So find the emphasis in your own reality
Deviate from the search with episodic glimpses
Of a spectrum no one can see or feel, nor declare
Slowly become aware life knows its prophecies
So find the emphasis in your own reality
In all life you see
A sudden shifting of events
What's coincidence, what's faith?
The ambiguity makes the sense of our destiny worth searching for
What can it induce?
If our being was omniscient?
There's so much you'll never know, but
Your life will be what you want it to be
Find the emphasis in your own reality
05 Intrinsic (06:43)
At night, assimilate life
In the infinite realm
Of our intrinsic side
Find, the missing parts of the mind
The hidden truth behind
Our dungeon of thoughts, this labyrinth
Search, it has a reason and a meaning
Remembered and repeated
A guide, not to be ignored
Feel, there's so much to feel
Amnesia must confiscate an elusive link
to consciousness
It's there; cause there's so much we don't know
Even our own true face
It's there, facing what we can't have
Our ideals ain't true, naked and exposed
To the bareness of what's real
Boundless fantasy, becomes reality
As we breathe water and run through the sand
Whispers and a scream, flying high, falling down
And a face with no features or name
Exposed to live, we can only divine
Tell me, what's your reality?
06 Zenith (04:21)
Is there something you feel?
Is there something you furtively know?
Under the spell of science,
Can we declare?
Can we allow ourselves to experience?
Can we be open-minded enough?
Won't we fear what we cannot defy?
Do we need to declare?
Break the force of habit!
Why can't you see?
Fear will impede you to break through your trivial life
And find the missing aim to evolve
Is this the frontier, our zenith?
Can we be receptive to our ignorance?
Will or won't we be able to reveal?
Dulled senses and the need for proven theories
Has masked our natural insight in life
And mysteries
Life is discussed and measurable
Every aberration is observed with agony and suspicion
Until it is declared again
07 Estranged (A Timeless Spell) (06:56)
Diving in the lake of thousand faces
Every sign seems a delusion
And fills me with doubt
I shouldn't look for certainty
Among these disorderly impressions
But still I do...
Being estranged
Slowly I loose the grip on the reality
Time shall shatter what we have built up
Being estranged
From the reliable
Don't even recognize the warmth
You always fulfilled me with
Break through my crystallized sphere and hold me
Enter my deepest inner self
Imprison the pain
Besieging in vain
It feels like I'm in the middle of a movie
Gazing at the script
It shows me new insights
Delighted by the bygone sufferings
But already waiting for the next ones
I bend forward and look between the ripples of the lake
It's the leading character...
Break through my crystallized sphere and hold me
Wherever you are
Deceitful memories mingled with reality
I hold myself to the timeless spell
Fascinated by never knowing if it really happened
08 Imperfect Tenses (04:07)
Why can't they see?
They're to blame, I can't forgive
It left a permanent mark behind,
My weakness, my strength
I'm waiting for the perfect sign
To reveal what lies inside
There's no lie in trying,
Why do you fear me?
Why can't you see?
There's neither blame nor forgiveness
Be strong by being susceptible,
And don't quail; your frankness is your strength
And shows their weakness
I'm / Your waiting for the perfect sign
To reveal what lies inside
There's no lie in trying
Why do you fear me?
Why should I fear you?
An open heart is just as confronting as honesty!
Why can't I forgive?
You must stop to condemn the past
Why can't this fear be my guide?
It will be your strength if you dare
There's no blame in my life
Nor forgiveness for the pain
I will show them!
Let them know who you are!
This is my/your perfect revelation
10 The Key (04:48)
The eyes, looking so cold
Condemn failure and seek
for perfection what will never be attained
They're judging the denying face which stares back,
a bewildered revelation
Show me objectivity
And let these eyes judge again
You cannot touch what you can't ever obtain
I'm inexhaustible as well as empty,
in my bitter search
My words are yours,
my voice speaks for your thoughts
I am your mirror without remorse,
your reflection without doubts
I fall and fall,
I must learn from the bruises,
the scars will be my guide
There's no excuse in ignorance
No time for weakness or regret
Face your mirror without doubt,
your reflection without remorse
If knowledge was wisdom,
and wisdom the key to inner rest,
teach me...
11 Forlorn Hope (06:20)
An old man is proud,
but behind his modest smile lies the grief
Only one picture of his brave son remains
It seems that the vicious circle can never be broken through
The hopeful ones gathered their strength to achieve the apparent impossible
but all plans seem to be in vain
As a soldier of Allah he's an example
for the others on his bloody way to immortality
It seems that the vicious circle can never be broken through
Because old wounds are reopened every time
This Intifada as a device to thwart the peace negotiations
He can rely on a reward in the hereafter
Eternal paradise awaits him
"The peace that was born today, gives us
all the hope that the children born today
will never know war between us,
and their mothers will know no sorrow.
Allow me to end by the simple words:
Shalom, Salaam, Peace."
Pugnacity
With our blood
Show no mercy
With our soul
Die for heaven
An eye for an eye
Burn to let them...
Suffer for all their actions
We will not move an inch
They won't play in our hands
We will not tolerate those who defy
We will not hesitate
To start an attack if,
you undermine the agreement
Let them suffer
Stop to let them suffer!
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