Who like Nightwish and Within Temptation will someday surely also encounter a Dutch band called "After Forever". The also make gothic rock with female vocals, a considerably more complex and sometimes more rocking than the popular Hitschmieden. Guitarist and composer Mark Jansen left the end of 2002. "After Forever", whether voluntarily or not, we leave time to be seen, and formed the band EPICA. The Dutchman drove early 2003 to Wolfsburg to there in the studio by Sascha Paeth to record their first album. Paeth has (for example, has Kamelot, after their album "Epica", the band named) yes, some rock bands already produced and with "The Phantom Agony" he certainly delivered his masterpiece. The listener expect bom-ba-ti-cal arrangements, ingenious melodies and a mix of hard rock and musical. Mezzo-Spohran Simone Simmons not only looks adorable, but sings like a goddess. Me personally interfere now and then emerging "grunts" of Mark Jansen. Sometimes, however, he not only grunts, but sings beautiful melodies. The songs are, with the possible exception of "Seif al Din", all great. I am thrilled by the simplicity theme song, the rousing "Facade of Reality" or the ballad "Feint" and "Run for al case" (from which one the few moments roar can be cut out well with a little skill and a wave editor ... ). "The Phantom Agony" could be translated as "imaginary agony". We ponder all around too much, you can summarize the key message we are pessimists, we are sadists, we meditate too much instead of following our hearts. Mark Jansen has given itself with its lyrics much trouble. As with his "old band" AFTER FOREVER, the lyrics are very complex and also deal with current political issues. So there are two more parts of the song cycle "The Embrace That Smothers" find (about: Embrace), the CD started on the first AFTER FOREVER. It is about the conflict between Israel and the Arab world. Kurum: This CD is really worth it. There is no music that might have precipitated at first hearing, but many of the songs are too complex. But after a while they can not let go. Have a listen ... it does not hurt either.
