There are some releases out there that just get you pondering the simple question… "why?"
I know there is something to 'get' in this album. I just haven't gotten it yet. Frankly, if something requires as much time investment as this, I don't want it. The problem is that we all have heard this album a gazillion times before. Although the Iron Maiden cover here is a very good track with a gothic touch to the classic. The female vocals and classical instruments drastically change the song yet still retain the original element to it very well. Floor Jansen is a good singer, but the whole environment and this style of Gothic metal has been done to death and is by now…well, it is barf inducing to say the least.
After Forever have compensated the lack of musical originality with excellent cover art, good packaging and a bonus DVD that comes along with this mini CD. It is too bad most metalheads care about the music; otherwise I would actually give a shit. I really don't want to go over the basics of Gothic metal in this review, but rest assured you will find all the ingredients presented to you in the most stereotypical manner here. This CD really annoys me despite the fact that there truly isn't much wrong with the music. It just isn't involving or even entertaining because of its redundancy. Throw in some Nightwish worship here and there and it is bound to make the prettiest coaster of all time (It really has an amazing booklet and art!!).
Looks like the fears were accurate. Without Mark Jansen (Epica), this band appears to be going down. I would recommend not getting this EP, however, if you do get wet over good packaging and booklets, female vocalists and the whole Gothic cliché setup that we've heard and appreciated several times before, then this release will probably satisfy your Gothic needs…...
