After Forever - Invisible Circles
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Music CD Cover
Artist: After ForeverEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-08-24
Music Label: The End Records
Soundtracks:
- Childhood in Minor [Instrumental]
- Beautiful Emptiness
- Between Love and Fire
- Sins of Idealism
- Eccentric
- Digital Deceit
- Through Square Eyes
- Blind Pain
- Two Sides
- Victim of Choices
- Reflections
- Life's Vortex
Free Music Notes for Invisible Circles
Free Music Review: Unfortunately and unfairly overlooked
Hit: 5 Stars
While rummaging through some of the rather ridiculous reviews posted since I originally reviewed this album, as well as listening to the band's latest album Remagine, I felt inspired to add in some thoughts I had left out of my original summary. I will begin by posting the original review I made over a year ago, followed by my thoughts as of now.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Written January 22, 2005
After Forever's 3rd full-length album, Invisible Circles, is one of my favorite albums of this past year. Fronted by the powerful voice of the beautiful Floor Jansen, AF have the unfair advantage over their symphonic metal competitors with such an amazing talent. Since the departure of main songwriter Mark Jansen, Sander Gommans has taken primary songwriting duties, and has done an excellent job. The guitar riffs are great in this record! Instead of following the vocals, the riffs take a path of their own, and are not drowned out easily by the synths. The keyboards are beautiful, adding an extra whole dimension to the music. Drumming and bass are both perfect, and easily audible.
The concept behind Invisible Circles involves a girl who is physically and emotionally abused at home and school. She keeps track of her life in a diary (whose pages can be read in the album booklet). Her only escape from reality is her computer, where she buries herself in the song "Digital Deceit". In the end, we are taken into the future, where she describes herself as a mother, neglecting her child as her parents did to her. She is trapped in an invisible circle.
The highlights of this record include "Between Love and Fire", a beautiful heavy track where Floor sings her heart out; "Eccentric", one of the most beautiful ballads this band has ever written, almost tearjerking; and personal favorite "Through Square Eyes", a headbanger in which Floor and Sander exchange vocal roles throughout the textured verses.
A couple weak songs deducts points, but when the album hits, it HITS. Whereas Lacuna Coil and Nightwish seem to be going through a downward spiral, After Forever remain at the head of their game. I give Invisible Circles a 9.8/10.
EXTENDED THOUGHTS: Written May 15, 2006
It seems as though a lot of people haven't really caught onto this album. While I'm open to opinions (because they're like a-holes, and because everyone has them), some of the comments I've heard about Invisible Circles seemed really off-the-wall in my opinion. Here are some examples.
- "The concept of this CD is lame. It's just about some girl who gets yelled at, but her parents don't even hit her."
First of all, the concept does not revolve around the theme of abuse. The story is not meant to be told graphically or violently - it is meant to revolve around the theme of "invisible circles" that the girl finds herself trapped in. Aside from that, I think many people, including myself, can easily relate to the lyrics. The theme is actually quite fresh, and many bands wouldn't take the time to incorporate such a clever idea into their music. A soap opera? Ha!
- "Floor doesn't sing operatically all the time like she did on Decipher"
Cry me a river. Bands like experimenting. Floor likes experimenting. Go listen to a song like "Face Your Demons" off of Remagine and then say this again. Go on, I dare you.
- "The dialogues are so terrible. They ruined the entire album for me!"
Oh boo hoo! *sarcasm* This is probably the most insulting remark I've heard so far. Yes, the voice acting wasn't good, but for Christ's sake, they only take up approximately two minutes of an album that's 59 minutes and six seconds in length. Why do you think God invented fast-forward buttons? *rolls eyes*
- "After Forever don't play gothic metal anymore! They totally suck now!"
Actually...they've never played pure gothic metal. Although they used elements of the genre in the first two albums, there were also a lot of leanings towards death and prog metal as well. The band hates being labeled "gothic," by the way. ;-)
- "Decipher was still better!"
Yeah, maybe it was. But the point is if AF kept recycling what they did on those first two albums they'd get stale fast. All bands have to change at some point if they want to be successful. Just be glad that this band has changed in a good way.
I hope that clears up everything.
Invisible Circles Poster
Limited deluxe eco-book edition of the Dutch gothic-metal act's 2004 album includes a 40-page booklet with full color photo's, lyrics, & diary quotes. 12 tracks. Transmission.Alternative Rock Music CDs
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