AFTER FOREVER

Don Rottenbucher with:
After Forever
May 24th, 2004

Metal Coven: Keyboardist Lando recently quit the band. What happened and how will this affect the band? Will Joost v.d. Broek be permanent or just a session musician?
After Forever: Lando could not handle the stress anymore. Playing in a band like AF, which is heavy because we do a lot, was too much for him unfortunately. Joost will replace him permanent!
Metal Coven: The reviews of "Invisible Circles" have been very positive. Actually all the reviews for After Forever albums have been positive, even when the band covered and tweaked an Iron Maiden classic. What's all this praise doing for the bands morale?
After Forever: It gives us self confidence. It lets us know we are doing the right thing. We always do what we want, meaning; we donīt do what others tell us to do. We follow our heart and strength and itīs great if people like it (thanks a lot for the Iron Maiden compliment…)
Metal Coven: After since Mark Jansen left to form Epica, some thought it would be the end of After Forever. But you guys came back with a highly regarded Mini-Album. Any rivalry between the two bands?
After Forever: Mark was a member of AF, not AF itself. Songwriting has always been a band process.

We knew where were better of without Mark, you also see that in the reviews about our new mini album and full lenght album Exordium and Invisible Circles.

Itīs been two years, there is no rivalry between the bands and both Epica and AF would like to end these assumptions, that has nothing to do with MUSIC!!!
Metal Coven: Since Mark left, Floor has also taken over lyric writing duties. There was a shift from themes of fundamentalism to more contemporary metal themes dealing with society. Will this affect the band's music and do you think it will affect After Forever's overall popularity?
After Forever: If you would check the cd booklet or your resources better you would know I always wrote lyrics, Mark did half, I did that too. There where only a few songs about fundamentalism. So.. no that does not effect the band!

The only difference in lyrics you might have noticed is that our new album INVISIBLE CIRCLES is a concept album.
Metal Coven: Melodic Metal seems to be making huge waves these days, where do you see After Forever fitting in the genre, especially in the United States?
After Forever: I think After Forever is a band with itīs own style of music that fits with many names like melodic metal, gothic metal, progressive metal, rock, etc etc. Itīs good that meny people from all kind of styles and genres get in contact with our music. I have no idea about the US. As far as I know the scene is not so big but we would love to change that of courseJ
Metal Coven: Do you think that all the fusion of classical instruments in After Forever's music will appeal to fans of more serious music? Seems most kids like metal because it is angry, fast, and their parents say the band members can't play a lick of "decent music."
After Forever: Metal is serious too as far as I concern. I think we make a cross over for many people and thatīs good. The mixture of elements of different music we make has the effect that many people can listen to it and we see this as a positive thing!
Metal Coven: It seems as if female fronted bands have gone from being a gimmick to being the rage. Do you think Floor Jansen brings a lot of curious faces to the music as of late? Especially since Floor really offsets the overall heavy nature of the band.
After Forever: I think the time of curious faces is far behind us. I donīt think itīs much of a compliment that you write that I (Yes, the interview is with Floor) take out the heavy nature of the band, check us out live man!!!
Metal Coven: A lot of critics say Floor Jansen makes them remind of other female fronted bands like The Gathering and Nightwish. Do you think they are short-changing After Forever?
After Forever: I think I have a sound of my own. You can say I make a mix of The Gathering and Nightwish because I sing both opera as rock. After Forever is band on itīs own with a sound of itīs own. It is important for us that this is recognized.
Metal Coven: What in store for the future of After Forever?
After Forever: We will first support our new album Invisible Circles. We will play in Germany a lot and the Benelux too.

We have just started to write new songs already and we hope to record a new album next year.