PRISON OF DESIRE

After Forever is a typical exponent of the female-fronted gothic metal band. They are not as pompous as Within Temptation or Nightwish and not as commercial as Lacuna Coil. Basically Prison of Desire is a watered down copy-cat of the Gathering's Mandylion style.

Floor Jansen is an excellent vocalist. Her singing voive is reminiscent of Anneke Van Giersbergen but she's equally adept at operatic flourishes. My frustration with this album comes from the fact that it hints at what they could have accomplished if the band had just collectively sacked themselves and Floor had found some more inspired and talented musicians to strengthen her potential.

Unfortunately that is not the case. Worst of all, they deemed it necessary to destroy most songs with boring instrumental filler and the most uninspired and inexpressive male grunts you can find in the business. They are exactly what I sound like when I'm having a cold and I'm sure you wouldn't want to pay money to hear that.

Don't pick this up unless you're a die-hard fan of this style and have already devoured every album from The Gathering and the good stuff from Therion and Stream Of Passion or the more adventurous style of Madder Mortem.