Artist: After Forever Album: Decipher

Year: 2001
Duration: 54:49

A of the Album: Decipher by After Forever

Are you a fan of symphonic metal music? If yes, then you must have listened to After Forever and their album “Decipher”. In this , we will discuss the brief history of the band, the music genre of the album, the best songs, the most innovative parts, and a critic of the album.
Brief history of the band: After Forever is a Dutch symphonic metal band that was founded in 1995. The band members initially played covers of thrash metal, death metal, and doom metal songs. By the time they released their debut album “Prisoner of Desire” in 2000, the band had transitioned to symphonic metal with strong gothic influences. After Forever released 5 studio albums including the 2001 album “Decipher” which we will review in this post.
Music Genre of the Album: “Decipher” is a symphonic metal album with a mix of gothic and progressive metal elements. The album features complex song structures, heavy use of orchestration and choir vocals, and the melodic singing style of lead vocalist Floor Jansen. The album also features two instrumental tracks and a 12-minute song called “Ex Cathedra” which is divided into 5 parts.
Best Songs of the Album: “Decipher” includes some of the best songs in the band’s discography. The opening track “Ex Cathedra” is a symphonic masterpiece that showcases all the elements of the album. “Monolith of Doubt” is a catchy and upbeat song with a powerful chorus. “Estranged” is a ballad that features the beautiful vocals of Floor Jansen. “Imperfect Tenses” is a progressive metal song with an intricate guitar riff and a memorable chorus.
Most Innovative Parts: The innovative parts of “Decipher” are the complex song structures, the use of orchestration and choir vocals, and the experimental nature of some songs. The instrumental tracks “Zenith” and “Digital Deceit” showcase the band’s technical skills and their ability to create atmospheric music. The 12-minute song “Ex Cathedra” is a highlight of the album as it combines different musical elements and features both male and female choir vocals.
Criticism of the Album: While “Decipher” is a great album, it has some flaws. Some of the songs suffer from disjointed arrangements and lack of cohesive themes. The band members’ technical skills are impressive, but sometimes the songs feel overly complex and busy. The album also lacks consistency with some songs being standout tracks while others feel like filler material.
After Forever’s “Decipher” is a must-listen for fans of symphonic metal and gothic metal. The album showcases the band’s technical skills and Floor Jansen’s incredible vocals. While some songs suffer from lack of coherence, the overall experience of the album is satisfying. Don’t miss out on this symphonic masterpiece.