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They should do a CD someday with all the bands who have taken their names from Sabbath songs. Anyway, this is the debut from After Forever, a Dutch band in the gothic/doom school of metal that has been growing more popular these days.

If I had to say one bad thing about this disc, it would be that AF are not standing out from the crowd here. They sound a lot like other bands in this general arena like Tristiana or Within Temptation, though more laid-back than the former and heavier than the latter. But no new ground is broken here and the band does little to establish an individual identity. (The follow-up album "Decipher" improved on this a lot.)

That said, there is some great music here. Flor Janssen is not a great singer, but she is a damned good one. There are more deathgrowls on this CD than on the follow-up, and more of a heavy attack. Songs like "Semblance of Confusion" and "Black Tomb" really show off the bands’ undeniable ability and songwriting potential. "Yield to Temptation" is easily the best song here, and shows that this band has the stuff to be a first-rank outfit, given a little more seasoning.

The CD package is really beautiful, and indie label Transmission has done a fine job putting together a look that suits the music inside. The lyrics aren’t bad, but they aren’t spectacular.

This is a very good album within this genre, if not a great one. If you enjoy gothic metal with classical overtones you can’t go wrong with After Forever. This may not be the most original album of its kind, but the overall quality is really first rate.