Eos

Given that they began life with the abysmal name Crap Society, it's little wonder that After All have been overlooked, yet with a history spanning back to the late ‘80s the Belgian thrash crew are now on their tenth album, the nippy yet melodic Eos. The 45 minute effort certainly never overwhelms with its heaviness, a mixture of airy soaring vocals and spacious production ensuring relative comfort for the listener. However, mixing in other elements will keep you on your toes. A few power metal overtones come up during triumphant vocal passages in ‘Shadows of the Mind’ and even hover near early Fates Warning for 'Grand Illusion', while balladry gets a look in with the heartfelt ‘Waiting for Rain’ and ‘At Dawn’s First Light’. Both heavy and light parts possess a Germanic touch, drawing from the same pool as Gamma Ray and Paradox, although arguably the bluntest cuts at the album’s commencement deal in proper European thrash or even Agent Steel-style speed.

Rather than velocity, heaviness, or technicality, the feeling put into these compact songs makes Eos a winner. Mike Slembrouck is a new addition since Waves of Annihilation and brings a keenness for held notes and double-tracked choruses that inevitably tug at the heartstrings with both their power and tenderness. The closing to 'Kindred Spirits' - in addition to the balladry elsewhere - suggests an affinity with AOR too, as a result divorcing After All from many expectations usually directed towards Teutonic acts embroiled in thrash or speed, and as a result keeps the listen fresh, even without any particularly lengthy songs. The conclusion to all this surely demands a note of caution to fans of more aggressive material, but plenty of note is contained in Eos to make it a success for After All.


Originally written in edited form for Metalegion #12 - www.metalegion.com