AFTER ALL: The Vermin Breed

Cover	Release	Style
	2005-03-21	heavy / thrash metal
	Label
	Dockyard1 / Hard Life Productions
	Website
	www.afterall.be
	Contact

	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	43:42	DY100020
	Review by	Rating
	Vera	8,5/10
nederlands	Review
Without further preamble: ‘The Vermin Breed’ of After All is a killer album with international allure! This collective of Bruges (B) was doing well for quite a while already, one could see it on the quality bands from abroad they have toured with in the past, but still I think they will surpass all this with their fifth album. After ‘Mercury Rising’ (2003) the band chose to follow a heavier course, and especially the thrash elements are more prominent now. But all this in a way that it is definitely After All you recognize and graced with that irresistible and virtuoso guitar work of Dries Van Damme and Christophe Depree. This evolution did not happen abruptly and they come easy to them. Vocalist Piet Focroul always had an expressive voice with emotional impact, but right now he is just surpassing himself. The band entered the studio with the renowned producer Harris Johns, that is another item we cannot underrate. It defined the result, for the man is famous for his killer productions with a.o. Voivod, Kreator, Helloween and Sepultura. For those who does not know After All yet, here follows a little introduction. The band was founded in 1987 by composer/guitarist Dries Van Damme and Christophe Depree. ‘The Vermin Breed’ is the fifth album, but in between they released a number of EP’s, most of their work is also available on vinyl (LP). By touring intensively abroad, After All’s success did not remain restricted to Belgium. By inchmeal they made name with recommended albums and now they just continue working hard devotedly, for when we are writing this, the band embarked for a new tour with Agent Steel, right after the release of the new album. After All’s sound has always been deeply rooted into old school metal, but as I mentioned before, this time an energetic thrash metal sound enriches the compositions. The CD opens with flogging drums, bone heavy Slayer riffs and even the vocals remind me a bit of Tom Araya. Tracks such as ‘The Insufferable’ and ‘Cascade’ do have some slower parts, but yet stay so powerful that it made my flesh creep. This is a skilled quintet, matured by many gigs, solid fine compositions and an overwhelming production. What does a metal head need more? Just buy and enjoy!
Musicians
Piet Focroul: vocals Dries Van Damme: guitars Christophe Depree: guitars Erwin Casier: bass Kevin Strubbe: drums
Tracklist
Forgotten (4’28’’) Maze of Being (4’16’’) The Insufferable (4’27’’) Unnamed Sorrow (5’01’’) The Great Divide (4’40’’) Reasonable Doubt (4’17’’) Cascade (3’13’’) Deny The Dream (4’12’’) Downward (3’45’’)
Discography
The Vermin Breed (2005) Mercury Rising (2003) Armageddon Come (12” EP/PD) (2001/2002) The Bereaved (EP) (2001) Dead Loss (2000) No Recollection (EP) (2000) Transcendent (1997) Wonder (1995) Dusk (EP) (1992)


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