After Nightwish Comes After Forever
After Forever are another symphonic female-fronted metal band that follow in the steps of Nightwish. Only, there's a difference. After Forever have gutted the traditional songs of Nightwish, removed the twee, slightly embarrassing flourishes and replaced them with all out metal. The beautiful Floor Jansen, who manages to captivate the second stage audience, effortlessly leads their overblown and highly dramatic metal to the kind of heights that other bands in the same genre can only dream of.
"Monolith of Doubt" from After Forever's second album Decipher is a haunting affair and the crowd assembled enjoys the melodic offerings as a break from the onslaught of guitars found elsewhere at Download.
Brand new single "Energize Me" sounds far more polished than their previous songs. With Floor Jansen's voice a step below operatic, the song is very accessible but doesn't give up on the bands sound.
Overall, it's a set that pleases those in attendance, although it's a shame not more people have made it over to the second stage tent to catch an earful of this promising contender for Nightwish's crown.