AFTER FOREVER Guitarist Reports On L.A. Promo Trip

AFTER FOREVER guitarist Sander Gommans has issued the following update:

"Today I arrived with more than one jetlag in the Netherlands from the promo trip in L.A. I did together with Floor [Jansen, vocals] concerning the new AFTER FOREVER record.

"The album will be released in the USA in September through Nuclear Blast USA. To get to know the people behind the company and to be able to do some pre-promotion, we were invited to come over a couple of days. It was a great experience.

"Nuclear Blast took great care of us and even made sure we got to see a little bit more of L.A. We've seen Beethoven the 9th Symphony in the amazing Hollywood Bowl, we met Russell of SYMPHONY X and got to see a part of their show, obviously we visited one of the beautiful beaches, went to a typical rock bar, saw some cool aspects of Hollywood city and really got the chance to get to know the people we get to work with a little better; they left a very positive impression. Without any doubt, I can assure the USA fans that Nuclear Blast USA is really doing their best to make sure the fans get what they deserve, and not only with AFTER FOREVER.

"Since the USA is a totally different market than the European market, it's interesting to see how things work out there.

"On Tuesday I will be in Stuttgart to meet with Nuclear Blast Europe again. Having a band is of course about playing music, but as you can, it's also about keeping your contacts and making sure everybody has a clear view of the band.

"The interviews we did in L.A. showed us that the Americans liked AFTER FOREVER because it was so aggressive for a 'female-fronted' band, and they respected our progressive elements a lot, good to hear! They also don't seem to compare us that often with female-fronted bands, but a lot of the times with more heavy bands.

"As you might have read, we were in a huge collectible store full of Eighties toys, also He-Man toys! We met some really cool fans there! The first round, I bought some figs, but when I checked out the store for the secnd time with Gerardo (label manager/a great GI Joe fan!) I saw more figs (mainly new ones) I still couldn't get in Holland, I ended up with buying far more than I intended but what the hell... (I also decided to collect Thundercats figs together with a friend of mine; we're already watching the cartoons).

"On the last day, Nuclear Blast gave me a very special present, a big box of cassic figures re-released, and as a collector I know how rare this is. I still can't believe they gave gave me this present, and I'm aware the only way I can show them my appreciation is by writing a good follow-up AFTER FOREVER album. The inspiration for that I can get the upcoming period, because I also got a lot of cool albums.

"Well, as you can tell, it felt like my birthday (which will be in a few days; now I really don't know anymore what presents I should ask for). The interviews, the listening session, the talk with the fans, being in touch with the label and experiencing the city taught me a lot of stuff about the USA and I feel fortunate we've got the chance to visit L.A. One thing is certain, we can definately use some more promotion for the upcoming USA tour, since this is the first album that will actually be released there officially. It's a big country, so we could use some extra promo for the American fans, use MySpace etc to promote the tour if you have the time, I would really appreciate that!

"The female-fronted genre is still relatively new in the USA, and I feel we have a chance there to show them that a band like AFTER FOREVER can be metal/melodic and symphonic at the same time.

"Floor and I played 'Equally Destructive' acoustically during the listening session, next to that she performed 'Alone' and 'Lonely' with piano on background tape, I think HEART made one of the most amazing Eighties songs when they wrote 'Alone'...what a song. Covering this song was also really appreciated by the Americans."

AFTER FOREVER will embark on a North American tour in October.

AFTER FOREVER's video for its new single, "Energize Me", has been posted online at YouTube.com. The clip was shot in February in Amsterdam, Holland. The "Energize Me" single was released on March 23, featuring the songs "Energize Me" (radio edit),"Energize Me" (album version),"Sweet Enclosure" (non-album track).

AFTER FOREVER's new self-titled album was released in Germany on April 20 via Nuclear Blast Records.