Dutch symphonic metal band After Forever has been broken up for so long that, at the time of their breakup, their entire social media presence amounted to a Facebook page and a MySpace profile. Well, that Facebook page saw some sudden activity this past week (and maybe their MySpace profile too, I don’t know, I’m not going on MySpace to check) as the band announced their reunion to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
The reunion comes with an asterisk, though, as the band’s vocalist Floor Jansen opted not to return for the reunion, presumably because she’s now busy being the lead vocalist of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. In her place, SheWolf vocalist Angel Wolf-Black will be taking over vocal duties for the reunion.
The group’s announcement on Facebook read:
“Dear After Forever fans,
“2025 marks a monumental milestone: 25 years since After Forever left a timeless footprint on the world of symphonic metal with their debut album ‘Prison of Desire’.
Its 2001 successor, ‘Decipher’, pushed their music even further, fusing progressive elements with a heavier sound that helped shape the symphonic metal of today. These two releases marked the start of a wonderful journey – one that took the band to international stages and into the hearts of fans all over the world.
“After five successful albums, the sextet’s journey came to an end in 2009. Despite that, their music has lived on, continuing to inspire the next generations of musicians and fans alike. With a loyal following, still passionate about the band’s musical legacy, the time has come to bring back to life – and to the stage – the music from these two records that started it all.
“Even though After Forever is a closed chapter for the group’s original singer, Floor Jansen, members of the original lineup – Mark Jansen, Sander Gommans, Luuk van Gerven and André Borgman – have joined forces with vocalist Angel Wolf-Black (SheWolf), guitarist Bas Maas (After Forever/ Doro), and keyboardist Jeffrey Revet (Stream of Passion) to honour and celebrate the band’s cherished music and its lasting impact, in an unforgettable live experience.
“Join us as we revisit old hits, revive the energy, and celebrate the legacy of After Forever!
Feel free to let us know which songs you’d like to hear.”
The first reunion show was scheduled for October 4, 2025 at a venue in The Netherlands called 013, but according to subsequent posts, the October 4 show sold out so fast that they announced a second show on October 5. Then that second show sold out so quickly that they moved it to a larger space in the same venue. So even if you live in The Netherlands, odds of you getting tickets at this point are slim and quickly dwindling. Your best hope is that they announce some sort of actual reunion tour at some point in the future.