Prison of Desire is the debut album by Dutch symphonic metal band After Forever. It was released on 21 April 2000 by Transmission Records. The album contains the first four installments (three parts and a prologue) of The Embrace That Smothers, a collection of songs by Mark Jansen which deals with the influence and distortion of religion in human society. This theme was carried over to the Epica albums The Phantom Agony and The Divine Conspiracy.
The final track, "Beyond Me", features a guest appearance of Sharon den Adel, lead singer in Within Temptation.
The album was reissued in June 2008 by the re-financed Transmission Records, as a two-disc set containing previously unreleased studio sessions, instrumental/a cappella tracks, and a handful of demo recordings. Guitarist Sander Gommans has urged fans not to buy this re-release through the band's official forum.
In 2021, it was elected by Metal Hammer as the 6th best symphonic metal album of all time.
Track listing
Personnel After Forever Floor Jansen – vocals Mark Jansen – guitar, grunts Sander Gommans – guitar, grunts Jack Driessen – keyboards Luuk van Gerven – bass guitar Joep Beckers – drums
Additional musician Sharon den Adel – vocals on "Beyond Me"
Choir Hans Cassa, Caspar de Jonge, Yvonne Rooda and Melissa 't Hart
Production Hans Pieters – engineering Dennis Leidelmeijer – engineering Oscar Holleman – choir producer, engineering, mixing Hans van Vuuren – executive producer, coordination and research Peter van 't Riet – mastering
References