Band:	Ad Vitam Aeternam
Album:	Abstract Senses
Style:	Gothic metal
Release date:	July 12, 2004
A review by:	Jeff

01. Bitterness
02. Picture Of Dorian Gray
03. Dementia
04. Phoney Icons
05. In The Throes Of Apocalypse
06. Les Méandres De L'Ame
07. Abstract Senses
08. The Grievous Musician

Anybody can't be a prophet in his country? I know a lot of bands from France but this is the first time that I hear about Ad Vitam Aeternam, and it's with a real interest that I listened to this album of this band from my country. And damn what a surprise, for sure there is more and more bands which play this kind of Gothic/Dark Metal with female and death vocals, but with such quality? I'm not sure?

"Abstract Senses" is the first album of this young French combo, and they are luckily signed on New Aeon Media [sub-division of Karmaggedon Media] which helps a lot of young bands to release their first albums with means more than professional.
And yes, this album deserves to be known, due to the quality of the music of the band. First of all, the musicians are really good, there is purity in the music of the band, really impressive and it's without any doubt due to the talent of the guys and girls of Ad Vitam Aeternam.
The music of the band is a beautiful Dark/Gothic Metal. Of course you will find sad melodies, piano, but also strong guitar riffs and solos and excellent lines of drums and bass. It remind me a bit the old Within Temptation but in more Gothic and it's really good anyway?
Same for the lyrics in the pure tradition of the gothic music, solitude, death, sadness etc are the subjects of the texts of the bands. And when I talk about the lyrics, of course I must talk about the two singers of the band. The Death vocals of Fabien are good, maybe it could be stronger and powerful but well, this is really correct. The great point however comes from Céline who is a great singer. Seriously her voice is one of the best of style. I listen to a lot of bands like this one, but really she is in the top list. It's hard to find a voice with such purity. It's not a surprise if Karmageddon signed them?
And for the production here again, this is really good. Our French sound technicians and Studios are better and better each day, and this album don't suffer of any comparisons with some really big productions. Plus, we have a nice cover, with a real beautiful gothic booklet.

I recommend this album to all the fans of real Gothic Metal. For a first try, this album is more than success and it's really promising for the future of the band. Then oki the music of the band is maybe not very original, but this is well done, then who care about.
" Abstract Senses " is a must have for all the fans of Gothic Metal with a female singer.