SHELLS

When, after a long 17-year hiatus, the incredible and criminally underrated German heavy prog band Everon announced their return with the magnificent single No Embrace, I could hardly believe it. Especially considering the heartbreaking passing of their drummer and founding member not long before.

And yet, in February, "Shells" arrived at my doorstep and after many, many listens, I can say with confidence: the magic of Oliver Phillips remains completely intact. His brilliance as a composer, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and, of course, producer, hasn't faded one bit. In fact, "Shells" earns a spot among Everon's top five albums?and might even go toe-to-toe with titans like "Fantasma", Bridge, and "Flesh" for a place in the top three.

Stylistically, the album picks up some of the sonic identity of "North" (the album many of us believed would be Everon's last), but it's infused with a broader range of textures and ideas that also echo the eclecticism of "Fantasma" and the timeless elegance of "Bridge".

What we get is classic Everon: epic, emotionally charged tracks with sweeping orchestration and lush keyboard arrangements (No Embrace, Monster); darker, melancholic pieces that tug at the soul (Broken Angels, Shells, Guilty as Charged); tracks with a subtle pop sheen (Travels, Until We Meet Again); touches of experimentation including folk influences in the surprising Pinocchio's Nose, and even flashes of extreme metal in the final moments of Shells. There are also signature instrumentals reminiscent of classics like Meteor or Puppet Show (OCD), and some slightly cheesy but heartfelt ballads (Grace)?a staple of Everon's unmistakable charm.

In short, Shells is everything an Everon fan could have hoped for?and so much more. It's a dream come true, and without a doubt, one of the finest progressive rock albums 2025 is likely to deliver.

A spectacular return. Let's just hope they don't keep us waiting so long next time!

Best Tracks: honestly, there's not a single bad song on the album, but if I had to choose, I'd go with No Embrace (the chorus is wonderful, and the final solo is legendary), Pinocchio's Nose (those Celtic touches and the female vocals are just gorgeous), Monster (the best lyrics on the album?harsh and raw?paired with dreamlike melodies for a powerful contrast), Guilty as Charged (perhaps the most well-rounded track on the album, with an absolutely overwhelming ending), and the re-recording of Flesh (which somehow improves on a song that already seemed unbeatable)