THE UNCROWNED KING - ACT 1

To me this album sounds like a tribute to the heyday of 'progressive melodic rock bands', the socalled AOR, in the Seventies and Eighties. Like Kansas featuring vintage keyboards (Hammond, Minimoog and Mellotron) and acoustic guitars in the dynamic The Pilgrimage. Like Styx with the distinctive cheerful Minimoog flights and fiery guitar in The Tower. And like Journey with Steve Perry inspired vocals and a typical AOR ballad atmosphere in the epic Yettocome ? Itmightbe. The music is very melodic and harmonic with flowing shifting moods, topped with pleasant work on keyboards and guitar, strong vocals and a dynamic rhythm-section.

But Evership has more to offer. The short tracks The Voice Of The Waves and The Voice Of The Evening Wind contain ambient electronic musical landscapes, pretty atmospheric with spacey keyboards. And the final song Wait is a fine ballad featuring a catchy riff on piano, mellow vocals and halfway moving guitar work.

The most alternating and elaborate composition is Crownshine - Allthetime (close to 11 minutes). It starts in a bombastic climate with fat Minimoog runs and propulsive rock guitar riffs. Then lots of changing atmospheres, between mellow and sumptuous, embellished with Minimoog flights, phaser guitar, fiery guitar leads, Mellotron choir, The Charles Heimermann choir, and powerful vocals.

Evership its music is beyond original but it sounds very pleasant, especially if you like Seventies and Eighties Kansas, Styx and Journey.

My rating: 3,5 star