GLORIOUS COLLISION

Evergrey are a melodic power metal band that have the key features of strong melodies, awesome riffing and incredible passionate vocals from Englund. They remind me of Symphony X or Theocracy at times, and are focussed on creating memorable melodies and riffs with some scorching lead breaks played with razor sharp precision and speed.

There are some fantastic tracks on this new album, a dark somber atmosphere throughout but very strong melodies. The excellence is not consistent but I would rate this a 3 and a half star album, not quite 4 stars but still very good.

It begins with a brain blaster on heavy distorted galloping guitars. Leave It Behind cranked into my cranium and I couldn't get it out of my head, it just haunts you after it is over. The signature sound is well known to Evergrey fans, and I was astounded at the ferocity of the distortion and the way vocals plead through low tones and exceptional high register singing; "it's your silence that makes you so hollow, all things that we don't know are danger and we should leave it behind us, everything changes, we wait for the darkness". The techno keyboards add another dimension to the sound.

You is one of the best tracks due to that melodic power metal and a blistering lead break and choppy rhythmic distorted blasts. It is the longest song at 6:24 and the best for me, with a beautiful minimalist piano section. Worth listening to any day, any mood.

Wrong has wonderful verses sung with passion and powerful organ passages, with a crunching chorus with a strong melody.

Frozen has a hammering riff that is rather intricate with an odd time signature. Overall the track is a raucous thrasher with some moments of slow chord changes and everpresent are those powerful vocals. The chorus is majestic and epic, and then the instrumental break is an effective twin lead guitar harmony. The time sig changes are inspirational, and there is even a break away with some spacey keys before one more powerdriving chorus.

Restoring The Loss begins softly with phased keyboards and then a galloping chunk of metal blasts drive it forward.

To Fit the Mould absolutely floored me for its unusual structure and the wonderful melodic metal, the power riffs are stunning and these are some of the most uplifting vocals from Englund. An absolute highlight of the album and unforgettable epic chorus.

The Phantom Letters has to be mentioned for the dynamic vocals "and the ashes fall from heaven", and the incredible fret melting lead work.

It Comes From Within is a killer track, and begins with an ethereal haunting female vocal and then launches into break neck speed riffs and lead guitar fills. The darkened atmosphere is consistent with heavier vocals; "It's taking me over, making me weak, I belong to the shadows, to the ones?". The lead guitar is explosive on this track, it woke me up after a few mediocre moments and this nailed me to the wall with blistering lead work and crunchtastic distortion. The eerie female ghosts lift it to a progressive edge.

Free begins with sombre organ and heartfelt well executed vocals. The softer sound is welcome after the blitzkrieg of previous tracks. The bass pounds like a heartbeat and it builds to a clean guitar and beautiful ambience. Another very good track among the best on the album.

I'm Drowning Alone is back to the gut wrenching distorted crunches of pure Evergrey. The riff is fantastic driving and powerful, with a higher vocal register from Englund. You have to love that melody in the chorus; "Release from darkness, release me from all that chains me here, I'm drowned in your silence, I hate to ask but I wouldn't if I didn't mean it, I'm much stronger on my own, but so much weaker, I need you to help me." There is a keyboard pad underneath the power metal and a weird section that chills me sounding like children singing.

And The Distance has one of the best vocal performances, passionate and full of the pain of loss and regret. The guitar swells are divine over a melancholy piano. When it builds to the metal section the atmosphere lifts; "you're keeping your distance, you're pushing me away, you never let me say the words I want to say, our circumstances change, because you never let me say the words I want". There is a time change and a ferocious instrumental, with Carina's female vocals that sound so pleasant with vocals. The harmonies as good as you may hear on an Ayreon album.

Overall this Evergrey album is full of melodic powerful songs, some absolutely inspired moments. I enjoyed the journey and look forward to hearing more from this dynamic prog metal band.

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