After their trilogy consisting of 'Hymns for the Broken', 'The Storm Within' and 'The Atlantic', the Swedes of Evergrey' took advantage of the health crisis of 2020 to release a new studio recording, 'Escape of the Phoenix' which brings their discography to 12 albums in twenty-five years of existence, their first album 'The Dark Discovery' dating from 1998. Navigating between progressive metal and melodic metal, they bring a variety in this style by alternating often quite opposite atmospheres passing from powerful and direct compositions to much calmer moments quite far from the energy of metal but still with melodic lines that are easily integrated and this latest opus is still the perfect illustration. And as fans are now used to it, the lyrics of 'Tom S. Englund' continue to question us about the man and this time through the phoenix that dies and resurrects every day, I quote Tom : "And I put that into words, tried an anthropocentric approach where in a Human context, if we were a phoenix, we would be trapped in a period of our life without being able to get out of it and go nowhere. Thinking about it, I said to myself : what would happen if we finally left this poor bird in peace and let it lose permanently ?" (interview given to 'La Grosse Radio').
The start is made with two direct and powerful titles, first of all 'Forever Outsider' (video here), the first in a hellish way with a first heady chorus, then, 'Where August Mourns' (video here) continues but with a more moderate tempo and alternations of intensity between the verses and the chorus, the melodic lines being always very accessible. Change of scenery with 'Stories' which is the first power ballad with a 'Tom S. Englund' still at ease in this kind of title, letting a real emotion exude in these more moderate atmospheres, then, with 'A Dandelion Cipher', it's off again for a impetuous ride, the rhythm section imposing a frenzied tempo before returning to more restraint with 'The Beholder' which sees the participation of the singer of 'Dream Theater', 'James LaBrie', followed by the magnificent ballad, 'In The Absence of Sun' with yet another magnificent vocal performance from 'Tom Englund' and magnificent bursts of intensity which should make it a moment full of emotion in concerts. The rest of the album offers us an 'Eternal Nocturnal' (see video above) which was the subject of a single and which is well representative of these alternations between raw energy and more nuanced parts (with a solo by guitar worthy of the name in the second part and a particularly catchy melody), the eponymous title of the album which is certainly the most heavytitle of the album, then, 'You from You' which follows, brings again a break with its predecessor with a new ballad and, if you close your eyes during the guitar solo, we see 'David Gilmour' appear in person (if believe me, experience it !). And to finish, 'Leaden Saints' and 'Run' take us one last time in this metal energy with two unleashed rhythmic sections, the last one ending the album with a new completely addictive melody.
In summary, this latest 'Evergrey' album shows all the talent of this band with all the ingredients that made them come to be a major metal formation and, therefore, 'Escape of the Phoenix', beyond the fan base who will certainly be conquered by this latest offering from the Swedes, can be a good way for an audience not familiar with them and liking a melodic metal, powerful and offering beautiful alternations of intensity, to discover this band... | |
