FANTASMA

Will somebody tell me who Everon sound like? I know, it's my job as the reviewer but as much as I love these guys, I'm in Deja vu! I know they sound like somebody but I can't place them.These guys are simply incredible and considering they've made six albums going back to 1993 and two months ago was the first time I've heard them, I seem to have dropped the ball. How could I be so Obtuse?

Anyway, enough ruminating, let's get serious, because serious is what Everon's music is. Remember that name, Everon, Everon, Everon, Everon, Everon, EVERON, got it. Dumb name, but would you rather have a clever name/dumb music or dumb name/clever music?

Have you got the picture yet, Everon is astounding. I'm beginning to think that they do not remind me of one band but maybe dozens of great bands, performing similar music but oh so much more grandeur. Maybe they're an improved Journey, Asia, Boston, Night Ranger, Little River Band. Could they out bombast Rush, Saga, Queensryche, Styx, Savatage. Are they a dream composite of all the great bands of the past? I don't know. What I do know is that I haven't been this exited about a band since the marvelous year of 2001, when I made one great discovery after another, with Green Carnation, Evergrey, Within Temptation and Therion.

German band Everon plays a brand of neo-progressive rock music sometimes referred to as Art Rock and Somewhat influenced by later Marillion and Rush. The group was formed in 1989 by Ralf Janssen (guitar), Christian Moos (drums), and Schymy (bass), who played together for a few years. Everon potential was fulfilled when the band added song writer and lead singer Oliver Phillips, a musical genius in my opinion. Before I continue, I must say something about Oliver Phillips. This is the consummate musician. Phillips is a masterful singer and exceptional songwriter. His singing, though not the greatest in the world, is very very close and I can't picture a vocalist who fits the music better. You'll know, of what I speak, if you hear it. And th songwriting is superb. Phillips apparently has never heard of filler. Twelve songs all four stars or more.

Highlight Songs

"Men Of Rust" "There was a time when we were/As close as hearts can be /Your pain and fear, your dreams and hopes/All that you shared with me/I was just a child back then/As I grew up I had to see/Not all those wishes that we have/Become reality"

"Men Of Rust" starts with pleasant piano intro gradually building to a big sound that blasts into your ears with heavy guitars and keyboards. After a couple minutes the orchestra is joined by Phillip's wonderful vocals. There are numerous tempo changes, which help to hold your interest, though that hardly seems necessary.

"Perfect Remedy" "People like us are never where they want to be People like us suffer from their incapacity People like us never trust the world they see People like us are lacking self-security"

"Perfect Remedy" is pretty much a blend of a ballad with a glorious heaviness, an incredible fusion of children like music and heavy metal. This is a magnificent song that starts out wonderously childish with Phillips singing to light keyboards, a harp and bells before being joined in by heavy bass work and drums with the sound so thick you couldn't get a needle through it but ending back on a light note.

"A Day By the Sea" is another great power ballad blend. I never knew a liked power ballads so much. Must be the New Years Cheer. Naw, it's wonderful music. Starts out slow then the curtain raises to a huge lush sound, then slower, then faster, then slower, then faster, etc. My co-Favorite song.

The Fantasma Suite

"Right Now" No fillers right? right! this is a short powerful instrumental, an excellent touch!

"The real Escape" Again a slow start, slowly picking up speed with their grandiose sound and after an excellent piano solo segueing into: "Whatever It Takes" Why stop now? A continuation of all the wonderfully homogenous music that preceded it.

"Battle of Words" Sorry to keep throwing the adjectives at you but this is an amazing instrumental with a huge catchy sound that reminds me of a movie score for something The Big Country

"Ghosts" "If we give up before we ever fought If we only do what we are told And think we know it all, but never really learnt If we turn the page before the page has turned

If we close doors, we never opened up If we don't really start a thing before we stop And never speak the truth although we do not lie If we're full of plans but never dare to try...

Ghosts we are, made of flesh and bone With empty minds and hearts of stone The seed that was not meant to thrive Existing but not really alive"

"Ghosts" Hey if it works why change the formula. Yes it's my other co-favorite. Light, heavy, light, heavy.......... and oh such great singing and guitar playing. You know how you know it something is phenomenal? It brings water to your eyes or gives you chills, that's how!

Conclusion

One could surmise, from the utter quality of this album that Phillips and company were deeply inspired by the death of their good friend, Detlef Dohmen in a car wreck and to whom the album is dedicated, but although I have not heard all of their other five albums, I own their next release Flesh and I can assure you it's equally good. Hence I have ordered their whole catalog.

As for who Everon sounds like, I still haven't figured out yet. I have noticed some similarities to the great Emerson Lake and Palmer, both style and singing but not delivery or substance and although some of Everon's refrains do indeed sound classical it is a light classical as opposed to ELP's dark classical.

Similarities also exist, to a lesser extent, with Dream Theater, again with style and timing but not substance.