THE INNER CIRCLE

Evergrey are one of those bands who do their level best to defy comparisons with others. They are more to the metal end of the prog metal genre than their contemporaries, and the result is a type of music that is extremely loud and heavy while maintaining the melody and invention of the genre. When they decide that they are going to crank it up and belt it out there are few bands that stay the pace ? listen to sections of some of their songs and without the keyboards it could almost be Machine Head. This is a concept album, and to get across the themes singer Tom S. Englund uses different vocal styles, differentiating the characters.

This is an extremely intense album, one that has to be played loud and proud ? this is not a subject matter or music that can be pushed into the background. The concept is about religion and what fanatics can do with it. The t-shirts for the tour are apparently going to say "I am my own God, God walking". There is something here for every rock fan, whatever your particular genre, as long as you like your music heavy. There is room for contrasts, light and shade, but the power of the album is always there in your face. This has to be one of the best albums from Sweden, ever.

Originally appeared in Feedback #79, June 2004