Band:	Evergrey
Album:	Hymns For The Broken
Style:	Power metal, Progressive metal
Release date:	September 26, 2014
A review by:	R'Vannith

Disc I
01. The Awakening
02. King Of Errors
03. A New Dawn
04. Wake A Change
05. Archaic Rage
06. Barricades
07. Black Undertow
08. The Fire
09. Hymns For The Broken
10. Missing You
11. The Grand Collapse
12. The Aftermath

Disc II [Limited Edition bonus]
01. Hymns For The Broken [piano version]
02. Barricades [piano version]
03. These Scars [piano version]

As a band seemingly at the brink of defeat and dissolution, Evergrey have returned with surprising resolve on their latest record, and, with themes of revolution in mind, Hymns For The Broken resounds with renewed inspiration and restored integrity.

Englund provides a unifying lead performance in this effort, which could very well have never seen the light of day, as the possibility of the band's ultimate break-up seemed all the more likely as time wore on. This commendable return to form is centred on granting the front man's vocal delivery all the instrumental support it can give, once again founded in the reunited and original rhythm section with which the band had created its renown within progressive metal, ever harnessing the gratifying hooks of power metal.

The inspiration found in these tracks isn't of the particularly complex nature that the band held in its song written prime, but of a clear and focused expression receiving a vocal emphasis that connects the album title to the music in captivating effectiveness and compelling conviction. It's the band's most triumphantly anthemic record which finds piano arrangements and theme tied sound effects well suited and utilised within the decidedly power metal driven song structures. The progressive nature and more complex presentation here recedes in what is a deliverance of a more upfront and uplifting evocation of an element that has always motivated their accessible direction. Tracks such as "The Fire" ignite the proceedings with a directly engaging and excellently produced impact, the polish of prior records finding the material here much more deserving. While still retaining their characteristic sense of dark mood, there is a noticeable change of pace and feeling in this record, which perfectly suits the return to form that the album represents as the song writing meets the standard set in what is excellent musicianship. The balance has been welcomely restored.

One need only look at the album cover for an appropriate picture of the memorable metal dynamism at play; the music is visually adorned with raised hands and resolved spirit. Listen to the impassioned lyrics and fervent energies of a band breaking free from a continual studio recording slump that has left them well below the bar set at their creative peak at the turn of the millennium. The progressive tendency for a binding thematic concept continues to be a distinguishing feature for the band, and is here amply backed by a power generated sound that projects their newer ambitions most effectively, certainly so in comparison to the lack of focus and unrealised potential in preceding albums since Monday Morning Apocalypse.

Snatching such a victory from the threat of defeat is quite an achievement in itself, and Evergrey have demonstrated that they are far from a broken band, as they've bounced back to form in an obviously inspired record.