Evergrey - Escape Of The Phoenix - review
Evergrey - Escape Of The Phoenix - review
Tracklist
01. Forever Outsider02. Where August Mourns
03. Stories
04. A Dandellion Cipher
05. The Beholder
06. In The Absence Of Sun
07. Eternal Nocturnal
08. Escape Of The Phoenix
09. You From You
10. Leaden Saints
11. Run
12. The Darkness In You
A review by
nikarg March 08, 2021
The Swedes have been doing pretty well during the last few years with the trilogy of Hymns For The Broken, The Storm Within, and The Atlantic having been received very favourably and with a good reason. I personally have a genuine affection towards this band. I guess their brand of part prog / part power / part melodramatic resonates with me in some way, and I am always happy to listen to a new album from Tom and co.
This 12th full-length is often driven by the rhythm guitar and the drums, and on top of them there are emotional lead guitar passages and keyboard fills that offer some much needed 'playfulness' to the wall of sound. Englund's one-of-a-kind voice is once again the feature that makes Evergrey stand out; they always have good songs on offer, but it is the voice of Tom that gives them that extra soulfulness and a very distinctive personality.
In terms of songwriting, the album feels a tad more energetic overall than The Atlantic and offers more hooks. Songs like "Forever Outsider", "Where August Mourns", "A Dandellion Cipher", and "Eternal Nocturnal" are instantly likeable and with memorable choruses. I particularly enjoy the heavier tracks on here, "Escape Of The Phoenix" and "Leaden Saints"; the former is surprisingly influenced by Gojira and the latter is actually my favourite on the album because it has a very imposing character and possibly the record's best solo.
On the other hand, I am not very convinced by the tame and indifferent "The Beholder", which features Dream Theater's James LaBrie as guest, and frankly I don't see any justification for his appearance apart from some potential (and very deserving) extra exposure for Evergrey. The other softer songs on the album - "Stories", "In The Absence Of Sun", and "You From You" - are quite alright, although not particularly gripping; "You From You" is the best of the bunch mainly due to its very moving solo. The closer, "Run", offers a successful mix of ballad and power.
Going back to the beginning of this review, it must be clear to everyone by now that Evergrey will never again be the band they were between 1999 to 2004. Escape Of The Phoenix has mostly good or very good songs, but I have trouble finding a mindblowing song. Evergrey sound like they are currently stuck in a certain formula, while still remaining a class act of course. If you have never been into them, this record will not convert you. But for fans of the band, like myself, this is the melancholic prog/power fix we just cannot pass up.
"And if you find yourself on the outside
You never need to feel that you're all alone
Because I'll be there in your times of twilight
Forever nocturnal
I'll be your eyes in the dark"
Comments
Comments:
24
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Posts: 8004
I don't think I've listened to a single Evergrey album since that Monday Morning Apocalypse disappointment, so I stand right on the fence between "former fan" and "haven't been into them for over 15 years". Maybe this one will encourage me to work my way back through the last few albums...
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Posts: 8298 Written by Deadsoulman on 08.03.2021 at 17:58 Given the circumstances you describe, you will probably like this. I believe it is going to push the nostalgia button at least..
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Posts: 1342 Written by Deadsoulman on 08.03.2021 at 17:58 This new one is alright and as described in this excellent review but Hymns For The Broken is probably the best one of that second half of their discography
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Posts: 8298
^ Read the review again. You're probably confusing it with something else you have read. Your comments make no sense whatsoever as a response to this particular review.
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Posts: 8702 Written by DystopianWonder on 08.03.2021 at 20:29 Highlight where in the review this was done; the earliest album I can see mentioned is 2014's Hymns Of The Broken. Beyond that, Nik described the overall sound of the album, described specific songs and moments that he felt were particularly strong or weak, and briefly placed the album within the context of the band's work in the introduction and conclusion. What more would you like to see in the review?
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Posts: 7948 Written by musclassia on 08.03.2021 at 20:50 American Pie?
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Posts: 8004 Written by nikarg on 08.03.2021 at 20:38 Since the guy you were replying to seems to have deleted his comment, now it looks like you're yelling at DT for saying your review is excellent 
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This is good reviev, I agree with inro part, they have no bad albums, I disagree whit Collin, all bands what don't change genre to nu and others horrible genres are good to try once. Thus band never will put out gigantic album, but same time there are millions of new bands, Radu and Yaniv fix many bew ones. I listen once most of them
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 8298 Written by Deadsoulman on 09.03.2021 at 09:36 Hahaha, indeed. I am going to leave it there if DT doesn't mind because it looks so funny 
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Posts: 814 Written by Callisto on 08.03.2021 at 19:06 naa, that's the album that got me into the band. I still love it.
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I don't know why, but I recently find myself agreeing with all of the reviews posted here, for bands i listen to, that is. Epica, Evergrey, Moonspell, Draconian, Tribulation, Soen, Therion. (Does this mean I think like the Staff and should be among them?  )I so totally agree with the James Labrie part.. and with the fact that this band is consistent with their quality and creativity. I started listening to them after The Atlantic and since then have been going through their back catalog too which is quite impressive.
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Posts: 8298 Written by Callisto on 08.03.2021 at 19:06 I very much enjoy The Atlantic too. And I am sure there are a lot of us who do, you're definitely not the only one 
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Posts: 354 Written by nikarg on 10.03.2021 at 18:37 That was my impression happy to be wrong! most of the comments I've read about it are negative while I consider it brilliant.
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Enjoyable album, I did not get the point of LaBrie guesting on that song, but anyway... Excellent vocal performance as usual.
---- I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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Posts: 8298 Written by John_Doe on 11.03.2021 at 14:26 I can hardly notice LaBrie, Tom really overshadows him. But it's good marketing to have the DT vocalist in one of your songs I guess.
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Posts: 5659 Written by nikarg on 12.03.2021 at 01:17 When I said "excellent vocal performance", I meant Tom's performance on the album. As for James LaBrie being good marketing, I don't know about that, people complain more about his vocals than enjoy them. I don't know how it helps Evergrey having James sing on a song.
---- I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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Posts: 8298 Written by John_Doe on 12.03.2021 at 13:26 Of course, I had no doubt about that Written by John_Doe on 12.03.2021 at 13:26 I meant "good marketing" more in the sense of how much more popular and well-known DT are. Having the (not so great) vocalist of (the prog metal giant) DT on your album gives you more exposure to people who haven't heard of your band before. Evergrey are nowhere near as recognizable as DT. It's like having Lars play drums on a Vektor album, that's how I see it more or less.
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Posts: 8702 Written by nikarg on 12.03.2021 at 20:21 Now that's something I'd like to hear
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Posts: 21306 Written by tintinb on 08.04.2021 at 01:26 I avoid power metal like the plague but I can't contain my nostalgia boner for 90s alt rock. How legit is your assessment? Or are you just exaggerating for effect. Because I'd spend an hour with this if it plays the way you say it does.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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