Tribunal Records/Divebomb Records [Release date 30.10.15]
The first time I saw Everthrone they were opening for Fates Warning. As this was my first time seeing Fates Warning, frankly, I was WAY more excited about FW than any of the opening bands. Until Everthrone took the stage and blew my mind. I
’ve said it before and I will keep saying it: there are far more bad Power Metal bands than good ones. Everthrone are not only one of the exceptions, they are a bar setter. There were so many aspects about their sound that held me captive that night, and the following times I have seen them too. Their first album was spectacular and mindblowing, so when I heard they were working on a new one I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. The wait is over!
The Dawning, out now on Divebomb Records, is a stunning work, and shows the care and detail these men put into making this album. Just prior to its release the band released videos for the tracks “Conciousness” and “Loss,” both of which were not only excellent songs, but fantastic videos.
“Loss” especially was a totally different direction than the band had gone before, doing a haunting ballad dedicated to the passing of Russell Plyer’s grandmother. Lamenting, “In the halo of winter/I learned the awful truth/Your passing took us unaware/and left us hollow” you instantly felt the pain in his voice, and love he clearly felt. It made me think about the important people I had lost in my life too.
The music is very simple, yet so amazingly powerful. These two songs totally amped up my anticipation for the whole album. From the quiet opening strains of a boat adrift on the water of “This Great Expanse” I knew I was in for a treat. With the opening lines, “A new day is dawning/Perhaps my last/Adrift in this great expanse/Lost and worn I call in vain” you realize you’re about to take a journey with Everthrone, and not all stops along the way are going to be happy.
It’s a very sombre album, and even the heavier parts are fairly dark. From “The Great Expanse” we got to “Consciousness” which is the first single from the album. It’s quite catchy and tells the story of someone created by someone else trying to claim their own individuality.
Despite the dark beginning it is a song of hope as the subject breaks free, breaking the chains that is binding them. The hopefullness should be felt by all because whatever chains are holding you back should be broken to allow you to live to your full potential.
As the album progresses the listener is taken through so many emotions, perfectly exemplifying the same trials and tribulations we go through our lives with as the protagonist does on the album. As with the song “Loss” “Crimson Gold” is another slow song, more of a genuine ballad.
These two particular tracks highlight what I think is the quality that sets Everthrone apart from bands of this genre: Plyler’s voice. It stands out so drastically compared to many other singers. He has such a powerful and emotive voice, so clean and genuine.
He isn’t trying to sing every note in his vocal range every song – he vocalizs as needed for the particular song. Accenting his voice are the orchestrations and keyboard parts provided by Chris Carland. Everything Carland does is suited perfectly for the song and Russell’s vocals.
Guitarist Nevin McKeown is an exceptional player, whether the song calls for a beautiful acoustic piece, blazing solos, or tremendous riffs, he knows precisely what notes are needed for the benefit of the song.
His brother Jeremy is the perfect drummer for Everthrone, supplying complex rhythms and subtle accents with alternate precussive instruments. Bassist Daniel Carner is a versatile player, staying in the pocket when needed or laying down grandiose patterns that drive the songs home. Rarely does a band fit together so nicely musically than this band.
Everthrone’s The Dawning truly was worth the wait and so deserving of getting checked out. If you love US Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, Progressive Metal, all with a serious dedication to melodic music, this is the album for you.
These five men, as well as co-producer Don Debiase Jr, deserve any and all accolades for this magnificent recording. Now I’m ready for November 27th at Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, NC where the band will be performing the album in its entirety for the CD release party. With the caliber of musicianship within the band and the brilliance of this album, it is sure to be an epic night of music. *****
Review by Chris Martin
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