Album review: EVERGREY – The Storm Within

August 6th, 2016 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 09.09.16]

Evergrey very nearly called it a day a few years back but they regrouped with drummer Jonas Ekdahl and guitarist Henrik Danhage rejoining the band. 2014′s ‘Hymns For The Broken’ was a real return to form and they are back with this new album, their second since signing with AFM Records. It is also the band’s tenth studio album and their twentieth anniversary.

On this album mainman Tom S Englund tackles having someone, losing them, and having to pick yourself up and move on. Englund is one of the better metal lyricists out there, never afraid to tackle contentious subjects or very emotive ones, the latter is very evident on this album.

Take ‘The Paradox of the Flame’, a moving slow burner helped by having Englund’s wife Carina duet with him. A departure for the band as well as it features a mournful violin on the outro. Not to be outdone Nightwish’s Floor Jansen duets on ‘In Orbit’, a song which has the Evergrey staccato guitar riffs in full flow – one of the many things I love about this band’s sound.

The album has a mellower feel in many parts and ‘Disconnect’ throws everything into the mix from its heavy start, through to a choral passage and some wonderful guitar solos. The title track is similar, relying on atmospheric keys and guitars to create a mellower song, yet still as powerful in delivery as their heavier songs. Speaking of the band’s heavier side, the lead song ‘The Distance’ gets the old adrenaline pumping, and ‘Passing Through’ features some very modern synth sounds, marking another little musical adventure for the band.

Evergrey are truly back on top of their game with one of their finest albums to date, I can’t recommend this one highly enough. ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

Save

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)