After 25 years, Evergrey should be far better known. The concluding chapter of a conceptual trilogy, The Atlantic ranked among the most engaging progressive metal records of 2019. Now the Swedes have returned with a set of tunes written and recorded as the world withdrew from normality. Befitting a lyricist as gifted as frontman Tom S Englund, it poses a series of questions, such as what happens when its titular phoenix, an eternal symbol of rebirth, prefers to remain dead? Evergrey make music that is crisp, accomplished and often polished with a gleaming commercial edge. With luck, maybe Englund’s duet with Dream Theater frontman James LaBrie on The Beholder will introduce them to a few more newbies.
Evergrey’s Escape Of The Phoenix: soaring anthems from prog metal’s most underrated band
Prog metal lifers Evergrey show their class with soaring 11th album Escape Of The Phoenix
(Image: © AFM)
You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
More reviews
"It's hard to believe that anybody thought a cover of Patti Smith's Because the Night was a good idea": Keel struggle for greatness on 1986 album The Final Frontier
"An example to all future box-set curators": Still Barking is 20 CDs of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band comedy genius, but it may baffle younger folk
