The accompanying press release states that Evergrey very nearly called it quits a couple of years ago – I guess there’s only so many songs of despair and misery some band members can stomach – but it would have been a huge shame and thankfully they re-grouped and are back with style on “Hymns For The Broken”. Band-leader Tom S. Englund has gone on record to state this might just be one of their finest releases. I read about all this before hearing the album, which put a bit of pressure on – I like Evergrey, always have, but their last effort seemed cold…OK colder than usual. A bit…removed if you see what I mean. Now it transpires that most of the band had lost interest and basically needed a break. I’m sure while his band-mates were off sunning themselves, old misery-guts Tom was sat at home in the dark brooding, thinking up more tales of human suffering to unleash on us. I wouldn’t expect anything less! But as fate dragged the band kicking and screaming (well, maybe kicking at the floor sulkily or screaming about how they hate everything) back together, there is a genuine energy and positivity to the recording. I won’t go so far as saying “optimism”, I know no-one would believe that, but certainly a new spark.
Not lyrically of course. Lyrically Evergrey’s concepts tend to centre around someone having a bit of a shit time, with a crappy past, and steadily things get crappier until someone they care about dies or has some other tragedy befall them – then, obviously, they get REALLY miserable. Then they die. Or some such whimsy. And that’s pretty much the shape of things here – granted, with a bit more intrigue…but plenty of misery. So lets concentrate on the music, because there is much here to crow about. There genuinely are some of Evergrey’s finest songs on here! It’s a bloody triumph Tom! There, I bet that put a smile on your…sorry, of course it didn’t…silly me… Actually, I’m probably being a little unfair to Mr Englund, because in all fairness, his silky-smooth, heartfelt, yearning vocal style totally lends itself to tales of human struggle and hardship. If he was singing about sunshine, flowers, puppies and butterflies it would just sound bloody stupid. And lyrically, the line “We Fall Like Feathers” coupled with the way a brilliantly intense song just stops for that line to be repeated with just piano in ‘The Grand Collapse’ is absolute genius. But I’m getting ahead of myself…
Much to my surprise, the intro (complete with some poor soul screaming in anguish…this IS Evergrey…), with it’s institutionalised spoken word intro and ‘Revolution Calling’ drum patterns into ‘King of Errors’, I found myself recalling Queensryche’s “Operation Mindcrime”. The comparisons throughout are subtle, but there all the same in the dark melodies, complex drum patterns, arrangements and with the fact that we are treated – and I mean treated – to 3 fabulous guitar solos in the first 3 songs! A weapon that Evergrey have previously underused that is, after all, a bastion of Metal itself! ‘King Of Errors’ is a memorable opener – mid-paced and deeply hook-laden, giving way to the choppy ‘A New Dawn’, which has some of Evergrey’s rhythmically quickest, almost Speed Metal moments, also including some great time-changes and a great chorus and choir. “Hymns For The Broken” is actually littered with excellent hooks and choruses, which is a perfect balance for some great guitar-work, rhythm section and those always welcome guitar solos, as well as some unexpected twists. Take ‘Archaic Rage’ – a great mid-tempo epic that half-way through, introduces a time change and guitar melody line that just elevates the whole song onto another level before returning after a sparklingly brief solo. And then somehow in ‘Barricades’, they manage to twin classic Evergrey with a kind of Groove Metal by means of intelligent arrangement and a some stunning riffs. The central passage – including another fabulous guitar solo, is of particular note. Evergrey have really upped their game this time around – I’ve a feeling that this is an album that will just keep on giving.
It seems that Evergrey found themselves with two perfect closing tracks, so, rather than choose – they put them both on here! When you have ridden the emotional storm of the wonderful ‘The Grand Collapse’ (one of my favourite Evergrey songs ever!) and you think it’s all over, they just throw another one at you with ‘The Aftermath’. It’s quite a journey, as it always is with Evergrey, and can be quite a draining experience, but this is the first time I have personally wanted to immediately stick the whole thing on again. And again. They’ve got the balance perfect. All Evergrey’s best traits in all the right measures – I’m not sure they’ve ever come quite as close as this before. Evergrey’s style of Dark, Heavy Power Metal is one they invented for themselves, to suit their natural sound and attitudes, and they are so bloody good at it that they completely stand alone. At times it may be a stark, it may be gloomy, but it’s always powerful and always emotional, heartfelt and passionate. This time it feels like they REALLY mean it! THIS is Evergrey!
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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