Evermore’s 2021 debut “Court Of The Tyrant King” was no doubt one of the best self-released Power Metal albums of that year. Deservedly it earned them a record deal with Scarlet Records and this well-established Italian record label is an apt choice of home for this band, as there is more than a little Italian flair within the sound of this Swedish powerhouse Metal band. In the same way that fellow Swedes Twilight Force and Majestica have relatively recently exploded into the European Power Metal scene, on the evidence of this album, Evermore will be hot on their heels.
The reason I mention Italian flair, is that as well as having a flamboyance to their music, there is a theatricality to their vocal delivery too – something akin to Shadows Of Steel from back in the day maybe, that gives the songs an extra edge right from the start. And although this is a band very much about the now, long term Power Metal fans might hear some early Angra, Rhapsody Of Fire (when they were still Rhapsody), Lost Horizon, a bit of earlier Human Fortress maybe and a little Kamelot. Orchestration is kept to atmospherics and thankfully never overpowering, with each song relying (as it should be) on thundering, varied energetic rhythms, striking, intricate guitar-work and those theatrical, yet melodic vocal lines. I’m also happy that the band don’t rely on the traditional anthemic-style multi-layered Power Metal choruses, instead choose to craft a memorable hook in their own style.
Cynics will no doubt accuse Evermore of bringing nothing new to the genre or even of being ‘generic’ (whatever the hell that lazy, unimaginative, throwaway term denotes), but after a genre has been in existence for nearly 40 years, is there really anything new that you could bring to Power Metal? There is however a plethora of unique and amazing interpretations by so many bands that pepper the genre’s past, and although Evermore have their own sound, it’s littered with welcome familiarity, brought to the present in their own way. Just look at the bands I listed above – somehow I hear all of them in there briefly somewhere, yet also so much more. However, read another review and someone else will probably hear something totally different – maybe a hint of Beast In Black or even Stratovarius, who knows? But this album will still resonate in some way.
One of the reasons for this is that Evermore mix the tempos and moods of each song so well, and so effortlessly – they can switch from blistering speed-ridden power, to stomping Heavy Metal without it sounding jarring or forced – it just sounds right. Power Metal is escapism and increasingly about optimism and being uplifted in some way – if you are a fan, you get it. This is not an album to be pulled apart and analysed, this is an album to be enjoyed. An album that has plenty of hidden musical depths within its excellent musical compositions. It has gradually unveiling nuances, as well as being instantly likeable and memorable. Most of all though, when you get to the heart of it, it’s bloody good fun.
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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