EVERGREY
Theories Of Emptiness
NAPALM
Captivating, if formulaic, songs from the prog metal icons.
There aren’t many Swedish progressive/ power metal acts more celebrated or distinctive than Evergrey. On their 14th album, vocalist Tom S Englund remains the group’s greatest asset due to his virtually unmatched knack for juxtaposing mesmerising power with emotional vulnerability. His bandmates continue to craft wonderfully dynamic arrangements around him, too. To Become Someone Else, for instance, mixes hostile riffs and rhythms with heavenly atmospheres, whereas the programmed percussion, majestic strings and dejected chants of Ghost Of My Hero make it especially sophisticated and meaningful. The touching simplicity and inspiring narration of coda A Theory Of Emptiness, on which they evoke Anathema’s breathtaking We’re Here Because We’re Here, shines as well.