OUTBURN ONLINE
February 22, 2021
RESURRECTION: The title of Evergrey’s 12th full-length is something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, as
Escape of the Phoenix does see the Gothenburg prog/power heavies deliver some of the more inspired material of their impressive career. This isn’t to say that Evergrey has been floundering, per se, but perhaps rather struggled to meet the heights achieved on such early killers as
Solitude Dominance Tragedy,
In Search of Truth.
Escape of the Phoenix presents the band’s established mixture of heavy groove riffs with powerful melodies and Tom S. Englund’s impassioned vocals, yet does so in a manner that feels, for lack of a better phrase, “fired up.” The lead guitar playing on a song like “Where August Mourn,” for example, says a whole lot in a relatively brief amount of time, while Englund’s presence as a frontman holds it all together. The album balances out contributions from Rikard Zander nicely, as well, since Evergrey has always been adept at not letting the keyboards get lost in the songwriting shuffle. A song like “Stories” showcases this well, with Zander’s melodies feeling at home in the song, giving it more of an emotional resonance.