EVERGREY: Monday Morning Apocalypse

Cover	Release	Style
	2006–03-27	progressive metal
	Label
	www.insideout.de / www.spv.de
	Website
	www.evergrey.net
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	44:49	IOMCD 240 / SPV 48882 CD
	Review by / Translated by	Rating
	Vera	9,5/10
nederlands	Review
The best bands are those who always keep a step forward to you and yet surprise you in a positive way. When I have to describe Evergrey’s latest album ‘Monday Morning Apocalypse’ in a few words it would be: “It rocks all over”! It seems like they have laid my remarks in the review of ‘The Inner Circle’ to heart. I said that it all started to get a bit too smooth and American. Look what happened, away with finical smoothness and back to base! This sounds notable less orotund, more guitar driven and rattling organic. Vocalist Englund tells that they will rule more in a live situation with these compact songs. He is right. Did the double DVD happen to be a closing of a chapter anyway? How comes a world famous band like this on the idea to get back to the roots? Well, I suppose the engagement of two extern producers (Sanken Sandquist and Stefan Glaumann) has something to do with it. Not that earlier productions by the band itself did not suffice, but it really took me by surprise to hear this staggering result. When someone did not mention it and played me the title track, it would have taken a few minutes before I linked it with the name Evergrey. But what a stunner! Heavy riffs and abundant of inspiration and dynamics. Even voices sound different. But the fans of earlier records, fond of “what we call progressive elements” should not despair or panic, for in the next ‘Unspeakable’ Evergrey turns out recognizable again. Beautiful sonorous guitar licks, careful yet dark backing vocals and adequately built towards a climax. In ‘Lost’ – gestate of an atmosphere full of tension – I even notice the fine humour of these gentlemen. Do they sing about their label? (Inside out) Another thing is the voice of Tom S. Englund. It gets better and more spontaneous every record. It means that he reminds me of the charisma of David Coverdale, this time in tracks like ‘Lost’ and ‘I Should’. That the evolution is not driven too far or too abrupt, prove fetching and more sentimental tracks such as the magnificent ‘In Remembrance’ (highlight!) with its irresistible, dark backing vocals I like so much and closing track ‘Closure’. Songs like ‘The Curtain Fall’ and ‘At Loss For Words’ have lashings of catchy hooks and surprising intervals. Keyboardist Rikard Zander especially focuses on introvert piano fragments which add some refinement to contrast gloriously with tons of heavy riffs that were obviously in promotion these days. However, Evergrey did not become a band that only rocks for fun, don’t get me wrong. The social engagement is everywhere in the lyrics (‘Still In The Water’) and personal issues every human being has to face are sublimely expressed in contemplative tracks such as ‘The Dark I Walk You Through’ (with a hint to ‘I’m Sorry’) and the thoughtful, deep-draught ‘Closure’. Moments of reflection that makes your flesh creep or swallow the bait, everything is possible on ‘Monday Morning Apocalypse’. If this is not a real masterpiece, I don’t know anything anymore.
Musicians
Tom S. Englund: vocals, guitars Henrik Danhage: guitars Michael Hakansson: bass Rikard Zander: keyboards Jonas Ekdahl: drums
Tracklist
Monday Morning Apocalypse (3:10) Unspeakable (3:53) Lost (3:13) Obedience (4:13) The Curtain Fall (3:08) In Remembrance (3:33) At Loss For Words (4:12) Till Dagmar (1:39) Still In The Water (5:17) The Dark I Walk You Through (4:19) I Should (4:51) Closure (3:07)
Discography
Monday Morning Apocalypse (2006) A Night To Remember 2 DVD (2005) A Night To Remember 2 CD (2005) The Inner Circle (2004) Recreation Day (2003) In Search Of Truth (2001) Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy (1999) The Dark Discovery (1998)


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