EVERGREY – The Storm Within

The Storm Within is Evergrey’s tenth album and champions their twentieth anniversary. Kudos must first be given to the audio engineers involved. This record is exceptionally produced. With a range of instruments, fine dynamics, and the right amount of reverb where it’s needed, any band that has struggled with recording will drool at how audibly seamless this album is. The drums and bass are perfect; their machine-gunning punches carry Djent-like detuned guitars on the album’s heavier tracks. Killer soloing and vocals further flaunt Evergrey’s talented lineup. Listen to “The Lonely Monarch” for their best offering.

While this record showcases quite a bit, it fails dynamically. Yes, there are fast parts and slow parts. But the mood is persistently sad. It’s as if the album cover—a tormented man gasping for breath in his personal duality—is the inspiration for every track. Generously speaking, one could say that The Storm Within captures the trials of life. Critically speaking, it’s tiresome. Singer Tom S. Englund has an amazing voice, but fills up the lyrics with typical Emo phrases and seldom deviates from the range of half an octave. The first track, “Distance”, has distinction, but the hazy blend of tracks that follow keep this album from being as memorable as it could be.