Evergrey
Review
Sweden’s Premiere Prog Metal Masters Unleashed Flood Gate of Energy Onto the Masses
On 4/23/04, I took in a premiere performance by Evergrey.  Despite the band's 30-minute allotted time slot, the boys warmed the hearts and souls of the crowd leaving the fans and new converts hungry for more.  It looks like Evergrey's phoenix has started to rise as the band's fan base is growing rapidly with their current tour in direct support of Iced Earth & Children of Bodom.  To correspond with their short Spring North American jaunt, the band is dropping a new release entitled, The Inner Circle which is scheduled to hit the American shelves on 4/27/04.

Due to incorrect time postings via the Metro, I missed their prior performance on 4/20 in Chicago.  I caught the last 5 minutes of their set, just in enough time to see their final bow…thanks Metro!!!  The crowd was going nuts as a euphoric sensation filled the crowd as I continued to stare at the stage in utter disbelief.  Doors opened 30-40 minutes earlier than the original posted show time.  The band wound up taking the stage 30 minutes earlier.  The faux pas caused many fans to miss the band's performance.  In my case, all was not lost, I corralled an interview with Tom S. Englund and Henrik Danhage; now that's one hell of a consolation prize, if you ask me...and I am sincerely thankful for it.   Click here to read the interview

As for the Milwaukee show, it was amazing!  However, I must confess I was a fan before I saw their show; but what I witnessed did not sway my objectivity.  I can report that a many of jaw was dropped by the end of the set.  The male groupies in crowd were the most hysterical as they played air guitar and manically throwing up the devil's horns.

Evergrey's line up consists of: Tom S. Englund - vocals and guitars, Henrik Danhage - guitar, Michael Håkansson - bass, Rikard Zander - keyboards, and Jonas Ekdahl - drums.  Their sound  has been compared to 80's progessive metal bands like Queensryche and Dream Theater due to Englund's and Danhage's heavy usage of shredding and powerful, melodic dueling riffs.  Coupled with the ever present keyboards from Zander, Håkansson's heavy latented bass riffs, and Ekdahl's crashing hi-hats.  True as the comparisions may be in regards to the band’s sound, they manage to deliver a unique and soulful interpretation from an age when metal was new and fresh. They place a different perspective on this resurging genre, especially noted in their live shows.  What other band can successfully blend violins and harps (unfortunately not present in their live shows) with guitars and keys and make it sound like manna falling from the heavens above, for the exception of Evergrey?

Pure magic was performed at the Rave’s Eagle’s Ballroom. The band offered a glimpse into their new album by performing 2 songs from the musical masterpiece: "A Touch of Blessing" (their first single) and “More Than Ever”.  Here is the complete setlist that was skillfully performed:

Setlist
Intro (Solitude Within)
Blinded
End of Your Days
Rulers of the Mind
Recreation Day
More Than Ever
A Touch of Blessing
The Masterplan
(Outro - the chorus from Fragments)


Spring US 2004 Tour Schedule
Apr. 18 - Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
Apr. 19 - Pop's – Sauget, IL
Apr. 20 - Metro – Chicago, IL
Apr. 23 - The Eagle's Club – Milwaukee, WI
Apr. 24 - Harpo's Concert Theatre – Detroit, MI
Apr. 25 - The Odeon – Cleveland, OH
Apr. 26 - The Guvernment – Toronto, ONT
Apr. 28 - The Medley – Montreal, QC
Apr. 29 - BB King's – New York, NY
Apr. 30 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
May 01 - Palladium – Worcester, MA
May 02 - Jaxx – Springfield, VA
May 04 - Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
May 05 - House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista, FL
May 07 - House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
May 08 - Engine Room – Houston, TX
May 09 - The Back Room – Austin, TX
May 10 - Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX
May 12 - Ogden Theater – Denver, CO
May 14 - Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
May 15 - Graceland – Seattle, WA
May 17 - Avalon Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
May 19 - Cajun House – Scottsdale, AZ
May 20 - House of Blues – Los Angeles, CA

Evergrey touches me like no other band, their lyrics touch the deepest part of my soul.  You need to see Evergrey play next time they roll through your town, it may shock you how easily they'll imprint your soul as well.
Eagle's Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI - 4/23/04
Reviewer: Karma E. Omowale