The real reason to why I have never truly loved Evergrey is that they have missed that knockout punch, that fatal hit that leaves me breathless. There is no question about this band's ability, and "The Atlantic" is just another proving point, with its smooth, emotional sound that leaves few hearts untouched, and also some heavier spots to hit the nerve a little harder. They are consistent as hell, having a floor most bands would die for, but their ceiling is honestly not that much higher, and while there are some great progressive elements to their music, I do find it hard to find much difference from song to song.
There is one thing I have always loved with the band though, and that is the singer Tom Englund, who has a brilliant knack of punctuating the emotions with his silky smooth voice. He bring a level of excellence to each Evergrey record that is reason enough to check out the band, and he does another stellar job here in "The Atlantic". That man must have a diet consisting of only honey, it is the only thing explaining his vocals.
Besides Tom, I think the most shining part about "The Atlantic" is how heavy it is compared to a normal Evergrey record. The riffs are a little tougher, the drums hits a little harder, and the whole album in general is a little darker in its tone, but it still has that distinct Evergrey lightness to it. Tracks like "A Secret Atlantis" and "This Ocean" are kind of strange listening to knowing which band is playing, but they still work so well because of the fantastic writing, never truly feeling like a confusing oddball. Be sure though that those classic epic Evergrey moments are in here, scattered around in almost every track, making "The Atlantic" easily recognizable as another Evergrey effort.
I got to say that I am impressed, Evergrey turned out another solid as hell record that is filled with quality. However, it did not make me a lover of the band. While I do think this is the band's strongest effort in at least a decade, it still does not feel like a complete record for me. It is one that is highly enjoyable, but then suddenly ends, forcing you to think of what you just listened, which leads to another go round with the record just to remind yourself. Do not get me wrong, "The Atlantic" is a killer record, but it has the same tendencies as previous Evergrey efforts, which probably means that my memories of it in the future will be good, but kind of hazy. It is a valiant effort that fans of the band should be extremely ecstatic about, but the minds of most of the doubters will not be changed, at least not this time.
Songs worthy of recognition: End of Silence, A Silent Arc, Weightless, A Secret Atlantis
Rating: 8/10 Currents
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