By 2008, it is now ten years since Sweden’s Evergrey released their debut “The Dark Discovery”. There after, the band has seen a growing success with fans and positive response from critics to their brand of dark poetic progressive melodic metal.

Their seventh album “Torn” sees new addition to the ranks Jari Kainulainen (former bassist for Stratovarius) joining long standing vocalist/guitarist Tom Englund, Henrik Danhage (who joined in 01 for “In Search For Truth”) also on guitar, with Rikard Zander on keyboards (who came on board for my favorite album to this day “Recreation Day”) and Jonas Ekdahl on drums.

With first single/video “Broken Wings”, Evergrey appear to be following the path started on the last album “Monday Morning Apocalypse” with less of a focus on the progressive and more attention to chunky riffs (“Fear”) and rhythmic beats behind a melodic chorus. The guitar leads and harmonies, accenting keys which can be heard on “In Confidence”, of course still remain and are the basis to every song.