Tracks:

The Masterplan
Rulers of the Mind
Watching the Skies
State of Paralysis
The Encounter
Mark of the Triangle
Dark Waters
Different Worlds
Misled

This CD showed up in my mail today. I haven't really heard Evergrey's music before, so this will be a new experience for me. Let's give it a spin and see what happens.

Listening to the first track, "The Masterplan", I get the impression of progressive metal ala Dream Theater. Perhaps a little heavier and more metal than Dream Theater (although I haven't really listened to Dream Theater since their second album so maybe they are heavier now.)

The music is quick, got the double bass, lots of progressive guitar and synth parts. The vocals are clean and melodic. So far I like what I hear, but it isn't blowing my mind either. They are obviously skilled musicians, but it takes more than that to fashion a good song. The production is adequate, but it's not as full and crisp as it could be.

Hmm, near the end of "Rulers of the Mind" there is a nice quick little female choir break sort of part. That was cool, and rather unexpected in this type of song.

Up to "The Encounter" now. I'm sorry, short of a miracle within the last few songs, this CD is going to be branded as average. There isn't anything bad about it really, but there just isn't anything special about it either. Nothing makes it stand out from the other thousands of CD's in my collection that would cause me to listen to this again. A few years down the road I might see it and give it another listen just to see if my opinion has changed. But for now I must banish it to the bin of mediocrity. This might do it for some people, but it just doesn't do it for me.

I'm done listening to the whole thing now, and unfortunately, Evergrey was not redeemed. I think part of the problem is that this is just too progressive. It just doesn't rock. There's drums and guitars, but it just doesn't rock. They are merely a vehicle for this guys voice. So that's that. Sorry guys.