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EVERGREY “Architects of a New Weave”
EVERGREY “Architects of a New Weave”
By Colonel Angus
Like clockwork, EVERGREY has emerged with another studio opus after a two year (or so) hiatus and I couldn’t be happier. I have been a fan since “In Search of Truth” and they rarely disappoint. Sure, they have had brief moments where I thought they failed to reach the high watermark they have set for themselves but by and large, their output has been more than solid. Being a fan for so long (and purchasing every special edition of each release) has afforded me the ability to hear their music critically and hold them accountable when they miss the mark. Fortunately, “Architects of a New Weave” hits right where it should but will not unseat my favorite and pièce de résistance “In Search of Truth”.
After a brief intro, the album starts properly with “The Shadow Self” which hits hard but morphs into a melodic chorus that showcases Tom Englund’s emotional vocals. This track encompasses all of the elements that make EVERGREY so unique; heavy riffing, pounding rhythms, Englund’s vocals, and a hint of keyboards to round things out. The title track follows bringing in that epic element that was predominant on the “Hymns for the Broken” album. Based on the quality of this track, it’s no wonder they decided to name the record after it.
The cinematic “The World Is on Fire” sounds like it could have been a remnant of the “Theories of Emptiness” sessions which in my eyes is a good thing. Not merely a filler tune, the song hosts a nice bridge in the middle that gives way to some of the best guitar work on the disk. Both Englund and Johan Niemann (bass) are credited with lead guitars so whoever did the solo here knows how to add color without inserting a shred-fest that feels forced and out of place. Next up is the first chink in the armor with “Heaven” not really going anywhere compared to the previous material. I have played this track multiple times hoping that I was missing something with the previous spins but I still hold that this is the weakest moment on “Architects of a New Weave”. Mind you, for many bands this would be one of their best tunes but EVERGREY has set the bar high so they are bound to come up with something that doesn’t reach those lofty heights.
Things get much better with the heartfelt “The Script” which has drama and those emotional vocals that elevate their material. This one has the same vibe as much of the material on “Glorious Collision” which if you remember was a return to form after a couple of records that, while I loved, left their core fans wondering what happened to the band. If EVERGREY wrote hit singles, then the uplifting “Leaving the Emptiness” would be this record's attempt at radio play (is that still a thing?!?!?). While I generally find these types of track to be formulaic, EVERGREY manages to follow the formula without sounding like sell-outs looking for a payout. Also, it is a nice diversion from their usual sound giving the record some variety while still staying in their lane.
Most of their records have a ballad-y type of song and “Longing” fulfills that quota nicely. I’ll be honest with you, Englund’s vocals elevate these types of tunes and if they were sung by someone else, they would not have the same impact. The addition of a great guitar solo certainly doesn’t hurt, making this one of the many highlights on the record. After that detour, the band comes back full force with “A Burning Flame” with the keyboards adding a good amount of melody over the underlying riffing. In a similar fashion, “Call Off Your Lions” contains the vibe presented by the previous tune but with a dramatic chorus that showcases their hallmark sound.
Capping off “Architects of a New Weave” are a couple of pieces that should not be skipped over. “Chains of Shame” is a catchy tune that I find myself gravitating toward with each additional play and finishing the album is another somber song that reminds me of “The Paradox of the Flame” from “The Storm Within”. It has that same bombastic cinematic feel that deserves a video to bring out the full effect of the music. Now if you’re like me, you may want to get the two disk version that holds another half dozen tunes from demos to live material and a couple of track found on special releases. I won’t review that but safe to say, it is well worth seeking out the two disk version.
All in all, I really like “Architects of a New Weave” and it holds its own among the latter day material. If you are looking for a rehash of “In Search of Truth” or “Recreation Day”, you may be slightly disappointed but if you are a fan of the more recent output, this new disk will surely find a place in your heart and record collection. I’m sure “Architects of a New Weave” will make my top ten for 2026 but where in that lineup is yet to be determined.
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