EVERMORE

EVERMORE     “In Memoriam”

By Iron Sheik

EVERMORE is a three piece comprised of Johan Haraldsson on lead and backing vocals,

Johan Karlsson on lead and rhythm guitar, bass, keyboards, orchestration, backing vocals, and

Andreas Vikland on guitars, drums, orchestration, lyrics. They hail from Europe and are like HELLOWEEN on steroids. Musically and vocally. I wasn't sure what to expect when I read they are a band supposedly rewriting European power metal. 

After a brief instrumental “Forevermore” opens “In Memoriam” in a bombastic manner soaring through harmonized vocals and heavy riffs. “Nightfire” is on it's way slowing the pace a bit, but next track “I Am The Flame” picks up the speed again with a pace sure to leave scorch marks. As far as the rest of the album goes it alternates between these styles and paces with great ease and success.

Vocally Johan Haraldsson is in the upper register while singing a majority of this album, and the keyboards and choir like background effects fill the songs otherwise empty spaces as well as taking Johan's vocals seemingly higher. It is as if the songs cannot live and breathe without them, and even the high register vocals at times are a bit much. It has been done before.

“In Memoriam”, the song, keeps the pace of high octane power metal going with all the aforementioned traits. Some of the low register vocals appear here to excellent effect. It would be nice to hear Johan sing in a lower more normal range, but he is an excellent singer nonetheless.

Catching my ear making me turn my head like a dog does is the track “Parvus Rex”, almost musically like a slowed down remake of “Painkiller”. Vocally it caught me off guard too at that first instance of Johan sounding like Rob Halford. Just an instance. It does keep the Painkiller(esque) vibe going until its conclusion thus bringing us to album closer “Queen Of Woe”. Speed and lower register vocals take us out to great effect here. 

“In Memoriam” is all done quicker than ever leaving the listener wanting more. Minor complaints aside, this is a great power metal album by a trio of excellent European musicians. As for rewriting European power metal, well, I don't think that is quite right as they sounded just like any other European power metal band to me. Carrying the flag for European power metal might be a better descriptor.

SCARLET RECORDS 

EVERMORE