Evermore is a melodic metal band from Sweden, formed by Johan Karlsson and Andreas Viklands. The band is completed by singer Johan “Blizz” Haraldsson. In 2020, the band independently released the three-song E.
P. ‘Northern Cross’, and in 2021, (also independently) released the full-length album ‘Court Of The Tyrant King’ – re-released in 2022 via Scarlet Records.
Featuring the three songs from the bands E.P. along with five new ones, ‘Court Of The Tyrant King’ features a power metal sound highly influenced by bands such as Helloween, Avantasia, HammerFall, Edguy, and Stratovarius – but also by traditional metal such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. But Evermore goes one step further, incorporating heavier elements from bands such as Metallica, Pantera, Children Of Bodom, Slayer, and Megadeth. Almost a who’s who of genre-defining bands from the last four decades – the expectation is high for a good album.
And so, the album, ‘Court Of The Tyrant King’ – opens with a one-minute instrumental ‘Hero’s Journey’, a cinematic crescendo that builds breathless anticipation for what is to come. And what is to come is ‘Call Of The Wild’, a full-on and fast-paced gallop of melodic power metal. And right off the bat, Evermore set their stall out, scorching the Earth as they stride on by. The fast pace doesn’t let up either, ‘Rising Tide’ moving swiftly on, more melodic than the opener, and with a helluva catchy and sing a long style chorus. The opening double has been fun power metal, the kind that is jolly, smile-inducing, and very pleasing to the ear. Think ‘I Want Out’ and ‘Dr. Stein’ era Helloween and you’ll get what I mean…
The title song ‘Court Of The Tyrant King’ is heavier than the first couple of songs – full of punch and crunch as it picks up speed and motors on at high velocity. The addition of more prominent female vocals adds a touch of surprise to the song, with the band on to a sure-fire winner with this one. The insane pace and power have been delightful and heartwarming and will attract fans from every corner, country, nook, and cranny of the world.
Waltzing into the epic and glory styles of heavy metal, ‘Northern Cross’ is a high-energy sizzler. Emphatic and engaging rhythms strike at the hearts of listeners, causing their arms to rise, lifting their fists high, and punching the air in delight. And as an avid fan of power metal, how did Evermore‘s E.P. pass under my radar…?
At over seven minutes in length, ‘See No Evil’ is the longest song on offer and is a triumph of atmosphere, melody, and tension. Mellow to start, building to a gallop, and running off at pace, ‘See No Evil’ is an out-and-out power metal romp of high melodic mastery. Evermore have landed, and are shouting very loudly from the rooftops – with everyone everywhere hearing them loud and clear. The cinematic style of the opening intro makes a stunning return to breathe life into ‘My Last Command’, yet another engaging power metal gallop. Again displaying the slightly heavier side to Evermore, the cinematic feel remains, with the chorus a glorious hymn-like sing-a-long. ‘By Death Reborn’ brings the album to a close in a blaze of traditionally styled “foot on the monitor” heavy metal. The old-school feel is intoxicating, especially for an old-school metal head like myself, and ends the album in a glorious fashion. The high expectation for a good album has been exceeded, with ‘Court Of The Tyrant King’ a very good album.
Overall, a feisty foray into fast-paced power metal, highly infectious, heavily melodic, and hugely addictive.
TRACKLIST
Hero’s Journey
Call Of The Wild
Rising Tide
Court Of The Tyrant King
Northern Cross
See No Evil
My Last Command
By Death Reborn
Evermore: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Scarlet Records
Category: Album
Country: Sweden
Reviewed by Iron Mathew for Frenzy Fire, and Metal-Roos.
