After last years Recreation Day, Evergrey present their latest cd, The Inner Circle. Just like In Search Of Truth it is a concept album, only this time it deals with people abusing religious ideas in stead of alien abduction; quite an unusual theme, but on the other hand, Evergrey always go their own way. The band avoids the clichés of bashing Christianity. Singer Tom Englund states: “It`s about bashing fanatics, people who try to convince others to their way of thinking.” The progressive and dark melodic metal, form their previous albums, continues on this album. Jonas Ekdahl is a new member in the band. He used to be the bands drum-roadie, but after the departure of Patrick Carlsson he filled in the gap Carlsson left behind.

Englund’s wife, Carina Kjellberg provides the characteristic female vocals on a couple of tracks, while on most tracks the Gothenburg Symphony String Quartet provides a certain gloomy atmosphere. Musically the band has grown in its songwriting and composing and still it is typically Evergrey you’re listening to. Personal favorites are “A Touch of Blessing”, “In The Wake Of The Weary”, “Waking Up Blind” and “When The Walls Go Down”. The latter is an instrumental song with sound-bites of a man who asks forgiveness for his deeds. A beautiful song! The digipack of the new album contains three acoustic songs of Recreation Day, so try to get your hands on that one.