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Torn is the record that will mark a full-blown return
to form for Evergrey as this album is an expansion on their
early records such as Solitude-Dominance-Tragedy, forgoing
a lot of the prog elements that have dominated albums such
as In Search of Truth, and of course, not hearkening any semi-commercial
tendencies ala Roadrunner Records like they did on their last
release, Monday Morning Apocalypse; Torn is a solid metal
record through and through, dark with the patented Evergrey
moodiness, this is an album that embraces what brooding, riff
driven madness is all about.
So without any overzealous Dream Theater overtones and
consistent staccato rhythms, Torn is a record that gets to
the point, emphasizing power and emotion – the real way, and
consistent is the haunting mood throughout the record, where
shadowy moodiness is executed in full force. You have hard
driving upbeat cuts such as “Fear,” “Broken Wings,” “In Confidence”
and the groove laden “Numb” that find themselves embarked
within the pall, but the record finds itself laid down with
Sabbathy requiems such as “When Kingdoms Fall,” “Still Walk
Alone,” “Soaked” and the anguish riddled title track giving
the record a 50/50 mix of mournful aggression and dimmed spirits.
Even the production itself has a dark sound to it throughout,
not necessarily ‘muddy’ like the original release of Enemies
of Reality or even Hotter than Hell, but its simply sonically
enhances the overall vibe – yet there is a density with all
the guitar layering. Torn is in line with In Flames (with
clean vocals), Iced Earth, and Nevermore, but yet it sees
Evergrey continuing on a path of their own, in solidarity
with their technical might and metallic glory, for fierceness
is endured front to back.
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