From www.insideoutmusic.com
Courtesy of Bravewords.com's Mark Gromen who was present at the Evergrey listening party this past weekend:
" The Swedish progressive metallers, who will open for the upcoming ICED EARTH/CHILDREN OF BODOM North American tour will issue The Inner Circle, right around the start of the tour (tentatively, April 27th). The band has been working on the dark/moody concept album for 5 months, since the end of last Fall's tour with ARCH ENEMY. The theme surrounds the travials/pains endured by the loved ones of a member of a religious cult. Punctuated by snippets of religious rhetoric, female backing vocals and a string quartet, from the Gothenburg Symphony, it's an interesting listen, almost painful to experience the emotions it uncovers. There's a sense of embarrassing voyeurism taking place, the listener being thrust in the midst of an uncomfortable situation.
The running order is as follows: 'A Touch Of Blessing', 'Ambassador', 'In The Wake Of The Weary', 'Harmless Wishes', 'Waking Up Blind', 'More Than Ever', 'The Essence Of Conviction', 'Where All Good Sleep', 'Faith Restored' and 'When The Walls Go Down'.
The lanky singer/songwriter/guitarist explains how The Inner Circle came to fruition.
"I wouldn't wish this on anyone," he says of the lengthy odyssey which ended only minutes before the assembled journalists would get to hear the album (it was actually being burned to disc as we enjoyed refreshments). "On the last album, we did 'Unforgivable' and that thought stayed with me, about people abusing children, then hiding behind their religion, or whatever, to get away from the law. It's despicable. It makes me so mad, like I could kill someone. Seriously. We actually thought about doing this concept for the last record, but there was too little time, to really get into the subject. We don't want to accuse someone, without knowing what we're talking about. This isn't about bashing Christianity, it's about bashing fanatics, people who try to convince others to their way of thinking. Society today wants someone to tell them how/what to think. Our (concert) t-shirts are going to say, 'I am my own God, God walking."
Courtesy of Bravewords.com's Mark Gromen who was present at the Evergrey listening party this past weekend:
" The Swedish progressive metallers, who will open for the upcoming ICED EARTH/CHILDREN OF BODOM North American tour will issue The Inner Circle, right around the start of the tour (tentatively, April 27th). The band has been working on the dark/moody concept album for 5 months, since the end of last Fall's tour with ARCH ENEMY. The theme surrounds the travials/pains endured by the loved ones of a member of a religious cult. Punctuated by snippets of religious rhetoric, female backing vocals and a string quartet, from the Gothenburg Symphony, it's an interesting listen, almost painful to experience the emotions it uncovers. There's a sense of embarrassing voyeurism taking place, the listener being thrust in the midst of an uncomfortable situation.
The running order is as follows: 'A Touch Of Blessing', 'Ambassador', 'In The Wake Of The Weary', 'Harmless Wishes', 'Waking Up Blind', 'More Than Ever', 'The Essence Of Conviction', 'Where All Good Sleep', 'Faith Restored' and 'When The Walls Go Down'.
The lanky singer/songwriter/guitarist explains how The Inner Circle came to fruition.
"I wouldn't wish this on anyone," he says of the lengthy odyssey which ended only minutes before the assembled journalists would get to hear the album (it was actually being burned to disc as we enjoyed refreshments). "On the last album, we did 'Unforgivable' and that thought stayed with me, about people abusing children, then hiding behind their religion, or whatever, to get away from the law. It's despicable. It makes me so mad, like I could kill someone. Seriously. We actually thought about doing this concept for the last record, but there was too little time, to really get into the subject. We don't want to accuse someone, without knowing what we're talking about. This isn't about bashing Christianity, it's about bashing fanatics, people who try to convince others to their way of thinking. Society today wants someone to tell them how/what to think. Our (concert) t-shirts are going to say, 'I am my own God, God walking."
That sounds definitely more promising, lyrics-wise. Unforgivable was one of my favourites on Recreation Day too.
