Tell me something, do you feel sad? Do you feel neglected by a world that has denied you the right to be yourself? To spread your wings and fly beyond your somber prison, all without feeling rage? That’s a good description of what Evergrey represents to me, the prolific Power Metal band turned dark Heavy Metal. It’s been quite a trip since I discovered them via Recreation Day (oh! shouldn’t we retro-review that? It’s older than some countries now), but today we’re talking about Theories of Emptiness. Does it stack up to such a long and diverse discography, or will it leave you truly heartbroken? I hope you bring tissues because we’re punching you right in the feels today.
Theories of Emptiness is melancholic as only a band from the west of the North can get. If you’ve ever been to Gothenburg, you know there are three things to do: be a drunk student, be a depressed researcher, or have a Metal band. Hence, nobody will be surprised that despite its commercial appeal and its gorgeous clean production, it carries a sadness that can hardly be put into words. The “heavy” riffing here doesn’t express anger; it expresses the incredible weight of sorrow and despair. I find it fascinating how Evergrey is kind of Gothic and almost Emo in its treatment of emotional distress, yet it remains quite dignified. Not much here will make you say, “jeez, that’s cheesy.”
It’s not an album diametrically different from previous installments like A Heartless Portrait or The Storm Within (both of which I highly recommend if you want to sink into depression without actually being depressed). It has all the fun elements of an Evergrey album. Perhaps I’d highlight the wide range of vocal resources used here, but then again, Englund has some of the most impressive pipes in Metal—hardly a new discovery. Now, I’m happy you brought your tissues because we’re about to enter that part of the review where I tell you: “I see that you’re crying but…[insert insensitive/douche statement your friends use to show they allegedly care]”; the concerning parts!
Theories might not hit as hard as other previous albums in Evergrey‘s catalog. I can live with that, but it does get a bit long and one-note when everything feels so gloomy in a dramatic way. The album could’ve done fine with maybe one or two tracks left out, especially the final track. I don’t think we needed something so teary to close; we have a lot of that throughout the album. The middle tracks are also good, but the first three to four tracks hit harder than those pills you take when you want to forget, so it’s hard to compete with that balance between meanness and bleakness.
I still believe that Theories of Emptiness is a respectable addition to Evergrey‘s immense and evolving discography. In fact, if you want the deep sad child challenge, you could put on all their records one by one, with no breaks, to see how long you last before you want to have your own Metal band in the butt of the northern hemisphere. I bet you won’t make it to In Search of Truth before you’re ready. Great! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have sad poems to write to deal with the pain.
Label: Napalm Records
Release date: 7 June, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Evergrey
Country: Sweden
Score: a sad pianist playing in the dark, or 3.0/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 