Band:	Evergrey
Album:	Glorious Collision
Style:	Power metal, Progressive metal
Release date:	February 2011

01. Leave It Behind Us
02. You
03. Wrong
04. Frozen
05. Restoring The Loss
06. To Fit The Mold
07. Out Of Reach
08. The Phantom Letters
09. The Disease...
10. It Comes From Within
11. Free
12. I'm Drowning Alone
13. ...And The Distance
14. ...And The Distance [featuring Carina Englund] [bonus]

Some people might've thought this album would be a disaster, after the departure of two of the band members who participated on some of the best albums of the band. Have they lost their spark? Is it all coming to an abrupt end? Well, the album isn't a disaster. But it isn't monumental either; it is competent. This is a less edgy version of Evergrey, to say the least.

The album is uneven in quality and there is a clear division between the songs' appeal. Aside from that, let's forget about that album cover, shall we?

On one hand, there is some recycling of old ideas. That is the downside of the album. We have some uninspired and average songs that seem to go nowhere and never pick up the pace. Songs like "The Disease?" which is predictable and unpolished. Similarly, "?And The Distance" appears to be more of a filler than anything else remotely interesting. These two are probably the weakest songs on Glorious Collision. In addition to that, "Restoring the Loss" almost seems out of sync with the album; it would be best fitting for Torn, since it follows the same vein.

On the other hand, and contrasting with that, we have the songwriting talent of Englund and Zander, which still comes to the surface. Englund is looking for some variety on his vocals and searching for new melodies; that comes across on some of the songs. His vocals are stunning, as usual. "Out of Reach" and "Frozen" catch our ear, as you might say, and show us that there is still room for Evergrey to explore, as long as they continue wanting to be dynamic and feel motivated about their music. We also have a new addition as well, namely the use of more acoustic guitars on the album, which is rather unusual in Evergrey's discography.

There is a lyrical continuity on this album that doesn't stray away much from the usual concepts employed by the band. Also, Evergrey do ballads really well; "Wrong" and "Free" being a case in point. But they run the risk of becoming overused. "The Phantom Letters", which also starts off as a ballad, is one of the most varied and multidimensional songs of the album.

At the end of the day, and despite its flaws, Glorious Collision is still an enjoyable album because you have good songs. Some of the more demanding progressive metal fans, though, might find it a little disappointing, given the history of the band. But the past is in the past and the listeners who are familiar with the band will know better than to listen to this album looking for originality.

Highlights: "Out of Reach", "Frozen", "Free" and "To Fit The Mold".