Review by Xephyr for Evergrey - In Search of Truth (2001)

Honed Consistency

Despite Progressive Metal being one of my preferred subgenres, I've recently realized that my knowledge and scope of the genre has been admittedly lacking. Evergrey's earlier catalogue has been one of those instances, considering I've spent the most time with these Swedes from 2019 and beyond. The Atlantic captivated me at the time of its release and caused me to blitz through their earlier discography without a whole lot of retention, but it became swiftly apparent that Evergrey are rock-solid musicians and very consistent in their quality. Consistency eventually comes at a price though, with Escape of the Phoenix and especially A Heartless Portrait: The Orphean Testament showing signs of a waning formula that produces solid but sometimes sterile results. So, in going back to one of their predominant albums, it gave me a chance to analyze a more primed and inspired Evergrey to really nail down what made this band one of the most dependable and unwavering Progressive Metal bands of the early 2000's. 

The more that I peruse Evergrey's discography, the more I realize that I enjoyed The Atlantic more than most due to its well crafted, prevailing themes and atmosphere, and In Search of Truth shows that they've been accomplishing that level of storytelling even towards the beginning of their career. While I can't say I personally care for the tape recordings gimmick due to it being a bit too dramatic for my liking, the shadowy and slightly more Gothic atmosphere is extremely well done and consistent throughout the album. The eventual culmination of the recordings and the breakdown of the main character during "Different Worlds" didn't really stir any emotions in me, despite it being a powerful moment in the album on the whole. The keyboards and strings are a massive component of In Search of Truth's mysterious atmosphere and while they serve their purpose in carrying a ton of melody and creating interesting backdrops to the riffing, tracks like "Rulers of the Mind" definitely sound a bit cheesy despite warming up to it over the course of a few listens. Evergrey's riffs and overall songwriting choices have always been tight and airing on the simpler side for Progressive Metal though, so this allows the more supplemental instruments to take a few more risks without it sounding like a jumbled mess. The production and mixing of these different elements isn't as all-encompassing as their modern albums, which thankfully lets Tom Englund's top class riffing feel more aggressive and biting compared to their more bombastic but slightly more sterile modern production. There's a distinct and beneficial separation between the synths and guitar that allows each to shine through, but it can decidedly be a bit awkward for the synths at times as they aren't exactly seamlessly incorporated and stick out a tad too much sometimes. Evergrey's riffing style remains evergreen as there are a ton of familiar grooves like the quintessential, sweeping scales of "Watching The Skies" which, with the differences in guitar production, makes modern versions of the idea like "Blindfolded" feel a bit lackluster in comparison. 

One aspect that has changed, however, is the vocals. Englund on In Search Of Truth is rawer and almost never goes into the clearer and cleaner style of the modern albums. He always has a scratchy gruffness which adds to the more aggressive and darker tone of the album, but in tandem makes certain slower and softer parts of songs fall a bit flat. His delivery on "Different Worlds" is fantastic, but choruses like "Ruler of the Mind" feel a bit too raspy and out of place, maybe benefitting from the clearer and more powerful style of their modern material. The interlude ballad "State Of Paralysis" is confirmation that Englund can also handle a brief but dynamic stint in the spotlight without bogging down the album's flow. Overall, the vocals do a fantastic job of selling the shadowy atmosphere in a way that they can't seem to capture on their newer releases, since these vocals have so much more identity to them. 

In Seach of Truth has made me realize what I respect about Evergrey, though, and that's their ability to make Progressive Metal more approachable by removing a lot of the bloated aspects of the genre. While I think that the band as a whole is lacking some sort of spice that makes Progressive Metal truly special, there's an amount of deserved recognition to be given to a band that can successfully distill the tropes of the genre into tight, compelling packages. There are still enough twists and turns to satisfy a devotee's hunger, the needless detours and extended instrumental instrumental sections are trimmed in favor of more snappy solos and relentless grooves to keep the album moving along with fantastic pacing. This approach leaves something to be desired throughout In Search of Truth's entirety, but I'll absolutely take it over another hour and a half of bland and bloated Progressive Metal any day of the week. With the absence of massive highlights, though, the lower points of the album shine through a bit brighter than normal. "Dark Waters" remains a confusing song to me as I don't think the operatic interludes exactly work out despite the harrowing piano opening trying desperately to set the Gothic atmosphere.

I'm unsure as to whether I would call In Search of Truth a true Progressive Metal classic considering how tame it is compared to its contemporaries, but at the same time, it showcases a band that is incredibly consistent and creative without overstepping their boundaries in a genre that is notorious for being a bit too full of itself. Despite having a soft spot for their modern material, In Search of Truth is able to showcase their fantastic vocals, driving riffs, and seamless supporting keyboards in a rawer and honestly more compelling fashion.  I don't think this album is in a league of its own compared to the rest of their own discography, but I do think it's their strongest showing by a thin margin.