🎶 Evergrey
🌎Gothenburg, Sweden
📀 Architects of a New Weave
® Napalm Records
📅 05/06/2026
EVERGREY have reached the point where they have nothing left to prove. With more than three decades of career behind them, the Swedish progressive metal veterans have consistently demonstrated an impressive ability to evolve while remaining faithful to the core elements that established their identity. Their fifteenth studio album, “Architects of a New Weave”, arrives during a period of significant transition, with guitarist Henrik Danhage and drummer Jonas Ekdahl having passed the torch to Stephen Platt (SCAR SYMMETRY) and Simen Sandnes (TEMIC) respectively. Judging by the results, the new lineup has integrated seamlessly into the band’s vision.
Tom S. Englund had hinted that the new album would be a more dynamic and aggressive affair, and the final product largely delivers on that promise. Following the introductory “Welcome To The Pattern”, which establishes the album’s central theme of personal empowerment and the need to rely on one’s own strength when facing adversity, “The Shadow Self” provides the first real statement of intent. Explosive riffs, dramatic shifts in dynamics and the band’s trademark use of keyboards combine to create one of the album’s most representative tracks.
The title track, “Architects of a New Weave”, continues in a similar vein, blending power and melody with one of Englund’s strongest vocal performances on the record. Its commanding chorus seems tailor-made for live performances, reinforcing the song’s distinctly anthemic nature. Likewise, “The World Is On Fire”, one of the album’s lead singles, successfully merges EVERGREY’s progressive foundations with impressive guitar work and an immediately memorable refrain.
“Heaven” distinguishes itself through its faster pace and Englund’s varied vocal delivery, effectively conveying themes of inner struggle and the search for redemption. The guitar-driven instrumental section that dominates the latter half of the song stands out as one of its defining features. Next comes “The Script”, which slightly eases the intensity, allowing more room for atmosphere and showcasing Englund’s vocal versatility as he effortlessly transitions between restrained passages and heavier moments.
The album’s second half begins with “Leaving The Emptiness”, one of the most melodic and uplifting compositions on the record. Its gradual build-up culminates in one of the strongest choruses of the entire album, while the lyrics emphasize overcoming loneliness and emotional emptiness, enhancing the track’s ultimately positive and cathartic character.
EVERGREY’s melancholic side comes to the forefront in “Longing”, where Rikard Zander’s keyboards and Englund’s emotive vocal performance dominate the opening sections before the rest of the band gradually increases the intensity without ever stealing the spotlight. It stands as one of the album’s most emotionally resonant moments.
The album reaches its peak with “A Burning Flame”, featuring guest vocals from Mikael Stanne. By drawing on the melodic and emotional qualities he has recently showcased with CEMETERY SKYLINE, EVERGREY create a remarkable duet in which both vocalists complement each other perfectly. The song also contains one of the most inspired guitar solos on the entire record. That said, it would have been interesting to hear Stanne take a more prominent role in certain sections of the track.
“Call Off Your Lions”, the longest composition on the album, encapsulates nearly every aspect of EVERGREY’s contemporary sound. Atmospheric and cinematic when required, yet powerful and commanding in its climactic moments, it is built around an excellent chorus and the solid bass performance of Johan Niemann, which adds considerable depth and weight.
As the album approaches its conclusion, the groove-oriented “Chains of Shame” maintains both momentum and listener engagement before giving way to “The Prophecy”. The most atmospheric and emotionally charged piece on the record serves as a fitting finale, with Rikard Zander’s piano work and the contributions of Salina Englund on backing vocals being more prominent than ever, adding an especially moving dimension to the song.
“Architects of a New Weave” may not be the heaviest or most aggressive album EVERGREY have ever released, but it captures the band’s current artistic identity in its most complete form. The balance between melancholy, atmosphere, power and melody is nearly impeccable, proving once again that the Swedes continue to evolve without losing sight of the essence that has defined them throughout their career.
★ 9/10
✍🏻 Kostas Boudoukos
