HammerFall at The Mercury Music Lounge

Evergrey is a Swedish progressive metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1993 by guitarist and vocalist Tom S. Englund and guitarist Dan Bronell. The band was established as a progressive power metal act, differing from the melodic death metal style commonly associated with the Gothenburg music scene. Evergrey's lyrical themes and visual presentation have consistently focused on darker subject matter. After establishing a stable lineup, the band recorded its debut album, "The Dark Discovery", in 1996, which was released in 1998. This was followed by "Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy" in 1999. While these early releases explored a range of themes, the subsequent albums "In Search of Truth" (2001) and "Recreation Day" (2003) were structured as concept albums. "Recreation Day" addressed themes including suicide, mourning, and reflection on past actions, with songs such as "As I Lie Here Bleeding", "I'm Sorry", and "Unforgivable". The latter track influenced the thematic direction of the next album, "The Inner Circle" (2004), which examined topics such as cults, religion, and abuse. The band's sixth studio album, "Monday Morning Apocalypse", was released on 4 April 2006 and reached number 6 on the Swedish charts. In the same year, Evergrey performed at several European festivals and toured the United States alongside other metal bands. They also undertook a European tour later in 2006. In September 2008, Evergrey released their seventh studio album, "Torn". Around this time, bassist Jari Kainulainen joined the band as a permanent member. Earlier in 2008, the band signed a contract with Steamhammer/SPV, which included the release of new material and their back catalogue. In May 2010, drummer Jonas Ekdahl, guitarist Henrik Danhage, and bassist Jari Kainulainen left the band by mutual agreement, citing interpersonal difficulties. Later that year, the band announced a new album, "Glorious Collision", which was released in February 2011. In 2013, during the writing process for a new album, drummer Hannes Van Dahl departed to join another band full-time, and guitarist Marcus Jidell also left due to collaboration issues. In 2014, former members Henrik Danhage and Jonas Ekdahl returned to the band. The album "Hymns for the Broken" was released in September 2014, followed by "The Storm Within" in 2016 and "The Atlantic" in 2019. These three albums were produced by Jacob Hansen and form a conceptual trilogy. Evergrey's twelfth studio album, "Escape of the Phoenix", was released on 26 February 2021 and was recognized by a music publication as one of the notable progressive metal releases of that year. In August 2021, the band signed a new contract with Napalm Records and began work on further material. The thirteenth studio album, "A Heartless Portrait (The Orphéan Testament)", was released on 20 May 2022. In December 2023, the band issued a compilation album titled "From Dark Discoveries To Heartless Portraits" to mark the 30th anniversary of its formation. In April 2024, Evergrey released the single "Falling from the Sun" and announced the album "Theories of Emptiness", which was released on 7 June 2024. In May 2024, drummer Jonas Ekdahl stepped down to focus on production and mixing work, and Simen Sandnes joined as his replacement. On 6 November 2025, the band released the single "Oxygen" and announced a European tour in support of another band. Shortly afterward, guitarist Henrik Danhage took a break from the group, with Stephen Platt serving as a live replacement. In April 2026, the band confirmed that they had parted ways with Danhage, and Platt subsequently became a full-time member. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergrey Studio albums The Dark Discovery (1998) Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy (1999) In Search of Truth (2001) Recreation Day (2003) The Inner Circle (2004) Monday Morning Apocalypse (2006) Torn (2008) Glorious Collision (2011) Hymns for the Broken (2014) The Storm Within (2016) The Atlantic (2019) Escape of the Phoenix (2021) A Heartless Portrait (The Orphéan Testament) (2022) Theories of Emptiness (2024) Architects of a New Weave (2026)