Second Evergrey concert in three months? Why not? I could easily see them once a month. Favorite band and of course terribly underrated, though in the last decade their popularity has gone way up. Of course, they’re not at the levels they should be based on the quality they have but that’s a very long discussion. So, to get into the last month of 2024 in the best possible way, a trip to the historic Kyttaro was in order.
The schedule was kept to the fullest throughout the night and so right on time the Italians (based in Switzerland) Virtual Symmetry took the stage when there were still forty people in the venue. This didn’t deter them though, as it was their last show on this tour and they had a tremendous mood and performance. The band plays progressive metal of the classic school, namely that of Dream Theater, and they do it in a convincing way by having interesting compositions. There were also two…TVs set up (due to Evergrey bringing their own equipment which was at the back of the stage) from which they played video clips and visuals, depending on the song. Just before the end, Klogr also came up for a moment, showing the bond that had developed between them all this time. They already have three full-lengths under their belt and in the next few days they will release their fourth one titled “Veils Of Illumination”. Fans of the prog sound should check them out and they might find something they like.
Next in line were the also Italian Klogr (pronounced Key-Log-Are), who found the Kyttaro much more crowded when they started. They were just as hungry, with their leader Gabriele “Rusty” Rustichelli on guitars/vocals being quite talkative and excited to be playing in our country. Of course, their alternative metal didn’t tell me much, but it was a thoughtful performance. They too with four full-lengths in their discography, with the latest “Fractured Realities” having come out very recently and if I understood correctly a video clip has been shot for all the songs, which we’ve been watching on the TVs. Although they didn’t match the headliners sonically, the audience seemed to enjoy what they were seeing. Just before they closed their set, Virtual Symmetry returned the…interference and took to the stage to get the crowd going. In the end they earned a big round of applause and left us with the classic promise that we will see them again from our country.
And finally, the time has come for the Swedish prog masters. The countdown soundtrack started, which they now use at every show, in which samples from their songs could be heard. One by one the musicians took their place and amidst the apotheosis they started off strong with “Falling From The Sun” and “Say” from their latest excellent album “Theories Of Emptiness”. This was followed by the wonderful “Midwinter Calls” with the crowd singing the tune loudly creating a fantastic atmosphere. Rikard Zander plays the first notes of “Distance” on the keyboards, leader Tom Englund greets us and tells us that when they had written this song in 2016 our world was really fucked up. He goes on to say that it has now gotten worse but he invited us for the duration of their performance to forget all our problems and enjoy this evening. He wasn’t wrong but the opening lyrics were a stab in the heart: “It’s lost but we’ll find it again, we must try even if it’s a distant future”.
Evergrey are phenomenal once again, pulling you into their world where there is nothing but what you are living in that moment. It’s the fifth time I’ve seen them in our country and probably the best. The tremendous mood they had, the flawless performance, the lights, the visuals and the videos that played on the video walls, the whole set was definitely the most elaborate and professional that they have presented to us so far. The only objection that may be raised by many is in the setlist, since apart from their most recognizable song “A Touch Of Blessing” which came out in 2004, everything else was from the last decade. Makes sense I’d say, as since the sensational “Hymns For The Broken” they’ve seen their name grow plus they’re now well into their fourteen full-lengths, so it’s impossible satisfy everyone. Personally though, as long as anthems like the haunting “Call Out The Dark”, “One Heart”, “Save Us” and “King Of Errors” are heard that have nothing to envy from their first period, I’m perfectly happy.
Setlist: Falling From The Sun, Say, Midwinter Calls, Distance, Eternal Nocturnal, A Silent Arc, Call Out The Dark, One Heart, Where August Mourn, Weightless, Misfortune, Save Us, A Touch Of Blessing, King Of Errors, Our Way Of Silence
Two very good support acts that didn’t let the opportunity to open for a bigger one go to waste and honored their effort by satisfying the crowd that saw them. And of course, Evergrey who we will never tire of seeing and hopefully it won’t take them another five years to visit us even though it’s been a covid since then. The Swedes are a rare band with great, special and unique music. Every performance is redemptive and as I wrote above, this one was probably their best yet. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
P.S.: At one point, a girl in front of me was telling two of her friends about an awesome thrash band from Pakistan (!) that they should check them out. On a quick search, she probably meant Tabahi who are indeed awesome and I thank her for that suggestion.
George Terzakis
Photos: Petros Papapetros
