Phillip Strange

REVIEW: Evilyn Strange – Evilution (2016 EP)

NEW RELEASE

Scan_20160301EVILYN STRANGE – Evilution (2016 limited edition promo EP)

Well alright alright alright! Β 2016 has been a stinky year so far with the winter “blahs” and far too many musical deaths. Β It’s time for something new and something positive. Β Thankfully the trio Evilyn Strange have picked this time to return with their new EP, Evilution.

I like a sense of continuity in cover art, and lead singer Phillip Strange is responsible for this one. Β I like that you can immediately tell it’s the same band. Β With the last album, Mourning Phoebe, I couldn’t quite tell what kind of music I was going to find inside. Β Evilution on the other hand looks like rock and roll and nothing but. Β Are you ready to be slain?

I was surprised by the heaviness and speed of the opening track “Let It Rain”. Β Great riff, great vocal melody, and tasteful use of backing keyboards — I get a sense of 80’s metal meeting the modern age, and I like that just fine. Β In particular it’s the menacing double bass of “The Ghost” (drums/keys) that drives the song into your skull. Β Once it’s in there, it ain’t coming out.

“Invisible Man” grooves rather than thrashes, but again the tasteful backing keyboard adds nice accents and moods. Β Phillip kicks ass on this vocal, imbuing the song with melancholy power. Β Throw on a smoking solo by Mikael Johannesson and step back because this baby explodes! Β I can’t say who this song reminds me of. Β It has elements of lots of bands that I enjoy, from Sabbath to Whitesnake. Β But “Storm Clouds” is thrash metal, pure and simple. Β I can’t find a more appropriate tag. Β The Ghost’s slamming on it, while Mikael riffs away faster than I can headbang. Β The only thing unlike thrash metal is Phillip’s singing, always melodic. Β This is challenging, impressive stuff — maybe a bit too busy? Β It packs more into one song than most hard rock bands put into an entire side.

More Strange-like is “Never”, a powerful metal ballad. Β Phillip injects the song with the required angst and there’s even a hint of some bluesy slide guitar. Β A proper soft ballad ends the EP on a dramatic note. Β This song “Stay” couldn’t be more different from “Storm Clouds”, only two songs prior. Β Somehow it all works as a fairly cohesive EP. Β That’s the vocals of Phillip Strange holding it together, I think, tying the songs.

Evilyn Strange named this EP appropriately. Β They are evolving, as all bands must. Β That they took such a strong lean on old, classic thrash and metal influences was a delightful surprise to me. Β I didn’t see that one coming. Β But much like evolution in the biological world, old traits still remain. Β These are the memorable riffs, melodies and musical themes. Β What’s very interesting however is that Evilyn Strange have a full-length album coming later this year, and it’s entirely new material. Β Can we expect another evolution? Β I think it’s possible….

Check out Evilyn Strange at evilynstrange.co.uk, where you can buy this limited edition CD for a piddly Β£3.99. Β Click the link on their page if you prefer iTunes. Β Do what you need to get this in your ears!

4.5/5 stars

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For Aaron‘s review at KeepsMeAlive, click here!

For Jon‘s review at e-tainment reviews, click here!

REVIEW: Evilyn Strange – Mourning Phoebe (2013)

EVILYN STRANGEΒ – Mourning Phoebe (2013)

I’ll be the first to admit that I rarely listen to new bands anymore, even though 20 years ago I was on top of every new band coming out, good or bad. Β It was a pleasure to hear a strong album like Mourning Phoebe. Β Then I found out that the band Evilyn Strange aren’t newcomers, although Mourning Phoebe is the first release under that name. Β When they first started releasing hard rock as Double Eclipse, it was the height of Brit Pop, grunge, and all that. Β Thankfully times have turned since then.

E STRANGE_0002I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect based on the artwork. Β What I ended up getting was a pretty solid mix of hard rock, heavy metal, grunge, pop rock, and other assorted loud music. Β The first song “The Ballad of Evilyn Strange” is a perfect example. Β The verses have an Alice In Chains drone-y vibe to them, while underneath I hear a guitar hook reminiscent of “Tower’s Calling” by Europe. Β With that already in the mix, the choruses blast out in singalong fashion.

There’s a lot of great playing here, particularly the guitar playing. Β The solos sound like a great mix of shred and composition. I also hear a lot of that 80’s LA metal sound that I like. Β It’s mixed up with more progressive moments, piano breaks and plenty of hooks.

I found the album to drag a tad towards the beginning. Β “Your Eyes Give You Away” and “Everything”, while both great songs, are a bit slow for me at the start of an album. Β To say they’re ballads would be selling them short though, they’re more dramatic songs with heavy moments as well. Β “Everything” picks up at the end, and goes into something almost like Poets and Madmen-era Savatage for a minute!

There’s an epic quality to many of the songs, and others just rock out. “Just A Little” is a good example of a solid hard rock song that delivers hooks directly and immediately. “Love Finds You” also rocks solidly with a slippery slide guitar. I’m a sucker for the slide. Good song, great chorus.

The only other thing I would criticize is the drum sound. I’m not a big fan of it, but the truth is you get used to it and it doesn’t detract from the songs. Songwriting is more important than a snare drum sound.

Evilyn Strange are an English/Swedish band consisting of twins Phillip and Al Strange (vocals & bass, drums & keys respectively) and guitarist Mikael Johannesson. Lemme tell you, Johannesson smokes! I don’t know his exact influences, but I think I can hear a bit of Dio-era Vivian Campbell. Either way, he absolutely cuts it.

Finally, I think the cover art is cool and eye-catching, and I like that they included a guitar pick in the CD. To me it’s a touch like this that keeps physical product interesting in the face of downloading.

I like this album. I wish them success.

4/5 stars
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