Everon

The German outfit Everon delivers hard-edged neo-progressive music shaped by the later work of Marillion and Rush. Ralf Janssen on guitar, Christian Moos on drums, and Schymy on bass launched the project in 1989 after several years of playing together; the lineup reached completion when they recruited vocalist Oliver Phillips, previously frontman of Jester's Palace. Their debut, Paradoxes, arrived in 1993 as a confident opening statement of song-focused yet intricate progressive material, produced by EROC, ex-drummer of Grobschnitt. The predominantly up-tempo album moved briskly in the marketplace, prompting the band to reunite with EROC for the follow-up, Flood, issued in 1995. That record emphasized tougher textures while introducing several subdued pieces that placed greater weight on keyboards than the first release had. Although critics responded positively, the group's label SI Music collapsed, preventing stronger sales. Contemplating a breakup, Everon nevertheless secured a new deal and delivered the heavier Venus in 1997, widely viewed as their most accomplished statement to that point. Janssen departed the following year and was succeeded by guitarist Ulli Hoever. The next album, Fantasma, surfaced in 2000, pushing further into aggressive territory and occasionally veering toward progressive metal in the expansive manner associated with Savatage.