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Nevermore



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Original post

Posted by , 17.05.2006 - 10:54
"Seattle's NEVERMORE welcome you to "This Godless Endeavor", a grand overture where musical tapestries are fascinatingly complex while entirely accessible. The band's sixth full-length marks another peak in NEVERMORE's rapid ascend in the Metal scene and falls into line with its highly acclaimed predecessors. The first of which being the self-titled debut album released in 1995, one year after the official foundation of the band by former SANCTUARY members Warrel Dane (vocals), Jeff Loomis (guitar) and Jim Sheppard (bass). By adding drummer Van Williams the nucleus of NEVERMORE was born. Though at that time the world all-to-willingly embraced the Grunge-movement, the band dared to continue their vision for a creative and multi-faceted Metal sound. The internationally reputed producer Neil Kernon (Queensryche, Judas Priest, Flotsam & Jetsam, Yes, Rolling Stones, Journey) believed in the potential of NEVERMORE and recorded their impressive debut at his own risk. It did not take too long until the quartet was signed to Century Media Records and due to the fans' pleasant memories of SANCTUARY, and NEVERMORE's touring activities (Europe with Blind Guardian, US with Death) they could raise a good amount of interest throughout the Metal scene and found a lot of thankful purchasers.

The follow-up "In Memory" EP (1996) and the second album "The Politics Of Ecstasy" (1996) displayed NEVERMORE on their quest for their very own, unmistakable sound. The band experimented with a whole lot of influences from various styles and impressed with a great degree of highly-technical finesse that never endangered the catchiness of the songs. Still, NEVERMORE never wrote songs that easily stuck in your head, even though they're nowhere near as complicated as an Ikea construction manual, resulting in listeners giving their albums four or five runs before the variety of each song becomes obvious.

After "The Politics Of Ecstasy" the band parted ways with their second guitarist Pat O'Brien (now in Cannibal Corpse) and it took them almost a year until they found former Forbidden-member Tim Calvert to fill the vacant spot. With this line-up they recorded the masterly "Dreaming Neon Black" (1999) which showed the perfect balance between all the different components of the NEVERMORE sound. There were small, complex mini-dramas as well as super-tight thrashers and quiet, emotional tunes opposed to angry noise eruptions. NEVERMORE managed to create an album equipped with numerous non-metal trademarks which sound appealing to the usually very sensitively reacting true metal community. Or maybe it was still metal enough that it could not even upset the die-hard purists? Anyway, it is a matter of fact that the career of our five heroes just went straight up. Seemingly endless, but still extremely successful tours followed the release, the US was toured not less than four times, Europe was frequently visited (with LeFay - now Morgana Lefay again -, Sacred Steel, Nocturnal Rites) and they even stopped in Australia for a number of shows. After all, guitarist Tim Calvert decided to leave the band in early 2000 to focus on non-musical activities. The remaining band members decided to carry on as a four-piece and did not hesitate to start recording their fourth album "Dead Heart In A Dead World (2000)". For the first time not Neil Kernon but Andy Sneap (Machine Head, Testament, Skinlab, Napalm Death, Stuck Mojo) worked the knobs and moved especially Loomis "skin-flaying" guitar play to the production's forefront. Again tireless world touring followed and turned songs like "Narcosynthesis" and "Inside Four Walls" into anthemic fan favorites. German Rock Hard magazine stated fittingly: "This is the masterpiece of one of the most talented bands in present time".

2003's Enemies Of Reality received similar praise: "must have album of the year" said Outburn Magazine, Guitar One called NEVERMORE's newest songs "opuses that often reach dark symphonic peaks". With performing at Europe's largest rock festivals including the infamous Dynamo, the prestigious Wacken Open Air and sharing stage with metal's elite including Arch Enemy, Children Of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir, Iced Earth, King Diamond and Opeth throughout their recording career NEVERMORE could manifest the high position they deservedly occupy within the metal scene.

Now, in 2005, "This Godless Endeavor" is the title of the band's latest work to date and was recorded at England's Backstage Studios, once again with Andy Sneap (who not only produced "Dead Heart In A Dead World" but also just recently re-worked "Enemies Of Reality"). "This Godless Endeavor" captures "the most ripping guitar work we've recorded", says vocalist Warrel Dane. Marking his NEVERMORE recording debut, guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-Testament/Dragonlord) joins core members Dane, Jeff Loomis, Jim Sheppard and Van Williams. Hugh Syme (Rush, Megadeth) provided stark album artwork, which according to Dane, "incorporates our ongoing theme of everyone wearing a mask." Appearing on the mainstage of Megadeth's Gigantour throughout the summer as well as moving over to Europe for a string of summer festivals and a full club-tour by September, NEVERMORE ask you to venture out, to experience the unfathomable, to join them on This Godless Endeavor. An album determined to become a future classic of the metal movement? "

Nevermore is:
Warrel Dane - vocals
Jeff Loomis - lead, rhythmn and acoustic guitars
Steve Smyth - lead, rhythmn and acoustic guitars
Jim Sheppard - bass
Van Williams - drums

Website: www.nevermore.tv
06.05.2011 - 01:00
BloodTears
ANA-thema
Written by Guest on 06.05.2011 at 00:59

Written by BloodTears on 06.05.2011 at 00:32

Written by Yasmine on 05.05.2011 at 22:04

There are actually some pretty good replacements floating around out there, but.......I'd rather see them call it a day on this project.


What replacements?

Like Rusty Cooley f.e?


Either way it didn't matter to me, because that's not Nevermore.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.


My Instagram
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06.05.2011 - 01:12
BloodTears
ANA-thema
Written by Guest on 06.05.2011 at 01:05

Written by BloodTears on 06.05.2011 at 01:00

Written by Guest on 06.05.2011 at 00:59

Written by BloodTears on 06.05.2011 at 00:32

Written by Yasmine on 05.05.2011 at 22:04

There are actually some pretty good replacements floating around out there, but.......I'd rather see them call it a day on this project.


What replacements?

Like Rusty Cooley f.e?


Either way it didn't matter to me, because that's not Nevermore.

Maybe, but the most important member for me is Warrel Dane.


Of course he is an important part, but Jeff is the heart of the band, there would be no music without him.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.


My Instagram
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06.05.2011 - 01:33
Yasmine

Cooley and Derek and a few other drummers looking for jobs currently, ya never know.
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"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute." G B Stern
"Society is like a stew. If you don't stir it up every once in a while then a layer of scum float u
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08.05.2011 - 12:33
Sammol

According to wikipedia, the reason for the breakup is Musical Differences. But for me Jeff Loomis and Warrel Dane is a perfect fit.

And I don't like Rusty Cooley to replace loomis LOL.
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08.05.2011 - 21:05
Yasmine

No reason not to, he can do it just as well as Loomis and his leads have better melodies than Loomis' not just anyday, but everyday.
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"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute." G B Stern
"Society is like a stew. If you don't stir it up every once in a while then a layer of scum float u
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03.03.2012 - 15:43
K✞ulu
Seeker of Truth
Holy crap! Have you seen this? I have never seen fans being welcomed on stage like that. This video made me kind of excited and sort of happy. Add it's an amazing cover, too!

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Savor what you feel and what you see
Things that may not seem important now
But may be tomorrow

R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner

Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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10.03.2012 - 13:19
BloodTears
ANA-thema
That is very cool indeed. Btw, love this cover.

Gosh, I can't watch stuff with Nevermore...
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.


My Instagram
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10.04.2012 - 11:22
Infernal Eternal

I just love this band.
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{}::::::[]:::::::::::::::::> ONLY DEATH IS REAL <:::::::::::::::::[]::::::{}
Rest In Peace: Bon Scott, Dave G. Halliday, Michael "Destructor" Wulf, Jerry Fogle, Quorthon, Witchhunter
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30.04.2012 - 17:58
randoom

Hi,I'm a new member here.I've been listening to ''Dreaming neon black'' album lately.What do you believe that ''dreaming neon black'' metaphor means?
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30.04.2012 - 19:45
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by randoom on 30.04.2012 at 17:58
What do you believe that ''dreaming neon black'' metaphor means?

It's a concept album about insanity (according to Wikipedia). So I'm assuming it's a metaphor for losing one's mind.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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14.05.2012 - 04:54
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Troy Killjoy on 30.04.2012 at 19:45

It's a concept album about insanity (according to Wikipedia). So I'm assuming it's a metaphor for losing one's mind.

I though the album was about Dane's fiancée being lost to a drug cult?
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14.05.2012 - 06:14
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Guest on 14.05.2012 at 04:54
I though the album was about Dane's fiancée being lost to a drug cult?

I'm honestly not sure if you're being serious or if you're referencing something I'm not familiar with.
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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14.05.2012 - 12:53
Druss

Pretty sure !J.O.O.H.!'s telling the truth, a large part (if not all) of the album was supposed to be based on his girlfriend who joined a cult, if this is the correct album, that is.
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15.05.2012 - 09:35
Daniell
_爱情_
One does not contradict the other. You need to be insane to join a religious cult...
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15.05.2012 - 23:24
Druss

The insanity part, though (the expression ''Dreaming Neon Black'') could be about Warrel Dane's fears of or even descent into madness from losing his girlfriend in such an emotionally scarring way.

And while I don't agree that you have to be insane to join a cult (though it certainly helps ), I have to agree that you have to be at least slightly off in the head.
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