NEVERMORE — Nevermore (review)

Album · 1995 · Thrash Metal

3.5/5 · 2011-06-23
UMUR

"Nevermore" is the self-titled debut full-length studio album by US, Seattle based metal act Nevermore. The album was released in January 1995 by Century Media Records. Nevermore was founded on the ashes of the legendary US power metal act Sanctuary. Sanctuary released two albums that are arguably some of the most essential US power metal albums released in the late eighties/early nineties in "Refuge Denied (1987)" and "Into The Mirror Black (1990)". The band disbanded in 1991 because of internal strife among the members on the future musical direction of Sanctuary. Apparently some members wanted to pursue a new more alternative rock direction while especially lead vocalist Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard wanted Sanctuary to continue in the US power metal style. After Sanctuary split-up, Warrel Dane and Jim Sheppard founded Nevermore with guitarist Jeff Loomis, who had very briefly been a member of Sanctuary before they disbanded. Various drummers played with the band, who worked daytime jobs and recorded quite a few demos in the years 1991 - 1995 before they settled on Van Williams as their drummer. The album is supposedly compiled from two different demo sessions with producer Neil Kernon and the versions on this album are the same as the versions on the two demos. They have been re-mastered for this release though. The fact that the tracks are recorded during two different sessions is also apparent as Mark Arrington plays the drums on 4 tracks while Van Williams plays the drums on the remaining 4 tracks.

People who are familiar with Sanctuary, know that they played a style of US power metal that featured thrash metal elements too. The music on "Nevermore" is actually quite a natural continuation of that style but with some adjustments. Nevermore play an even heavier and darker US power metal/thrash metal style than was the case with Sanctuary (which in their time definitely were one of the most heavy US power metal acts out there). A large part of the reason for this is the addition of Jeff Loomis who already this early in the band´s career showed great promise. He possesses equal amounts of melodic sensibility and technical capability. He would develop an even more personal and unique guitar playing style on later album releases, but his playing and composing on this album is a great part of why the music sounds the way it does. Another defining factor is of course the powerful and paatos filled vocals by Warrel Dane. In his Sanctuary days he mostly sang in his screaming high pitched vocal style, but on this album he varies his vocal style much more and also sings both low- and mid register styled vocals. A positive development to my ears.

The fact that the tracks were recorded in two different sessions over the course of a year does have an impact on the consistency of the material. The sound production could have been better and while the album isn´t as such badly produced I sometimes find the album a bit strenuous to get through because of the sound. There certainly is a professional "demo" sound quality to the album. The quality of the material also varies some. While all tracks are well written, tracks like the ultra heavy "What Tomorrow Knows", the intriguing "C.B.F." and the power ballad "The Sanity Assassin" stand above the rest in quality and memorability. Interestingly enough they are the first three tracks on the album. It´s like the longer you get into the album the more the quality of the material drops and by the time you reach the two closing tracks "Timothy Leary" and "Godmoney", we´re on a pretty standard songwriting level. Overall I´d still call "Nevermore" a high quality release although it is a slightly bumpy start to Nevermore´s recording career. A solid 3.5 star rating is deserved.