After their last release, “Enemies of reality”, I feared that one of my all-time favorite bands had done it. Done what? Dropped that ball of course… Sad but true, it happens sooner or later to all the bands on your A-list; they get high on all the wrong drugs, or their own delusions of grandeur, and think they should release something “new” and “exciting”. King Diamond, Dream Theater, Metallica, Megadeth… The list never ends. Nevermore seemed to have taken the plunge into that category as well. “Enemies of Reality” was boring as hell, but also plagued with a horrible production , making it sound like a mudwrestling soundtrack, but without the chicks… They later rectified the situation and had Andy Sneap re-mix and remaster the album, and it did come out somewhat better.
The question was still poised on everybody’s lips. Would Nevermore be able to re-establish their position as one of the most original metal bands in the world? Or would they sell out and go all nu-metal on all our asses?
Enter “This Godless Endeavour”. The Nevermore album to end all Nevermore albums. And I mean that in a good way. This album is huge. This albums is fantastic. This album kicks “Dead Heart In A Dead World” all over the fucking ring and then slam dunks the whole thing just for good measure.
Gone are the flimsy arrangements and generic riffs from a couple of years ago. Gone are the vague concepts and boring songs… Here is Nevermore as they should sound. The natural progression from “Dead Heart”, as if “Enemies of Reality” was just a bad dream dissipating before our very eyes.
The strength of Nevermore was always in their characteristic song structures. Technical, but clever, riffs that keep changing to carry the verse over bridges into memorable choruses with strange melodies and then further steering the music into breakdowns where it all perfectly comes together. This album showcases that to the tenth power. There is always something interesting going on somewhere. Be it the drums changing over the same riff, or the riff changing over the same beat – immaculate… Dane's singing is like a voice from the other side, strange and beautiful. Musical passages weave in and out of songs that could only be Nevermore. No other band comes close to this particular style. They manage to take the more rudimentary sounds of Sanctuary and their first album, and then blend it with the more progressive approach of later days. Nothing sounds out of place, or put there for the sake of putting it there. It all flows…
Warrel Dane’s voice is what turns most people off from Nevermore, but fuck you if you can’t take some originality. King Diamond, Lemmy and Bon Scott all had original voices and it enhanced the musical experience, so get over it.
Jeff Loomis is probably the most overlooked metal guitarist around, and was the only saving grace on “Enemies”. Here he puts on another stunning show that will restore your faith in guitar wizardry as an art form. Check out the outstanding track "Psalm of Lydia" to get your fix. Amazing...
Another interesting thing with Nevermore that makes them so complete, is that they always made concept albums. Not lyrically, butmusically. Everything flows, as if it was allone song with different passages. That’s why it would be pointless for me to review the album song by song, as it is a WHOLE, rather than pieces of a whole. Let me just point out that "Sentient 6" is the ultimate Nevermore track.
Their best album to date. The best metal release of the year, neck to neck with Arch Enemy, Dream Theater and Pagan’s Mind. But watch out… Opeth’s new album is around the corner. That trophy is still up for grabs, and it all benefits us – the audience. 2005 kicks ass so far.
Nevermore
"This Godless Endeavor"
Rating:
Reviewed by:
Skeletal Grace
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Artwork used with permission from Neverland Music Inc.
