Nevermore's 2005 album "
This Godless Endeavour" was the album that cemented the bands status as one of the most gifted, bold metal band's on the planet. It brought the band to a wider audience than ever before and sparked a three-year touring cycle that took the band all over the world and back again playing to massive crowds at every stop.
So successful was the album and so never ending was the tour that the band decided it was time for a break to rejuvenate their slightly worn down spirit. During this hiatus singer
Warrel Dane crafted a slightly mellower solo album and guitar virtuoso Jeff Loomis recorded an instrumental long player filled to the brim with his trademarked shredding.
But any fears fans may have had about this break being permanent were allayed with the release of the bands seventh record
"The Obsidian Conspiracy". The only doubt that remained in fans minds is whether or not the band could top the quality of album number six.
The Obsidian Conspiracy opens with the slightly disappointing
"The Termination Proclamation" which sounds like an outtake from This Godless Endeavour and offers very little in the way of progression.
Things improve with the driven stomp of
"Your Poison Throne" with its continual urging call of
"Rise, Rise, Rise!" and signature use of Warrel's very melodic mid-range vocals in the chorus.
It's when track three
"Moonrise (Through The Mirrors Of Death)" begins that proceedings really start to heat up. It's a magnificent track with Jeff's twisting, gut-wrenchingly down-tuned guitars brutalising the listener in the verses before revealing astonishing beauty in the chorus. Again Warrel's vocals as spot on as he pours plenty of emotion into his lines.
The production is handled by ex
Soilwork guitarist Pete Wichers and mixed as ever by the bands loyal servant Andy Sneap. Andy is the man responsible for fine tuning that
Nevermore sound we all know and love so I don't think anyone expect to see the album credits without his name on them.
Nevermore have always had a progressive edge to their music and it really shows on tracks like
"And The Maiden Spoke". The tempos and textures of the song constantly shift allowing for many different moods to be portrayed. This one also highlights what a gifted drummer the band have in the shape of Van Williams as he throws in lots of off-beat snare beats and demanding double-bass sections without ever overpowering the song as its so easy to do with more progressive material such as this.
Dane's lyrics while not always at their best on this release are very intriguing in this number with the telling of a tortured girl who
"moves the chairs downstairs and runs away". Altogether the music and lyrics combine for a very captivating listen.
One of
Nevermore's strengths has been their ability to write commercially tinged ballad's without ever losing their dark edge or seeming out of place with the rest of their material. On this album
"Emptiness Unobstructed" is one such track and is uplifting and obvious single material but with lyrics that bemoan the utter uncertainty and misery that many people find themselves trapped in.
Next track
"The Blue Marble And The New Soul" sounds very much in the vein of Warrel's solo record
"Praises To The War Machine" in its more refined pacing and structure combined with its more personal lyrics. Some have claimed that this track is perhaps a little ponderous but I think that the moment where the song suddenly shifts during Jeff's solo to a very moving melodic passage makes the song more than worthwhile.
Later tracks like
"The Day You Built The Wall" and parts of
"She Comes In Colours" also show a slightly more expansive structure compared with previous releases where the music was densely packed and deliberately stifling. This makes the album feel much more like Warell's baby rather than a showcase for Jeff, Van and bassist Jim Sheppard's musical prowess.
Perhaps the only slightly disappointing aspect of the album is the lack of real invention on a couple of occasions. A song like
"Without Morals" is a perfect case in point, its verses are a little too safe for
Nevermore's standards but the song comes alive in the bridge/chorus section.
The last original song on the album is an absolute screamer in the form of
"The Obsidian Conspiracy". That squeal of Loomis' guitar at the beginning sends shivers up my spine every time I hear it and the musicianship is mind bending at each and every turn.
If anything the album could use another song or two like it as if you buy the standard version of the album it ends with the title track. This seems a little too short for an album so long in production.
However for those of us in possession of the digipak version there are two cover-songs included to bump up the running time. A decent romp through The Tea Parties
"Temptation" and the bittersweet parting shot of The Door's
"Crystal Ship". Both are solid covers but nothing spectacular.
All in all
Nevermore's latest release will stand tall against any other metal release this year but perhaps doesn't scale the great heights of past works like "Dead
Heart In a Dead World" or "This Godless Endeavour".
Written by
Stuart Sunday, August 1, 2010
Show all reviews by StuartRatingsStuart: 7.5/10Members: 7/10 - Average of 3 ratings.
Member ratings
 | Tommy
Rating: 7.5/10
Really strong effort, track 2-6 are truly impressive. The riffs are awesome and Warrel sou... · Read more · |
 | Craig
Rating: 6.5/10
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