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User
Reviews 1
Approval 100%
Soundoffs 1
Album Ratings 138
Objectivity 54%
Last Active 01-16-16 6:01 am
Joined 01-16-16
Review Comments 13
| Ranking Nevermore - RIP Warrel Dane.
Today is a very, very sad day for me. A few hours ago, I just learnt of the passing of the great Warrel Dane. It shook me even more that he passed away here in my country of Brazil, which he seemed to love (and was loved by legions of fans).
This list is aimed to other Nevermore fans, and perhaps mostly to people curious to find out why Mr. Dane was considered such a legend. I have created this quick list with some small thoughts on the great 7 albums that Mr. Dane released with Nevermore. It's all based on my opinions and I don't claim to have any final word on their music, this list follows MY preference, a die-hard Nevermore fan.
Also important is to comment Warrel Dane was also the voice of the great SANCTUARY, but this particular list will focus only on the 7 main Nevermore albums.
Now, I’m admittedly a fanboy, Nevermore being one of my favorite bands ever, if not "the" favorite, and personally I think all of their releases are very much worth listening to, so you make this under consideration when reading this list. Their sound is difficult to narrow down to one genre, but if I had to, I’d say they are one of the few bands to be able to successfully mix Thrash with a bit of Prog with highly intelligent lyrics (powerfully delivered by Mr. Dane) and mind blowing riffs and solos, courtesy of Jeff Loomis. Bass and Drums are always very good at any Nevermore album, but what sets this band apart and on the top, is the combo of Loomis and Dane approach to heavy music.
Though it was hard, I highlighted TWO songs per album (of course, limiting to only two was very hard in most albums), so newcomers can sample each one a bit quicker. | | 1 |  | Nevermore
Enemies Of Reality
The only album that I don't consider "great" from Nevermore, even though with very good moments.
Enemies is a complicated album, which initially suffered from bad mixing (which lead it to be re-released with a new mixing from the great Andy Sneap) and not-so-good song structures, which make it a hard listen.
The two more popular songs out of this album though, the title track “Enemies of Reality” and “I, Voyager”, are however great songs, which were always played live and are revered by the fans, with good reason. It’s a shame the rest of the album is not to the standards of these two songs.
Highlights: Enemies of Reality, I Voyager.
Rating: 3. | | 2 |  | Nevermore
Nevermore
Their debut release, back in 1994, a short after the end of the first cycle of “Sanctuary”. This has all the footprints of what Nevermore would be famous for: Intelligent songwriting, great lyrics, incredible riffs and Warrel’s overwhelming vocals (which are singer a bit in higher tones here than in the other albums). This is a very SOLID debut album, that however lacks better production (as it is so common in debut albums) and maybe a bit of editing, since some of the songs drag on a bit too long.
Highlights: What Tomorrow Knows, The Sanity Assassin.
Rating: 4. | | 3 |  | Nevermore
The Obsidian Conspiracy
The last album Nevermore released. Many fans, like me, hoped that Nevermore would still get back together, but after the tragic death of Warrel Dane, this will be forever their last effort. Though many fans don’t like this album so much, I personally think it’s a great listen with very strong highlights. Songs are short, well produced and Loomis is (as always) a beast, shredding many great riffs all around. It does lack, however, a bit more of the “emotional” tone Nevermore is famous for achieving in its greatest records.
Highlights: And the Maiden Spoke, She Comes in Colors.
Rating: 4 | | 4 |  | Nevermore
Dreaming Neon Black
Many fans think this is their strongest album. I totally can see where these opinions come from, since the albums highlights are very inspired and emotional. Some of the songs, like the title track and Forever, are incredibly emotional (this album’s main theme is about losing someone you love) while the heaviest tracks like Beyond Within and Poison Godmachine are among the heaviest songs Nevermore has ever written. I love this album as well, but happen to think that as a whole it’s not as strong as the following three, mainly due to some songs that are a bit lacking and repetitive, like Cenotaph.
Highlights: Beyond Within, Dreaming Neon Black.
Rating: 4.5 | | 5 |  | Nevermore
The Politics of Ecstasy
This album, their second full release, is essential, and a mind blowing listen from start to finish. Their best lyrics and themes are probably in this record, and the execution is flawless from start to finish. Politics, simply put, is an unlikely masterpiece from a band that should still be too young to release such a classic powerful record. The only “if” I have with this album is that the production could be better and a bit more clearer, but it does not diminishes it at all.
Highlights: The Seven Tongues of God, Next in Line.
Rating: 5.0 | | 6 |  | Nevermore
Dead Heart In A Dead World
Likely Nevermore’s most commercially successful album (and it’s most accessible one yet, due to great ballads like “The Heart Collector”, and the incredible cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence”), Dead Heart is a complete masterpiece and well deserving of all the recognition it got. This albums never lets up from the very first notes of Narcosynthesis until the final title track. The band is very mature at this point, knowing how to fit all the elements of their sound perfectly where they should be, making this record absolute gold. It’s probably Nevermore’s most “varied” album in terms of song structure, and flows effortlessly. The River Dragon is too mind-blowing to be defined with words, by the way.
Highlights: Narcosynthesis, The River Dragon.
Rating: 5.0 | | 7 |  | Nevermore
This Godless Endeavor
My favorite album from Nevermore, and possibly my favorite album ever, This Godless Endeavor is nothing short of perfection. This album has all the core elements of Nevermore working flawlessly and perfectly fitted. Very heavy songs are followed by beautiful sentimental ones, with provocative and intimate lyrics. To put it shortly, this is a highly ambitious album, that tries to achieve a lot of different things and actually succeeds in all of them. The last song, which is the title track, is the culmination of all things that make Nevermore unique and special, and is therefore their best song ever recorded (in my humble opinion).
This Godless Endeavor is the definitive Magnum Opus of Nevermore and it is a “must have” in the collection of any Heavy Metal enthusiast.
Highlights: Final Product, This Godless Endeavor
Rating: 5.0 | |
CygnusX1
12.13.17 | Great list. I remember when I heard The Psalm of Lydia for the first time, it blew me away. I listened to the whole album twice right after that. My favorite songs are Narcosynthesis, 42147, Dreaming Neon Black, Sentient 6, Psalm of Lydia, and the masterpiece that is This Godless Endeavor. RIP | KjSwantko
12.13.17 | Nice work on this list dude. | HarryBoBerry
01.17.18 | I wish your list had received more attention, this is well done and I'm glad to have read this from a diehard fan. No one had a voice like Warrel. |
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