Century Media
2005
This Godless Endeavor
About This Album
Nevermore's sixth album arrives bearing few surprises -- which, for a band less accomplished or too comfortable in their niche, would generally be seen as a negative attribute. Not here, as Seattle's finest mid-'00s heavy metal outfit (sorry Queensrÿche!) continue to set the bar for purist-leaning metal-heads on this side of the pond. As always, and not to take anything away from their cohorts (particularly drummer extraordinaire Van Williams), the soaring vocals of Warrel Dane and lead guitar heroics of Jeff Loomis act as twin beacons shining out from the band's gloriously metallic bulk. Furthermore, it's arguable if Dane (now almost completely divorced from his once too strident upper registers) has ever sounded quite this aggressive on any of Nevermore's earlier albums (witness his coarse roars on opener "Born (The Retribution of Spiritual Sickness)"). Likewise subject to discussion is whether Loomis hasn't topped his not inconsiderable prior achievements with his ever tasteful and inventive solos, here augmented by ex-Dragon Lord guitarist Steve Smyth -- quite a talent in his own right. Suffice to say that Dane and Loomis lead their troops in reliably inspired style throughout terrific cuts like "Final Product," "The Psalm of Lydia," and "A Future Uncertain" -- all of them carefully constructed songs, laced with just the right dosage of showy acrobatics so as to keep listeners' jaws sagging.
Track List (try tracks 2,6,7 and 9)

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