Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy (2010)

Album Review

Nevermore are a band built on bucking musical trends and going their own way, and continue to carve their own path for themselves on their seventh album, The Obsidian Conspiracy. Borrowing from thrash, progressive, and power metal, the band still has a feeling that is driving and epic. Their ability to blend genres creates a kind of tempering effect, with the power metal aspects making the prog less cerebral, but not dumb, with songs that provide listeners with equal opportunity to scratch their chins or pump their fists as the mood suits them. The whole thing is driven forward by the thrash elements, which keep the album moving along before it strays too far in any direction. The middle ground this fusion achieves really lets the vocal talents of Warrel Dane shine, giving him plenty of… Read more on allmusic.com

About the Band

Nevermore straddles the line between power metal, traditional heavy metal, and the contemporary hard rock scene, eschewing the silly theatrics of the “power scene” in favor of a darker tone, while reaping the rewards of melody and the high-flying vocal range of singer Warrel Dane. The roots of the Seattle-based band can be traced back to Sanctuary, with whom Nevermore’s Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard recorded two albums. Sanctuary was one of a small handful of late-’80s thrash metal bands to sign with a major label; they even enlisted Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine to produce their debut album. Label-imposed limbo caused the band to grind to a halt, with one member also exiting to pursue more “grunge”-oriented music. Three members of the final lineup of Sanctuary reemerged as Nevermore, inking a worldwide deal with Century Media Records and releasing a punishing eponymous debut album in 1995. The following year saw the band issue a well-received EP, In Memory, that boasted cover tunes… Read more on allmusic.com

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